Detailed information
Work location : Kanto district - Tokyo
Date of publication : 2025/04/09
Professor at Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)/国立天文台 研究教育職員(TMTプロジェクト 教授)公募
D125040698
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Research field : Natural Science - Astronomy | Others - Others - Astronomy and astrophysics or related fields of engineering
Professor level : Regular employee - Tenured - Non-tenure track - Probationary period present
Job description
-
Background of the recruitment and description of the project
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has a position open for Professor who will lead the NAOJ Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project in Japan.
[Job Description]
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has been playing a key role in the forefront of astronomical research worldwide, as demonstrated in the construction and operation of large-scale astronomical facilities such as the Subaru Telescope, ALMA, and Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in the effort to promote cutting-edge astronomy utilizing these advanced telescopes. Having successful experience in the Subaru Telescope, NAOJ plays a vital role in executing the TMT Project to build the extremely large optical and infrared telescope with a 30-meter primary mirror on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi, through an international partnership. TMT is expected to provide astronomers in the world observational opportunities with greater telescope capabilities in 2030s and beyond, leveraged by the Subaru Telescope which offers a set of unique capabilities, including the ability to conduct wide-field surveys. The TMT Project is steadily working toward the construction and operation, bringing the partners’ expertise and experiences to address challenges and impacts on timetables. The NAOJ TMT Project is responsible for essential components of the telescope: the production of the telescope structure and its control system; the manufacturing of the primary mirror; and the production of the science instruments. -
Work content and job description
We invite applications for a professor position to lead the technical aspects of the essential components of the telescope system. A successful candidate for this position is in charge of the management including coordination, negotiations, and discussions with domestic and international contractors, and with the international partners, the management, and engineers of the TMT International Observatory (TIO). The successful candidate is required to manage the technical team which consists of a number of engineers and researchers. The responsibilities of the position include continued demonstration of leadership and outstanding performance in research and engineering activities, besides promoting collaborations among NAOJ scientists and engineers to stimulate the productivity of science and development by making the best use of NAOJ's strengths. Fostering early-career scientists, engineers or technicians including PhD students, is also required to prepare them to develop competence and skills required for the nextgeneration telescope.
After successful experiences in the project management on technical development in Mitaka, the successful candidate is expected to play active roles in the TMT Project and TIO management either in Hilo, Hawaiʻi or in Pasadena, California.
(Scope of possible changes) Research and Teaching Activities designated by NINS / NAOJ -
Assigned department
Existing departments
Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project
Job type
- Professor level
Research field
- Natural Science - Astronomy
-
Others - Others
Astronomy and astrophysics or related fields of engineering
Wages
-
Annual Salary : 9 million yen ~ 11 million yen
Annual salary shall be determined based on professional knowledge, skills, required education, and job experiences as per the NINS regulations (NINS, or the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, is an upper-level organization that manages NAOJ). Payments will be made monthly in 12 equal installments.
Working hours
-
Working hours :08:30-17:15
Break time :12:00-13:00
Holidays : Saturdays and Sundays, Holidays set by NAOJ, New Year holidays (December 29th - January 3rd), annual paid leave, refreshment leave, bereavement leave, home leave, etc.
Overtime and other explanations : The Discretionary Labor System for Professional Work shall be applied. (standard work hours: 38.75 hrs/week, from 8:30 to 17:15 with an hour intermission)
Application requirements
Qualifications
-
Education and Degree Requirements
Ph.D. / Doctor
(1) Minimum Educational Requirement: Ph.D. or equivalent
-
Work experience
(2) Other Requirements: To have astronomical knowledge necessary to formulate specifications and develop science instruments through international collaborations with astronomical researchers, engineers, and contractors; and
(3) Excellent communication skills, and a good command of both Japanese and English are also required in order to negotiate with the international partners and contractors and speak for the astronomical community in Japan to ensure its benefits, with understanding of situations of NAOJ and the community.
Employment Type
-
Regular employee
Contract period
-
Tenured - Non-tenure track
[Terms of Appointment:]
The selected candidate should be able to start the job as soon as reasonably possible after the job offer has been accepted.
The term of the contract will continue up to the end of the Japanese academic year in which the faculty reaches NAOJ's mandatory retirement age of 65.Probationary period present
the probation period of six months.
