Archive Analyst, II

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), serves as a multi-mission science operations center for NASA’s premier observatories. Located on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland, our exceptional astronomical research center is committed to advancing science.

The Data Management Division at STScI is seeking an Archive Analyst who will focus on creating user-oriented documentation and tutorials to enhance our sophisticated astronomical data archive. This position offers the flexibility of hybrid work, combining in-person and remote work. Applicants must either reside in or be willing to move to our local area, which includes MD, DE, VA, PA, DC, and WV. US Citizenship or Permanent Residency is required due to ITAR regulations.

The Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) acts as the public data repository for over 20 missions conducted over the past 50 years, including HST, JWST, GALEX, PanSTARRS, Kepler, K2, and TESS. MAST also serves as the archive for forthcoming missions, such as the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is set to launch later this year.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to world-class science by assisting users in accessing, comprehending, and utilizing mission data from the astrophysics community.

Your Role & Responsibilities

• Join a team of astronomers and engineers dedicated to developing cutting‑edge software that enables the public to access and explore data from MAST missions.
• Create and maintain documentation and tutorials for supported missions, data collections, and data search interfaces.
• Collaborate with software engineers to develop high‑quality documentation for our search APIs.
• Organize and maintain user‑facing documentation on STScI webpages to ensure clear, accurate, and accessible onboarding materials for all tools and services.
• Work with astronomers to create and maintain Python‑based Jupyter Notebooks that demonstrate how to use our tools to support a wide range of astrophysical research, from introductory to advanced levels.
• Provide educational support to the community as needed, including responding to help desk inquiries, participating in Slack channels, leading classes or demos, and creating video tutorials.
• Assist in planning and delivering workshops and demonstrations for MAST, both at in‑person events and in virtual settings.

Requirements

Your Experience, Skills & Qualifications

• You will primarily work with documentation and information presented within HTML‑based webpages (such as Confluence) and in Python notebooks.
• You must be comfortable and effective collaborating daily with technical and scientific team members.
• Python is a primary requirement, and candidates should have experience with Python and working in Jupyter Notebooks.
• You must have education in the fundamentals of astronomy.
• Experience conducting a research project or familiarity with common astronomical metadata systems (e.g., FITS, ASDF, IVOA) is a plus but not required.
• Strong writing and editing skills are essential, with the ability to create clear, engaging content for a wide variety of audiences.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Astronomy, Physics, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 5+ years of experience writing scientific documentation for a professional audience or demonstrated equivalent expertise.

Application Requirements

Please include a one‑page cover letter with your CV. In your letter, please describe:

• your relevant experience and skill set, what you will bring to this role and how this position aligns with your future career goals.

If available, include a sample of previous documentation created for a professional STEM audience. Acceptable examples include:

• a link to public‑facing documentation,
• a GitHub repository containing a Jupyter Notebook, or
• a PDF sample submitted with your application materials.

If the writing sample was coauthored, please describe your specific contributions. If you do not have a STEM‑focused writing sample, a non‑STEM writing sample is acceptable.

 Salary range is $80,000 - $95,000.

Application link - Archive Analyst, II

Applications received by 02/21/2026 will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered until the position is filled.

Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can contact us at careers@stsci.edu.