Senior Software Engineer, McDonald Observatory

The McDonald Observatory at The University of Texas invites applications for a Senior Software Engineer to manage, design, develop, direct, and perform advanced professional level applied software engineering in support of the goals of the McDonald Observatory, including engineering of real-time control and data acquisition systems for a wide variety of scientific instruments developed and built for astronomical research. Integrates and tests the software in the lab, and then deploys and debugs the software at the telescope.

• Serves as designer, lead programmer, and maintainer of software systems to control astronomical instruments developed and built at McDonald Observatory for use by scientists in astronomical research, and for the telescope control systems for Observatory telescopes as part of upgrade programs and new instrument deployments. Will participate in software development related to the Giant Magellan Telescope. Examples include image readout from CCD and CMOS imaging devices and storage of said images; motion control of optomechanical components; telescope positioning and real-time feedback-guided motion control; and instrument and telescope user interfaces and metrology displays.
• Coordinates with project and systems scientists to ensure control system and instrumentation software meet scientific requirements and project goals; studies the existing architecture for the real-time telescope and instrument control systems, extends the existing software interfaces, and defines any missing interfaces, including implementation to evolving requirements where required. Researches existing and new applicable technologies and algorithms to adapt system design.

Minimum qualification includes a Bachelor’s degree in computer and information science, or other related STEM fields · Three years of experience in systems design, analysis, and programming. · Demonstrated knowledge of C/C++ and Python software development (design, coding, debugging, integration, and testing) in a GNU/Linux environment with a focus on the software-interface portions of electromechanical device control systems. · Ability to serve as architect and lead programmer on complex and challenging software development projects. · Understanding of plane and spherical trigonometry and calculus. See job description for preferred qualifications.