California Institute of Technology Green Card Visa Sponsorship Jobs USA
Caltech sponsors Green Card visas for researchers, faculty, and specialized technical staff across its world-renowned science and engineering programs. While it sponsors selectively rather than at high volume, roles tied to long-term research and academic appointments are the most likely pathways to permanent residence.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.
Job Summary
IPAC at Caltech invites applications for the position of Calibration Scientist for the NEO Surveyor Survey Data System (NSDS). IPAC is building and will operate the NSDS for NASA’s NEO Surveyor (NEOS) mission. The NSDS ingests imaging and engineering data from the flight system, processes that data into calibrated image and source detection products, performs automated searches for moving Solar system objects, assesses the quality of the survey data, and distributes data products to NASA archives and the user community, including sending moving object tracklets to the Minor Planet Center. NEO Surveyor has well-established requirements on astrometric and photometric calibration performance, which the Calibration Scientist will work on achieving.
IPAC is part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech. We are a dedicated team of scientists, engineers, and administrative personnel who provide science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. NEO Surveyor is a NASA Planetary Defense mission, scheduled to launch in late 2027, that is optimized to detect, track, and characterize Solar system small bodies that pose a potential risk to the Earth. NEO Surveyor consists of a passively cooled 50 cm telescope located at Sun-Earth L1 equipped with a wide-field camera that will image the sky simultaneously in two mid-infrared bands. NEO Surveyor will detect approximately 100,000 Main Belt asteroids, NEOs, and comets each day against a background of tens of millions of distant stars and galaxies.
Essential Job Duties
As part of the NEO Surveyor team at IPAC, your job duties as NSDS Calibration Scientist will include:
- Maintaining and updating the NEO Surveyor Science Data Calibration Plan
- Maintenance of the astrometric and photometric uncertainty budgets
- Working with the Project Scientist and Instrument teams to ensure needed calibration measurements are collected during ground testing, including travel to partner test facilities
- Working with the IPAC NEO Surveyor team in producing the necessary calibration products for the NSDS from ground and flight data
- Planning and analyzing special calibrations during the Survey Verification phase of the mission
- Planning and analyzing the standard photometric calibration observations during the survey
- Assisting with producing the public-facing documentation for the realized calibration process and reporting on its overall performance
- Participation in NEO Surveyor mission meetings and workshops
You would be expected to maintain an independent research program, ideally making use of NEO Surveyor data, and participate in the broader IPAC scientific community.
Basic Qualifications
If you have the following in your background, then we want to hear about your interest in joining our team:
- PhD in Planetary Science, Astronomy, or a related field, and at least 2 years of post-PhD experience
- Experience analyzing telescope images and extracted data for astronomical and/or planetary science research
- Demonstrated written and oral communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
Besides these basic qualifications, below are a set of skills that will enhance your contributions to this role. The following might give you a head start, but even if these don’t describe you or your experience, we would still like to hear from you.
- Experience working with large astronomical survey data sets
- Experience working with infrared astronomical data
- Experience with astrometric and photometric calibration of space-based data sets
- Experience working with NASA projects especially dealing with distributed teams of scientists and engineers
Required Documents
- Cover letter
- Full resume or CV
- Names and Contact information of 3 professional references
Hiring Range
$79,700 - $105,000 per year
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.
Disability Accommodations
Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.
If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.
Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.
INTRODUCTION
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.
Job Summary
IPAC at Caltech invites applications for the position of Calibration Scientist for the NEO Surveyor Survey Data System (NSDS). IPAC is building and will operate the NSDS for NASA’s NEO Surveyor (NEOS) mission. The NSDS ingests imaging and engineering data from the flight system, processes that data into calibrated image and source detection products, performs automated searches for moving Solar system objects, assesses the quality of the survey data, and distributes data products to NASA archives and the user community, including sending moving object tracklets to the Minor Planet Center. NEO Surveyor has well-established requirements on astrometric and photometric calibration performance, which the Calibration Scientist will work on achieving.
IPAC is part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech. We are a dedicated team of scientists, engineers, and administrative personnel who provide science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. NEO Surveyor is a NASA Planetary Defense mission, scheduled to launch in late 2027, that is optimized to detect, track, and characterize Solar system small bodies that pose a potential risk to the Earth. NEO Surveyor consists of a passively cooled 50 cm telescope located at Sun-Earth L1 equipped with a wide-field camera that will image the sky simultaneously in two mid-infrared bands. NEO Surveyor will detect approximately 100,000 Main Belt asteroids, NEOs, and comets each day against a background of tens of millions of distant stars and galaxies.
Essential Job Duties
As part of the NEO Surveyor team at IPAC, your job duties as NSDS Calibration Scientist will include:
- Maintaining and updating the NEO Surveyor Science Data Calibration Plan
- Maintenance of the astrometric and photometric uncertainty budgets
- Working with the Project Scientist and Instrument teams to ensure needed calibration measurements are collected during ground testing, including travel to partner test facilities
- Working with the IPAC NEO Surveyor team in producing the necessary calibration products for the NSDS from ground and flight data
- Planning and analyzing special calibrations during the Survey Verification phase of the mission
- Planning and analyzing the standard photometric calibration observations during the survey
- Assisting with producing the public-facing documentation for the realized calibration process and reporting on its overall performance
- Participation in NEO Surveyor mission meetings and workshops
You would be expected to maintain an independent research program, ideally making use of NEO Surveyor data, and participate in the broader IPAC scientific community.
