Operations Tools Software Engineer

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) operates several observatory centers (including the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, the National Solar Observatory (NSO), Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and the Gemini Observatory) in the United States and Chile under cooperative agreements with the National Science Foundation.

The National Solar Observatory (NSO), Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is seeking an Operations Tools Software Engineer. This position will be located in Boulder, CO. The DKIST is currently under construction in Maui, Hawaii on the summit of Haleakala and scheduled for completion in 2019. The DKIST, will be the world's largest most advanced solar telescope and will help resolve the fundamental interactions between solar magnetic fields and the dynamic atmospheric plasma on scales below 0.1 arcsec over entire active regions.

General Description of Position:

The Software Engineer will participate in the development of the Operational Tools for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope. These web-based tools will be used in concert with existing software and infrastructure that execute telescope operations, and will be responsible for generating metadata critical to DKIST Operations functions. The Engineer will work with the Lead Engineer, Project Manager and Operations Scientist to implement the scientific goals of the project, in collaboration with various support staff. The Engineer will provide technical contributions within the software tools’ development lifecycle, as well as their deployment on cloud and hardware resources. Finally, the Engineer will coordinate with members of the DKIST team(s) producing telescope operational software to leverage existing codebases and support appropriate interfaces between the software stacks.

Essential Functions:

• Implement software tools that meet project requirements through prioritized, continuous delivery
• Build and maintain interfaces to DKIST facility software and libraries

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or business field
• At least four years of demonstrable experience in software development with at least two programming languages, such as Javascript, Java, or Python.
• Experience utilizing cloud resources (AWS, GCP, or Azure) for development, test, and deployment
• Hands-on experience with Linux and open source technologies
• Direct experience developing and maintaining full software stacks, including web front-ends (Vue, React, or Angular), service back-ends, and infrastructure
• Experience working within a continuous build, integration, and deployment environment
• Demonstrable experience working with other software developers, database administrators, and operations engineers in product delivery
• Willingness to learn new technologies and languages as needed
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to speak and write effectively in English, including preparation of technical reports
• Occasional travel (<10%) expected
• At least 4-years of progressively responsible experience in software engineering.

Desirable Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Prior experience with cloud infrastructure configuration systems (Terraform)
• Understanding of the Jython programming environment and language
• Hands-on experience using container technologies (Docker) for software/system development, testing, and deployment
• Experience working in scientific or technical (e.g. engineering) organizations, and/or have been involved with developing system architecture serving such organizations.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately

Please list 3 professional references in your application and attach a CV or resume to your application. Should you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

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.asp.

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 does 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. 

NSO will accept and review applications until the position is filled. Please be sure to submit a completed application along with supporting documents by no later than September 27th to be considered in the first review. Qualified internal candidates will be given preference.