Software Engineer

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of over 40 US institutions and three international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. AURA is responsible for managing the operations of the NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, the National Solar Observatory, and the construction of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope under cooperative agreements with the National Science Foundation and operations of the Space Telescope Science Institute under contracts with NASA.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is an 8.4 m telescope designed to conduct an imaging survey over much of the southern sky repeatedly over a 10-year period.  The data from the Rubin Observatory will be unprecedented in scale and sensitivity to faint objects and will enable a wide range of science from exploration of the Time Domain to Dark Matter and Dark Energy. The sky survey from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is sure to fundamentally change how humanity perceives and understands the Universe in which we live. 

Currently, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is looking for a Software Engineer to work on the design and construction of the telescope. The ideal job holder will be responsible for designing, specifying, overseeing, installing and commissioning the software and control systems for the telescope, active optics, enclosure control, instrument control, data acquisition, data reduction, and user interfacing. The position located in La Serena, Chile.

Essential Functions:

• Self-starter: ability to dig in, figure out what is going and produce results with minimal supervision.  Ability to chase after needs and requirements to correctly complete the job. Produces codes for the love of programming.
• Communicates with the scientist, manager, and/or committee that is providing the technical oversight for the application; participates in design meetings and reviews.
• Identifies the requirements that the application must satisfy; translates user requirements into software design requirements, determines structure of software systems form the design requirements, provides estimates of time and manpower to do the required work.
• Designs, develops, debugs, and maintains software code, documentation and operator instructions.
• Designs, writes and debugs real-time control software and provides low level coding for hardware control.
• Ability to own, maintain and repair previously written real-time control systems.
• Operates computer systems and applications.
• Assists those using the application or computer system.
• Responsible for tracking work effort.
• All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position as defined in the Vela Award Management system.

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, physical science or degree with similar background.
• Experience
• Position requires a minimum of five years software experience.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with telescope control software.
• Experience working with National Instruments hardware (specifically cRIOs)
• Experience working on FPGA programming.
• Experience working with a publish/subscribe communications mechanism similar to the Data Distribution System (DDS).
• Experience with Docker, Jenkins, Puppet or Kubernetes.
• Experience working in an Agile software development team.

Skills

• Bilingual English/Spanish. Fluent in English - both verbal and written
• Requires analytical ability, effective verbal and written communication skills, and ability to function in an unstructured and dynamic work environment, attention to details and commitment to achieving high quality results.
• Knowledge of LabVIEW & C++ or other comparable languages used for real-time work.
• Knowledge of Python or other comparable scripting language.
• Experience with hardware control applications and real time operating systems.
• Experience with UNIX/LINUX especially command line interaction.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License; clean driving record; ability to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Preference will be given to qualified internal candidates.

AURA, as a leader in the astronomical community, is committed to diversity and inclusion. AURA develops and supports programs that advance our organizational commitment to diversity, broaden participation, and encourage the advancement of diversity throughout the astronomical scientific workforce. Learn more at http://www.aura-astronomy.org/diversity

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA and all of the centers, do not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. 

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at [email protected]