Space Weather Instrument Scientist

Job description

Description
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for an exceptional Space Weather Instrument Scientist to join our Space Weather and Atmosphere team. BAS delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our science as well as keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe!

Working at BAS is rewarding. Our skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and knowhow, BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world-leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation ( www.ukri.org ).

As a valued member of our team, you'll be eligible for the following benefits:

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days.
• Excellent civil service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution, depending on your band).
• 24 hours/365 days access to employee assistance programme (EAP - including support with physical, mental, social, health and financial issues).
• Flexible and family friendly working opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure and lifestyle categories and much more.

You'll be joining our Space Weather and Atmosphere (SWA) science team. Within the "Protecting Coastal and Technical Infrastructure" theme of the new BAS Science Strategy (Polar Science for a Sustainable Planet) the SWA team aims to deliver the evidence required to mitigate impacts of space weather and space debris on critical technology. This includes:

• Developing models of radiation belt variability to protect satellites.
• Measuring the heating and variability of the upper atmosphere to assess the risk of collisions between space debris and satellites.
• Determining how and when electrical currents in the upper atmosphere pose the greatest risk to power supplies.

To support these science targets the SWA team operates over 40 instruments in Antarctica. These include ionospheric radars, magnetometers, VLF radio receivers, riometers, optical sensors, and GNSS receivers. Many of these contribute to larger international networks such as SuperDARN, SuperMag, WWLLN, AARDDVARK and GLORIA. You'll help us to deliver the smooth operation of these instruments and streamline the availability of their data for research by SWA colleagues and external collaborators. To ensure this delivery you will also be expected to visit Antarctica regularly, which is supported by a generous supplement to your salary.

Within the role, there will be an opportunity to develop your understanding of the SWA space weather instruments and the science that they support. There will also be opportunities for you to contribute towards existing science projects or to develop your own research projects centred on the Antarctic instruments.

You'll be joining a world-leading interdisciplinary research organisation, that is committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support, you need to thrive at BAS.

Some of your main responsibilities will include:

• Plan annual instrument maintenance with the engineering, polar operations and Antarctic on-site teams.
• Visit Antarctic regularly to provide scientific oversight and assistance (typically for 3 months every other year).
• Supervise the delivery of data in consultation with instrument PIs.
• Contribute to SWA research using your instrument expertise, including the application of instrument data to whole atmosphere and radiation belt models.

Please download job description for more details.

Current Antarctic instrument development projects the team are working on include the world's first Antarctic space surveillance and tracking system with the UK Space Agency, upgrade of a US-UK low power magnetometer network, cross-disciplinary adaptation of a GNSS network with Durham and Newcastle universities, plus the return to Antarctica of our international SuperDARN radar in the Falkland Islands.

For the role of Space Weather Instrument Scientist, we are looking for somebody who has:

• Training to at least undergraduate degree level or equivalent in a physical science or engineering.
• Experience of computer programing (e.g., Python, C, FORTRAN, Matlab, IDL).
• Technical ability to grasp the basics of scientific instrumentation.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and to engage for detailed problem solving.

Please download the job description for more details.

If we've just described you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now at bas.ac.uk/vacancies.

What experiences can we offer you?

At BAS we believe everyone plays a vital role, is unique and valued, therefore, we embrace diversity as well as equality of opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming working environment where everyone's unique perspectives are valued.

Different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. That's the power of every individual. Our cultural values are built on mutual respect, inclusion, commitment and excellence.

If you are looking for an opportunity to work with world class and amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you.