Research Engineer – HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station (Part Time)

Position Details

Position Information

Position Title Research Engineer – HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station (Part Time) Non-Discrimination Statement

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The University will promptly address reports of discrimination under the University

Elizabeth M. Garcia

Title IX Coordinator

The Office of Equity and Diversity

Institute of Molecular Biology & Medicine, Suite 315

(570) 941-6645

University Mission

The University is a Catholic and Jesuit University animated by the spiritual vision and the tradition of excellence characteristic of the Society of Jesus and those who share in its way of proceeding. All candidates must indicate how they would help communicate and support the Catholic and Jesuit identity and mission of the University. The University’s mission statement and a description of the history and concepts of the Ignatian teaching philosophy may be found at

Department Physics & Engineering Job Purpose

The Department of Physics and Engineering at the University of Scranton is seeking a motivated and skilled Part-Time Research Engineer to support the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) team. The primary focus of this role is the design, construction, and deployment of the Very Low Frequency (VLF) receive system for the Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS). The successful candidate will also assist with the construction and deployment of PSWS systems as a whole and contribute to related research and development projects in space weather, ionospheric science, and radio technology. This position is an excellent opportunity for an engineer passionate about advancing scientific discovery and collaborating with a dynamic team of researchers and citizen scientists.

Essential Duties

Design and Development

– Lead the design and prototyping of the VLF receive system, ensuring system integration and data quality

• Collaborate on related projects involving space weather monitoring, radio systems, or scientific instrumentation
  
  
  

System Deployment

– Test, deploy, and support the VLF receive system and other PSWS components at low-noise observational sites

• Contribute to the deployment and troubleshooting of related systems
  
  
  

Collaboration and Outreach

– Work closely with professional researchers, students, and volunteer amateur radio operators in the HamSCI network

• Participate in community outreach activities, including presenting at amateur radio events and scientific meetings
  
  
  

Documentation and Reporting

– Maintain detailed documentation of designs, deployment protocols, and maintenance procedures

• Contribute to research publications, grant reports, and project updates as appropriate
  
  
  

Additional Skills Required

Minimum Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field
  
  
  

Preferred Requirements

Preferred Education Minimum Job Experience Requirements

• Experience with radio systems, digital signal processing, and/or software-defined radio (SDR)
• Familiarity with hardware platforms such as Raspberry Pi, GNSS receivers, or related technologies
• Programming proficiency in Python, C/C , or similar languages for signal processing or hardware control
• Knowledge of VLF signals, space weather, or ionospheric research is a plus
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications Years of Experience University Classification Paraprofessional FLSA Classification Non-Exempt Schedule/Work Hours Part-time with flexible scheduling to accommodate project needs Full Time/Part Time Part-Time Annual Schedule 12

Posting Details

Posting Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested applicants should submit the following:

• A cover letter detailing their experience, skills, and interest in the position
• A current resume or CV
• Contact information for three (3) professional references
  
  
  

Posting Number S0893P Open Date 01/28/2025 Close Date 02/11/2025 Open Until Filled No

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Reference Contact Information
  
  
  

Optional Documents

• Other Document