Overview:

The Spektr-UF/World Space Observatory-Ultraviolet (WSO-UV) mission is an international space telescope that will be launched in 2025 to guarantee observational access in the ultraviolet (UV) range to astronomers after the end of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) mission. The Spanish Science Operations Center (SOC) will be in Madrid, hosted by the Joint Center for Ultraviolet Astronomy (JCUVA) at Universidad Complutense of Madrid.

The Spektr-UF/WSO-UV is a 170 cm primary space telescope, equipped with instrumentation for imaging and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The mission is run by an international consortium led by Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS, with an important Spanish participation. Spain contributes to this project in three areas: instrumentation provision and validation (providing optics and the detector for the far UV channel of the Field Camera Unit), ground segment development (implementing the Science Control Center, SOC) and preparation of the scientific observing program.

An important part of the Spanish contribution is the provision of the prims and lenses for the far UV channel of the instrument Field Camera Unit (FCU). The Laboratorio de Ultravioleta de Vacío (LUV) has been created in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid for the testing of these components.

Candidate Profile:

The successful candidate will join the Spektr-UF/WSO-UV FCU Spanish team to work in the LUV taking an active role in the qualification campaigns and later on, in the integration and verification campaigns of the FCU to be held at the premises of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (INASAN). This requires working with UV optical systems enclosed in a vacuum chamber, running the qualification tests at the LUV and producing the associated documentation. It will also require to work for a time TBD at the INASAN premises and contribute to the integration and qualification campaigns as part of the Spanish FCU team.

The successful applicant must have a university degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, or related areas. Experience with laboratory optics or vacuum systems is preferred but applications from young graduates willing to start a career in ultraviolet instrumentation are most welcome too. Salary is negotiable and depends on the skills of the successful candidate.

Good English skills are essential. Knowledge of Russian is an asset.

Contact:

Candidates should send a detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter explaining their interest to the e-mail address sec.aegora@ucm.es, quoting reference “VN 2022/02 LUV position”. Consideration of applications will begin in December 1st 2020, and will continue until the position is filled. Contract starting date will be February 1st 2022.