OPENING DATE: November 12, 2026 CLOSING DATE: December 9, 2026 TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Fund (Non-Federal), Temporary, not to exceed 2 years DIVISION: Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Sciences LOCATION: Cambridge, MA AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This position is open to all eligible candidates. This position is eligible for visa sponsorship.
What are Trust Fund Positions? Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.
SUMMARY This is a position of Information Technology Specialist in the Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Sciences Division of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The position supports the Life on a Sustainable Planet initiative and the development of a planetary-defense coordination effort at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), building upon the scientific and technical expertise of the Minor Planet Center (MPC) and the broader CfA community.
The incumbent serves as a Web Developer and Scientific Outreach Communicator responsible for developing and maintaining web-based resources that support communication, coordination, and engagement related to planetary defense. The incumbent works closely with scientists and technical personnel to translate scientific requirements and information into accessible, accurate, and effective digital resources for researchers, observers, partner organizations, and the public.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The work combines web development, user-interface design, scientific information management, data visualization, and digital communication to strengthen connections among the MPC, the CfA, observing facilities, the planetary-defense community, and broader audiences.
Develop and maintain web-based resources supporting planetary-defense coordination - 35%
- Designs, develops, tests, implements, and maintains responsive web applications and interfaces supporting the Life on a Sustainable Planet planetary-defense initiative.
- Develops web-based resources that facilitate the organization, presentation, and exchange of information relevant to planetary-defense activities, including information related to near-Earth objects, observational follow-up, physical characterization, observing capabilities, and scientific resources.
- Works with scientists and technical personnel to translate scientific and operational requirements into effective web interfaces and digital workflows. Develops and modifies application code using appropriate web technologies and integrates information from databases, application programming interfaces, and other data sources as needed.
- Ensures that applications are reliable, maintainable, accessible, and usable by their intended audiences. Tests applications and interfaces, identifies and resolves technical problems, and incorporates feedback from scientists, observers, and other users into subsequent improvements.
Develop digital communication and outreach resources for planetary defense - 30%
- Develops and maintains digital content and interactive resources that communicate planetary-defense information to scientific, educational, and public audiences.
- Works with scientists at the MPC and across the CfA to translate technical and scientific information into accurate, accessible, and engaging web content. Develops explanatory materials, interactive visualizations, graphics, web features, and other digital products that communicate the roles of the MPC, CfA, observing facilities, and other organizations in planetary-defense activities.
- Develops resources that help users understand how planetary-defense activities are coordinated, including the roles of discovery, astrometric follow-up, orbit determination, physical characterization, and communication among participating organizations.
- Adapts the presentation and level of technical detail of digital materials for different audiences while maintaining scientific accuracy. Works with subject-matter experts to review scientific content and incorporates feedback into published materials.
Support community engagement and coordination through digital platforms - 20%
- Supports communication and engagement among the scientists, observers, facilities, survey teams, and organizations participating in planetary-defense activities.
- Develops and maintains web resources that help users identify relevant scientific expertise, observational capabilities, resources, activities, and opportunities for collaboration. Supports the presentation and dissemination of information about ongoing initiatives, observing resources, workshops, meetings, and other community activities relevant to planetary defense.
- Works with scientists and other stakeholders to identify user needs and determine how web-based resources can improve communication and coordination across the community. Collects and evaluates user feedback and recommends improvements to the functionality, organization, and presentation of digital resources.
- Supports outreach and engagement activities associated with the Life on a Sustainable Planet initiative, including preparation of digital materials for workshops, presentations, community events, educational activities, and other appropriate venues.
Maintain, evaluate, and improve web applications and digital resources - 15%
- Monitors and maintains web applications, digital content, and related technical resources developed for the initiative. Diagnoses and resolves software, interface, data-integration, and usability problems.
- Evaluates web resources for functionality, performance, accessibility, usability, and consistency with project requirements. Implements improvements based on changing scientific requirements, technological developments, user feedback, and evolving project needs.
- Maintains technical documentation for applications, data integrations, and development procedures. Uses established version-control, testing, and software-development practices to support maintainability and collaboration with other technical personnel.
- Ensures compliance with applicable Smithsonian information-technology, security, accessibility, and web-development requirements.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Requirements:
To meet the basic requirement, individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:
- Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
- Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
- Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
- Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Applicants must demonstrate possession of these competencies within the body of the resume. AND Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level 09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: developing, testing, maintaining, and troubleshooting websites and web-based applications; using programming languages and web technologies such as Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL; working with relational databases and integrating data into web applications; developing and maintaining user-friendly web interfaces; using version control systems such as Git; using AI-assisted development tools to support coding, debugging, testing, and documentation; familiarity with integrating AI-based tools or services into web applications; and collaborating with technical teams to implement new features, improve existing applications, and support web-based services. OR Candidates may qualify based on education with a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree as long as the education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. The major study of the degree must be one of the following: computer science, information science, information's systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
- Knowledge of professional web-development concepts, methods, and practices, including front-end web technologies, responsive design, user-interface development, and web application architecture.
- Knowledge of programming and scripting languages, web frameworks, database interfaces, application programming interfaces, structured data formats, version-control systems, and related software-development tools.
- Knowledge of principles and techniques for organizing, visualizing, and communicating scientific and technical information through digital platforms.
- Knowledge of user-centered design and web accessibility principles and the ability to apply them in developing resources for audiences with different levels of scientific and technical expertise.
- Knowledge of artificial intelligence technologies, including agentic AI architectures and AI- assisted workflows, and the ability to evaluate, integrate, and apply these technologies in the development of web-based tools, scientific communication platforms, and information- management systems.
- Skill in translating scientific, technical, and user requirements into functional web applications, interfaces, visualizations, and digital communication products. Ability to work with scientists and technical specialists to understand complex scientific information and determine effective methods for presenting that information through web-based resources.
- Ability to communicate technical and scientific concepts effectively to scientific, educational, and public audiences.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of the job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact hr@cfa.harvard.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
