Global Navigation Verification Scientist or Mathematician

Global Navigation Verification Scientist or Mathematician

Computational Physics, Inc. seeks a scientist or mathematician to support our customers at the United States Naval Observatory in the area of verification of astro-geophysical parameters derived from global navigation system data.

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) provides precise time, Earth orientation and astronomical data and advice to the U.S. Department of Defense and other organizations, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), various U.S. Federal agencies, international organizations and commercial and scientific users world-wide. The USNO Earth Orientation (EO) Department generates and provides Earth Orientation Parameter (EOP) data, such as the instantaneous rotation rate of the earth, the instantaneous orientation of the Earth's rotation axis in the celestial reference frame, and other parameters. The EO Department collects and processes observations for EOP made by GPS receivers and very long baseline interferometry (VLBI).

The term GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) refers to the U.S.'s GPS and the similar systems of some other nations. The International GNSS Service (IGS)is an organization of international GNSS operators and users that cooperate in the interest of better GNSS.  The EO Department's GPS Analysis Division is an IGS Analysis Center. As such, it produces GPS-based and GNSS-based estimates of satellite orbits, Earth orientation parameters and other related data multiple times per day.

Most of the Analysis Division's EOPs are computed as the by-product of orbit determination data from the IGS global network of over 500 GNSS tracking receivers. Monitoring and verifying the accuracy and validity of the IGS combination products is critical to the EO mission.

THE WORK

The successful candidate will develop techniques and algorithms to monitor and verify the GNSS data series that are ingested into the EOP processing. He or she will also assist in the development of techniques and algorithms to monitor and verify IGS data series which may be ingested into the EOP processes in the future. He or she will also develop techniques to validate the IGS open-source software that is being used to produce some of the publicly available IGS products.

REQUIREMENTS

-- Academic degree in geodesy, geophysics, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or a related field.
-- At least six years of experience (bachelor's degree) or three years of experience (master's or doctorate). Study time toward advanced degree may count toward experience.
-- Experience in orbit determination and/or parameter estimation.
-- Ability to develop and write scripts/software to process and analyze orbits and data in commonly used scientific programming languages in the Linux operating environment.
-- Ability to write standard operating procedures and diagnostic manuals for the software and procedures developed in support of research activity.
-- U.S. citizenship is required by our contract with the Navy.
-- Eligibility to obtain a Secret-level security clearance upon hiring. (An existing clearance is not required to apply.).

LOCATION, TRAVEL, TELEWORK, CLEARANCE, SALARY, BENEFITS

The position is located at the USNO in Washington, D.C. . Partial telework may be authorized. A clearance is not required before the start of employment but a process for obtaining a secret-level clearance will be started at the beginning of employment. The expected salary range for this position is $100,000 - $135,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience. CPI offers an excellent package of benefits, including health insurance, retirement benefits, annual leave, sick leave, Federal holidays, tuition assistance and more.

HOW TO APPLY
Please send your resume in confidence to employment@cpi.com. In the subject line, please write "IGS analysis." A cover letter is optional.

CPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
www.cpi.com