JavaScript and Web Developer

BACKGROUND

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the most powerful ground-based telescope ever engineered. It was designed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and discover the unknown. With unmatched image quality, seven of the world’s largest mirrors will launch our view into the universe to uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant exoplanets for the first time.

The 30-meter class telescope is under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the best locations on Earth to view the heavens. From this unrivaled vantage into the southern sky, the Giant Magellan Telescope will produce the sharpest and most detailed images ever taken of our universe, ten times greater than the famed Hubble Space Telescope and four times the James Webb Space Telescope.

When complete in the late 2020s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be the largest public-private funded science project in history. The endeavor was founded by an international consortium of leading universities and research institutions representing five countries, and is managed by the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pasadena, California. Our culture is impactful, inclusive, and fearlessly innovative. We solve the most difficult engineering challenges and scientific questions with talented individuals who share a passion for revolutionizing humanity’s knowledge of the universe.

We invite you to join our team and leave your mark on astronomy’s future and beyond.

The Universe Awaits.

 

JOB SUMMARY

The Giant Magellan Telescope’s (GMT) Software and Controls (SWC) team is pursuing a highly qualified JavaScript and Web Developer to work on the user interfaces for the Observatory Control System (OCS) and different Device Control System (DCS) for the observatory subsystems.

Reporting to the Software and Controls Manager, the JavaScript and Web Developer will be part of the Software and Controls (SWC) team and will be responsible to design, implement and test JavaScript and web applications to support the development of applications and tools for the GMT user interface. This position requires strong JavaScript programming skills for back-end and front-end applications and be able to work in a team development environment.

The JavaScript and Web Developer will work closely with the software architects and other software developers to provide high-quality software to the developers and end users of the GMT Control System.

In order to be able to recommend and implement innovative solutions the JavaScript and Web Developer is expected to keep up to date with current trends and tools in user interface and web development tools.

 

JOB DUTIES

• Design and implement JavaScript web applications, frameworks and npm packages
• Design and implement user interfaces for control systems and observatory software
• Develop tools using the GMT software architecture and existing javascript frameworks
• Work collaboratively with the architecture and development teams
• Follow coding standards, builds unit tests, integration tests and deployment scripts
• Prototype/translate designs and style guides into functional user interfaces
• Create requirements, design and test documentation
• Perform training and support to end users
• Install and setup required software
• Provide reports on progress and problems
• Write technical reports, manuals and support documentation
• Prepare and deliver presentations at project reviews and conferences
• Support developers and community on support forums, mailing lists, wikis, etc.

 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• MS degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science or a related discipline
• Proven experience developing with JavaScript and Node.js
• Familiarity with the NPM ecosystem and JS build systems (Babel/Webpack/Snowpack/Rollup)
• Familiarity with Declarative UI programming (React, Vue, Svelte, Rx, lit-html, Stencil) and state management solutions (Redux, Flux, Vuex)
• Familiarity with Web Components, SASS, CSS and CSS in JS
• Experience developing complex single page applications (SPA)
• Experience developing with Electron
• Knowledge of User Interface Design Patterns
• Knowledge of Component-based Software Engineering
• Experience with web services, REST API’s and WebSocket
• Knowledge of client server and internet systems architectures
• Experience in agile projects
• Knowledge of Mac (Unix) and Linux and networked applications
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Ability to work with cross-functional work teams and users
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness and ability to travel to foreign and domestic vendor, partner, and observatory locations as the need arises

 

DESIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• JavaScript family languages (e.g. Coffee Script, TypeScript)
• JSON, XML, JSX
• Experience with UML
• Experience with Model Based Software Engineering based on DSLs
• Previous experience in telescopes or related sciences is a plus

 

APPLYING

To apply send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected].

If your skills and experience are a match for the position or if we need additional information, we will contact you. If we do not see a suitable match between your qualifications and the position, we will keep your information on file in the event future positions become available that are more suitable to your qualifications.

The GMTO Corporation is an equal employment opportunity employer.