Work location
-
181-8585
Tokyo
2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka
Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project, NAOJ, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan
The work location would be either of Hilo, Hawaiʻi or Pasadena, California, in the United States of America in the future.
(Scope of possible changes) Location designated by NINS / NAOJ
Compensation
-
Various systems
Pay increase system : privided/Once a year in accordance with the performance review
Retirement allowances : provided
Retirement age : available/65
Others : Dependent allowance, residential allowance, commutation allowance, and other allowances will be paid to employees who meet the conditions outlined in the NINS regulations.
An amount equivalent to the year-end allowance and diligence allowance will be included in the annual salary.
Travel and relocation: Eligible employees will be provided with a relocation travel package to NAOJ, subject to the travel regulations of NINS (details must be arranged with the administration office). -
Insurance
Employees' Health Insurance : available/MEXT Mutual Aid Assosication
Employees' Pension Insurance : available
Worker's accident insurance : available
Employment insurance : available
-
Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace
Smoking is prohibited on the premises, excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.
Application Considerations
Number of hired
1 person(s)
Application period
-
2025/04/09~2025/06/20 Deadline for receipt
12:00(noon) (Japan Standard Time)
Application method
-
Attached documents
Other online application forms
Required Application Materials: (All materials should be prepared in English. Any other language will not be accepted.)
(1) A cover letter;
(2) A curriculum vitae;
(3) Publications list (separate refereed and non-refereed papers) and a list of patents (if any). Note that for publications as co-authors and joint patents, the roles of the applicant should be clearly described.
(4) A summary of your past research activities (including achievements in instrument or equipment development and experiences in international collaborations);
(5) Your commitment and plan to fulfill the duties (including your research plan as needed);
(6) Your address (e-mail and phone) for prompt contact and an email address of your current supervisor or line manager; and
(7) Three or more reference letters. Reference letters should be written by faculty/staff with tenured positions. Reference letters from multiple countries are preferred. Please ask your references to upload their letters directly using the URL indicated in [How to submit an application] before the application deadline.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted before the application deadline. -
Return of application documents
Others
Information submitted in your application documents will not be used for any purpose other than the selection process and for contacting you with necessary notices in connection with the selection. Once the selection process is complete, we will securely dispose of all application documents and personal information, except for those submitted by the successful candidate.
Applicants are required to apply via the NAOJ Nextcloud on the web.
(1) Please access the following URL for registration:
https://forms.office.com/r/pZZHpdPYEN
(2) After you submit registration form, you will receive an email showing the URLs for (a) uploading your application documents, and (b) for your reference letters.
(3) Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL shown in (2)(b).
(4) Please upload the application documents (from (1) through (6) above) via the URL (2)(a). These files must be in PDF format (max 50MB each, 100MB in total, at most 10 files).
URL of this job posting
Selection / Notification of result
-
Selection
Candidates selected in the final short list may be interviewed by the selection committee either via internet or face-to-face. The expenses incurred for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.
-
Notification of result
e-mail
Contact details
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
(If you have any questions related to the other items, contact )
Personnel Unit, General Affairs Division, Administration Department
0422343600
job01-professor@nao.ac.jp
Subject of e-mail: “Question on Professor at NAOJ TMT Project”
( If you have any question related to the job description and other items, please contact:)
E-mail address: usuda@naoj.org
Tomonori Usuda, Project Manager of the NAOJ TMT Project
Subject of e-mail: “Question on Professor at NAOJ TMT Project"
Notes
This position is subject to the NINS Employee Regulations. The annual salary schedule indicated in Table (2) of the Research-Education Employee Base Annual Salary shall be applied to this position.
Policy for Equal Employment Opportunity: Abiding by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act for Men and Women, NAOJ is committed to the realization of a society with gender equality.
- If two candidates are deemed equal in their performance evaluation, NAOJ will take positive action to employ women.
- If you have taken a leave(s) such as for maternity, child care, and/or family care, please indicate it in your curriculum vitae. We will consider it when assessing your performance.
For further information about NAOJ's efforts to achieve gender equal society, see
[//www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/gender-equality/en/] *put "https:" befoe "//"
[Recruiting Institution]
Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural
Sciences (NINS), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
