Research Scientist
California Institute Of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Posted October 15, 2026
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Where Pasadena, CA ranks
Where Pasadena, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #12Cities hosting the most business conferences in the West Coast4 conferences · of 17
- #14Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the West Coast12% · of 54
- #18Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the West Coast14% · of 53
- #21Best cities for junior jobs in California27% · of 54
- #22Best college towns for junior jobs in the West Coast29% · of 50
- #24Cities hosting the most technology & software conferences2 conferences · of 31
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 49 open research scientist listings that state pay, the middle half runs $195,000 to $287,500 and the median is $231,500.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among medical scientists, except epidemiologists is little observed so far. Measured exposure for medical scientists, except epidemiologists: 4% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
About the job
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.
Job Summary
The Research Scientist will work to constrain and characterize the effusive volcanic history from the Hesperian to the present in selected study areas adjacent to the Tharsis Montes. The successful candidate will also analyze SHARAD radar data of various Mars regions.
Essential Job Duties
Take the lead in the implementation of the super-resolution processing techniques tailored for the SHARAD dataset.
Perform detailed unit and subsurface mapping of lava flows by reprocessing SHARAD data using advanced algorithms.
Perform specialized processing to improve the identification of properties of Martian flows, constrain their volumes, and interpret volcanic history.
Spearhead data quality control efforts and be responsible for generating essential documentation for data and software archiving.
Other duties as assigned.
Basic Qualifications
Ph.D. in Radar and Remote Sensing.
5 years of experience in analyzing Mars sounder data.
Knowledge of processing and analyzing SHARAD data.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledgeable in the analysis of Mars radar/sounder data.
Experience using SHARAD data.
Required Documents
Resume