Manager / Software Scientist

With two 8.4m mirrors on a common mount that can be combined to form an interferometer with an effective aperture of 23m, complemented with adaptive secondary mirrors, the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) is the largest optical telescope in operation. Providing unprecedented ground-based resolution at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths, the LBT is a forerunner of the Extremely Large Telescopes. With a suite of state of the art instruments nearing completion, the observatory is moving to full operation while adding new capabilities such as ground-layer AO and new AO-fed instrumentation.

The LBT Observatory (LBTO) is headquartered on the Tucson campus of the University of Arizona and the telescope itself is located on Mt Graham (3200m), a 3.5-hour drive from campus.

LBTO is seeking a Manager/ Software Scientist who will lead the LBTO Software and Systems Administration Group at the observatory. As the principal of this group, the successful candidate will serve as a member of the LBTO management team and Observatory Council.

The main responsibility of the Manager/ Software Scientist is to create, guide, and manage the vision for software/ IT support at the observatory. This involves collaborative coordination with multi-disciplinary teams, to include Engineering, Mountain Support, Science Operations, Business Office, and the Director. It includes full life-cycle development, performance related monitoring and enhancements, and support for new instrument developments at the observatory. The Manager/ Software Scientist will manage day-to-day software/IT development and operations functions, and perform regular planning, scheduling, and budget oversight for the group.

This group consists of approximately 7 dedicated software developers and 2 systems administrators. Software development and maintenance support for Telescope Control System (TCS), Adaptive Optics (AO) software, facility instrument software, and Operations Support tools are all included. IT maintenance and troubleshooting support includes responsibilities for the Tucson office environment and two computer rooms at the telescope facility on Mt Graham.

More information here: http://www.lbto.org/manager-software-scientist.html