Software Engineer III-IV
About The Position
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is an exciting and prestigious research facility that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. The Observatory operates a variety of radio telescopes that span the globe, including the famous Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. These telescopes are among the most advanced in the world, allowing astronomers to explore the universe in unprecedented detail. The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is an array of 66 radio antenna located high in the Chilean Andes. Its scientific capabilities are, by a large factor, better than any other millimeter wave radio telescope. It was commissioned in 2013 and is, to date, the largest ground-based astronomical project. ALMA is supported by a diverse team of people on four continents (North America, South America, Europe and Asia). We are seeking a Software Engineer to join the North America (NA) ALMA software development team and work jointly with our National Research Council (of Canada) collaborators and other ALMA software teams. The NA software team is responsible for the data acquisition (Control and Correlator) and Scheduling software; the EU software team is responsible for user tools such as proposal submission, project tracking, and quality assurance. We are a small, distributed team that values curiosity, diligence, and professional communication. There is potential to grow into leadership of significant software infrastructure upgrades, and to design, prototype, and install new software technologies. We operate in an environment of continuous upgrades to both ALMA and to our team’s skills. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to the next generation of significant software upgrades to the ALMA telescope. The potential exists to lead significant software infrastructure upgrades and tackle obsolescence by designing and prototyping new software technologies, building new user tools for astronomers and operators, and interfacing with the next generation of ALMA system-wide hardware upgrades. This position will ideally be located at NRAO facilities in Charlottesville (VA). It may be possible to work from our other facilities in Socorro (NM) or Albuquerque (NM). Fully remote work may be possible for an exceptionally qualified candidate.
Requirements
- You have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, science or related field
- You have at least 3 years of experience in software development for level 3, or 5 years for level 4
- Experience modern, multi-threaded C++ development
- Experience Python development
- Familiarity with Linux operating systems
- Understanding of object-oriented design and development
- Familiarity with modern servers and network equipment
- Experience with version control software and testing methodologies
- Experience debugging and profiling software systems
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills
- Experience working with peers in a distributed team
- Willingness to travel internationally and work at high altitudes if needed
Nice To Haves
- While not required, you may have experience in Astronomy or Mathematics
- Familiarity with basic astronomical principles, in particular interferometry, and observatory operations
- Ability to work with international colleagues
Responsibilities
- Develop, test, and integrate the ATAC software written in C++ and Python
- Contribute to the development of the IDTF by installing and configuring servers and network equipment
- Contribute to the operation of the IDTF by setting up and conducting integration testing with ALMA partners
- Proactively diagnose and troubleshoot problems found in the verification and validation of software
- Utilize continuous integration to automate builds and testing
- Participate in multi-country ALMA-wide software meetings
- Communicate effectively with staff at all ALMA sites
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
