About Precision Federal
Precision Federal is a small business building AI, data and software systems for government agencies. The company’s founder loves God, and the company is built on Christian faith: every number we publish is real, every claim we make is verifiable, and the work is done with excellence as service to God. Faith is welcome here and openly shared.
How this role works
- You join the bench. You apply with your weekly hours and start time. We set your hourly rate from your résumé, and we may name you on proposals that match this role. If we don't win, you owe nothing.
- A contract is awarded. The award funds the team named in the proposal. Your engagement begins at the hourly rate we agreed on.
- You work remote, paid from the contract. ~100–600 hrs per funded award — and if no award ever funds, you owe nothing and lose nothing.
What you'll do
- Lead or co-lead the science plan for exoplanet precursor work, from target-star lists to the questions the data has to answer
- Build or review observatory yield models and radiative-transfer or atmosphere models, and tell us plainly where the assumptions are thin
- Check our data pipelines and software against how UV, visible and near-infrared observations are actually taken, reduced and calibrated
- Write and review the science sections, figures and citations that go to the Government, and point us at the catalogs and literature we should be using
Required qualifications
- PhD in astrophysics, astronomy or physics with a peer-reviewed publication record in exoplanets or stellar astrophysics
- Published work in UV, visible or near-infrared observations, coronagraphy or high-contrast imaging, or target-star characterization
- Available part time as a 1099 contractor
- U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (U.S. person)
- Willing to be named on a federal proposal with a one-page resume, and to sign a short letter of commitment
Preferred qualifications
- Habitable Worlds Observatory precursor science, or work on an exoplanet direct-imaging mission concept
- Hands-on experience with yield or exposure-time modeling (EXOSIMS, AYO or comparable) or with radiative-transfer and atmosphere codes (PSG, petitRADTRANS, PICASO or comparable)
- Prior PI or Co-I role on a funded research award, plus archival data from HST, JWST, Gaia or TESS
Compensation & structure
1099 consulting engagement. $85–$170 per hour; we set your rate from your résumé and experience. Hours are funded by federal contract awards — this seat is scoped at roughly 100–600 hours per funded award, fully remote. Work and pay begin only if the contract is awarded — no award, no hours, no obligation.