ELT Programme Scientist

The ELT Programme Scientist provides the overall scientific leadership for the ELT and its suite of instruments. The role encompasses all scientific aspects of the ELT Construction Programme, covering the telescope itself, and the development of its instruments under the ESO Instrumentation Programme. A key responsibility is to ensure strategic and scientific alignment between these two programmes. The Programme Scientist is charged with developing strategies to maximise the scientific performance of both the telescope and its instruments currently under development, shaping plans for future instrumentation, advising operations, and overseeing telescope and instruments commissioning and science verification.

In addition, the Programme Scientist serves as the primary interface between the ELT, the instrument Consortia, and the broader user community. By closely monitoring the evolving scientific priorities of the community within the rapidly advancing landscape of astronomical facilities projected for the 2030s and beyond, the Programme Scientist ensures that the ELT delivers world‑leading optical and infrared capabilities to drive major astrophysical discoveries.

We are seeking an experienced senior scientist with a strong technical background to provide authoritative scientific leadership and advice across both the ELT telescope Construction and Instrumentation Programmes, in coordination with the other ESO Programme Scientists (VLT, VLTI, ALMA, CTA) to enable scientific synergies.

• Provide scientific leadership to the ELT Construction Programme and ensure that the telescope will be scientifically exploited to the best of its capabilities;
• Guide the scientific development of ELT instruments through sound scientific leadership within the ESO Instrumentation Programme, helping ensure they meet their science goals;
• Act as a strategic and scientific connector between the Telescope and its suite of Instruments across both Programmes, ensuring that their combined performance offers the highest possible scientific return;
• Oversee and maintain the ELT Observatory Top Level Requirements, working closely with the ELT Construction Programme Manager to ensure these are integrated throughout the construction phase;
• Collaborate closely with the Instrumentation Programme Manager to maintain, evolve and develop the ELT Instrumentation Plan;
• Provide advice to the Instrumentation Programme Manager to ensure that the necessary design trade‑offs made on the Programme are carried out within an appropriate science‑driven context. Provide science‑based guidance on design decisions, helping to set clear and balanced scientific priorities in this context;
• Lead the scientific verification of the telescope performance and the commissioning and science verification of the instruments;
• Engage with the Community to optimise the usage of ESO optical and near‑infrared telescopes, together with other ESO Programme Scientists;
• Prepare and give briefings to communicate progress and challenges to ESO governing bodies and committees as needed;
• Inform the Director for Science about ELT developments, challenges and scientific productivity;
• Support public engagement and outreach, in collaboration with the Communication Department, helping make the scientific goals and results of the ELT and its instruments accessible and inspiring to a diverse audience.

As a member of the ESO Astronomy Faculty, the ELT Programme Scientist is expected and encouraged to conduct an active astronomical research programme on a 50/50 basis.

Reports to:

Director for Science

• Ability to think strategically, taking a long‑term perspective and openness to new ideas, challenges and anticipating future needs or trends;
• Experience in supporting and leading geographically dispersed, multicultural and interdisciplinary teams, with an inclusive and respectful approach to team dynamics;
• Experience collaborating to develop shared visions and scientific strategies for the future, both within ESO and the wider astronomical community;
• In‑depth knowledge of astrophysical instrumentation,…