Software Engineer I

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy•Boulder, CO

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The NSF Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST), operated by the National Solar Observatory (NSO), is the world’s largest and most advanced solar telescope, designed to help answer fundamental questions about our Sun and its complex magnetic fields and resolve fundamental interactions between solar magnetic fields and dynamic atmospheric plasma. DKIST, which completed construction and began operations in November 2021 on the summit of Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii, is a major program within the NSO. The NSO, an NSF national research and development center dedicated to solar science, is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). AURA, a consortium of 49 U.S. institutions and 3 international affiliates, operates world-class astronomical observatories, establishing, nurturing, and promoting public observatories and facilities that drive innovative astronomical research. NSO is hiring for a Software Engineer I to support the development, testing, and maintenance of high-level software systems that enable telescope operations, instrumentation control, and data acquisition. This role involves working with PLCs and other low-level controllers up to user interfaces and supporting telescope operators, scientists, and engineers. The Software Engineer I will work under the guidance of senior software engineers to write reliable code, troubleshoot issues, and help integrate hardware and software components.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field
Experience in software development including Linux, Java, C++, and Python programming
Ability to work within an established software framework
Good communication and interpersonal skills
Basic level of networking knowledge
Commitment to stay abreast of current-market hardware and software
Sensitive to and respectful of cultural and environmental

Nice To Haves

Agile software development using Atlassian JIRA.
Experience in GUI development, databases, communications middleware
Experience with Make, cmake, Maven, Git, Ubuntu Linux, and various IDEs
Experience in unit and system testing
Understanding of CI/CD and DevOps in general

Responsibilities

Implement and Maintain Code: Develop features, bug fixes, and enhancements for telescope control systems, instrumentation software, and data services under supervision.
Testing and Validation: Write unit and integration tests; assist with system validation during development and prior to deployment.
Operational Support: Troubleshoot routine software issues during observing operations and assist with incident resolution.
Documentation: Maintain clear technical documentation for code, configuration, and operational procedures.
Continuous Learning and Collaboration: Learn observatory systems, development standards, and domain knowledge while collaborating effectively with engineers, scientists, and operators.
Contribute to a collaborative, respectful, and productive workplace by maintaining open communication, supporting team efforts, and fostering a sense of belonging within the team.
Work in accordance with applicable safety standards. Ensure safety of operations in areas under purview. Report any unsafe conditions and practices.