Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

JPL is unique among NASA Centers in that its staff are Caltech employees, yet can access NASA technical resources. Cross-discipline teamwork is standard here: colleagues across JPL's science and engineering organizations and on Caltech's academic campus often work together. Learning to speak and understand other disciplines' languages is a doorway to the creativity needed to do what has not been done before. JPL staff are encouraged to create mission concepts that address humanity's core questions through a combination of science and technology. They are supported in developing ideas into proposals and hardware, and in communicating funded missions' results to the scientific community and the broader public. JPL seeks to employ scientists and engineers who are passionate about lifelong learning and excited to both contribute to and lead team efforts. We emphasize the importance of partnering across discipline boundaries and creating a friendly, constructive work environment to overcome space exploration's challenges. The Postdoctoral scholars at JPL benefit from an informal mentoring network, an annual conference showcasing their results, a dedicated seminar series, exposure to diverse career paths, and social connections across the JPL and Caltech community for advice on housing, childcare, and other aspects of living in southern California.

JPL’s Planetary Geosciences group investigates the geology, surface composition, and interiors of terrestrial planets, covering a range of topics including planetary mapping, data analysis, laboratory studies, and modeling. Group members work in all phases of mission work, including development, hardware, and operations.

The team is seeking a postdoc who will lead a project to improve our understanding of plagioclase detections on Mars from visible near infrared spectral datasets, and to help define requirements for potential future Martian airborne spectrometers that might explore these deposits in the future.

The selected postdoc will:

• Characterize the spectral, chemical, and morphologic properties of plagioclase-rich basalts from the Columbia River basalt, which have plagioclase phenocrysts ranging from millimeters to several centimeters in size. Results should improve our understanding of factors that control the shape and variability of the 1.3 µm absorption from Fe-rich plagioclase in whole-rock spectra.

• Participate in two, one weeklong field expeditions to southeast Oregon in August 2025 and August 2026 to collect additional samples and to characterize spectral properties at the landscape scale. This work is part of a larger PSTAR project exploring the science, technology, and science operations for a potential future Mars helicopter mission.

• May also be asked to assist with other portions of the project if it’s of interest.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Planetary Science, Geology, or similar field

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working with remote sensing datasets,

• GIS,

• Visible-shortwave reflectance spectral datasets,

• Analysis of samples using electron microprobes,

• Igneous/volcanic processes and/or geologic field work.

The appointee will carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor, resulting in publications in the open literature.

Applicants may be subject to additional program requirements (https://postdocs.jpl.nasa.gov/prospective-postdocs/eligibility/) by NASA. Postdoc positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years.

Candidates should submit the following to this site: CV, representative publications, contact information for three references, and a cover letter stating their research accomplishments and interests

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks (https://www.jpl.jobs/benefits-perks)

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. Hiring range for this job may be adjusted based on primary work location outside of Pasadena, California. This adjusted range will be provided to candidates by the Recruiter when applicable.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$83,820 - $83,820

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law. (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/posters)

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_English_unformattedESQA508c.pdf)

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here (https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control) .