Basic Qualifications
If you have the following in your background, then we want to hear about your interest in joining our team:
- PhD in Planetary Science, Astronomy, or a related field, and at least 2 years of post-PhD experience
- Experience analyzing telescope images and extracted data for astronomical and/or planetary science research
- Demonstrated written and oral communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
Besides these basic qualifications, below are a set of skills that will enhance your contributions to this role. The following might give you a head start, but even if these don’t describe you or your experience, we would still like to hear from you.
- Experience working with large astronomical survey data sets
- Experience working with infrared astronomical data
- Experience with astrometric and photometric calibration of space-based data sets
- Experience working with NASA projects especially dealing with distributed teams of scientists and engineers
Required Documents
- Cover letter
- Full resume or CV
- Names and Contact information of 3 professional references
Hiring Range
$79,700 - $105,000 per year
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.
Disability Accommodations
Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.
If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.
Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding California Institute of Technology Green Card Jobs
Target research and faculty roles
Green Card sponsorship at Caltech is most common in research-intensive positions, postdoctoral researchers, research scientists, and tenure-track faculty. These roles align with the long-term employment continuity that Green Card sponsorship requires from an institutional sponsor.
Understand the EB-1 and EB-2 pathways
Caltech's academic profile makes it well-suited to support EB-1B (outstanding researcher) and EB-2 NIW petitions for exceptional candidates. If your publication record or research impact is strong, discuss these pathways with Caltech's international office early.
Build tenure in a sponsored nonimmigrant status first
Most Caltech Green Card sponsorships follow a period on H-1B visa or O-1 visa status. Demonstrating consistent performance and institutional value in a nonimmigrant role significantly strengthens your case when the department initiates a Green Card petition.
Engage the international scholar services office early
Caltech's international scholars office coordinates permanent residency filings alongside hiring departments. Raising Green Card sponsorship during offer negotiations rather than after starting gives both parties time to plan PERM labor certification or EB-1B documentation.
Search for open roles with confirmed sponsorship history
Not every Caltech job posting will state Green Card sponsorship explicitly. Migrate Mate surfaces verified sponsors so you can filter by real sponsorship history, helping you focus your applications on positions where permanent residency support is a realistic outcome.
Align your application with Caltech's departmental priorities
Departments with active, externally funded research programs are more likely to justify Green Card sponsorship to administration. Targeting divisions in physics, biology, engineering, and computing where Caltech has sustained funding improves your chances of securing long-term sponsorship commitment.
California Institute of Technology Green Card Visa Sponsorship: Frequently Asked Questions
Does California Institute of Technology sponsor Green Card visas?
Yes, Caltech sponsors Green Card visas for select employees, primarily in research, faculty, and specialized technical roles. Sponsorship is not offered for every position and is typically reserved for roles where there is a demonstrated long-term institutional need. Candidates in postdoctoral, research scientist, and tenure-track faculty positions are the most common recipients.
Which roles and departments at Caltech are most likely to receive Green Card sponsorship?
Green Card sponsorship at Caltech is most frequently associated with research-focused departments in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and engineering. Faculty lines and senior research scientist positions carry the strongest sponsorship potential. Administrative and operational roles are far less likely to be sponsored for permanent residence, as the business necessity standard under PERM is harder to satisfy in those cases.
How do I navigate the Green Card application process at California Institute of Technology?
The process typically begins with your hiring department and Caltech's international scholar services office jointly determining the appropriate Green Card category. For most research staff, this means either PERM labor certification followed by an EB-2 or EB-3 petition, or an EB-1B outstanding researcher petition bypassing PERM. Caltech works with immigration counsel to prepare filings, so your primary role is gathering documentation of your qualifications and research contributions.
How long does the Green Card process take at Caltech?
Timeline depends heavily on the visa category and your country of birth. An EB-1B petition without PERM can move faster, often reaching approval within one to two years under normal processing. PERM-based EB-2 and EB-3 cases require a lengthy labor market test before the immigrant petition even begins. Applicants born in India or China face additional waits due to per-country backlog limits that can extend the total process by many years.
How do I find Green Card jobs at California Institute of Technology?
Start by identifying open roles in research, faculty, and scientific staff categories where sponsorship is historically most common. Migrate Mate lists Caltech positions alongside verified sponsorship history, so you can quickly identify roles where Green Card support is a realistic expectation rather than guessing from a generic job posting. When you apply, address your long-term research goals directly to signal you are a candidate worth a sponsorship investment.
What is the prevailing wage for Green Card sponsorship at California Institute of Technology?
Employers sponsoring a Green Card through the PERM labor certification process must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role. The Department of Labor determines this rate based on the specific job title, location, and experience level. The prevailing wage is locked in during the PERM filing and applies through the entire Green Card process. You can look up current rates using the DOL's OFLC Wage Search tool.