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.

Check how this applies to your own job

Skills this job asks for

Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.

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

IPAC at Caltech has an opening for an Associate Applications Developer to participate in the development of the data processing pipelines for the UVEX mission.

IPAC, part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech (www.caltech.edu), provides science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground.

The Ultraviolet Explorer (UVEX) is targeted to launch in 2030 as NASA’s next Astrophysics Medium-Class Explorer mission. UVEX will undertake a synoptic survey of the entire sky in the near-UV and far-UV, probing the dynamic universe with a sensitivity more than 50 times better than GALEX. UVEX will also have a powerful broadband spectroscopic capability. UVEX will address fundamental questions from the Astro2020 Decadal Survey and study the evolution of low-metallicity, low-mass galaxies. UVEX time-domain surveys will probe the aftermaths of gravitational-wave-discovered compact object mergers, discover fast UV transients, and diagnose the early stages of explosive phenomena.

Essential Job Duties

As an Application Developer, you will work with the UVEX team to develop and test algorithms and write original production-quality code for pipeline processing and validation. You will also document your designs and software, and participate in meetings with the UVEX project.

Basic Qualifications

If you have the following in your background, then we want to hear about your interest in joining our team:

Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in a technical subject such as Astronomy, Physics, Math, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Sciences, or a related field.

3+ years of experience as a software developer using Python and C/C++. In many cases, this can include experience obtained concurrent with your academic work.

Familiarity with software configuration management principles and tools, source code version control (e.g., git/GitHub) and issue/bug tracking systems (e.g., Jira).

Preferred Qualifications

Beyond these basic qualifications, there are a set of skills and experiences which will add to your ability to contribute to the roles and responsibilities of an IPAC Applications Developer. The following might give you a head start here, but even if these do not describe you or your experience, we would still like to hear from you:

Advanced degree in Astronomy, Physics, Math, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Sciences, or a related field.

Experience working with scientific datasets and use cases.

Experience developing software for astronomical data analysis.

Experience with the Rubin/LSST Science Pipelines software stack.

Since UVEX is a distributed collaboration, it’s important that you have good written and verbal communication skills, and are comfortable working in a distributed development environment.

Required Documents

Resume

Short Cover Letter (optional)

Deadline and Start Date

Applications received by November 17, 2026 will receive full consideration. The position is intended to start in 2026. This is an on-site position at the Caltech campus in Pasadena, California. Remote workdays are typically allowed 1-2 days per week.

Life at IPAC and Caltech

Caltech is an award-winning workplace and one of the best places to work in the greater Los Angeles area. We offer an exciting and dynamic work environment, career development opportunities, competitive pay programs, great benefits, and the opportunity to participate in many campus programs and activities.

People choose to work at IPAC for many reasons, and the casual, employee-centric culture often leads to fulfilling, long-term careers and lasting relationships. We seek the best and brightest talent to join our workforce and become members of our community.