2015-10-05

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

The LSST Project has begun construction of a large ground based observatory in Chile. The 8.4-meter LSST will survey the entire visible sky deeply in multiple colors every week with its three-billion pixel digital camera, probing the mysteries of Dark Matter and Dark Energy, and opening a movie-like window on objects that change or move rapidly: exploding supernovae, potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids, and distant Kuiper Belt Objects.

The LSST Telescope and Site Group (T&S) is looking for a Software Engineer to complete the design, implementation, and verification of software components necessary for the LSST survey mission. This position will engage in all phases of software development including: requirements elicitation, detailed design, implementation, and verification. The Software Engineer will be responsible for delivery of high quality end products including: requirements, designs, deployed control and user applications, and user manuals in a timely fashion. Typical components to be delivered include those to handle dome enclosure control, active optics, and instrument control. This position may be responsible for managing out-sourced contracts.

Essential Functions:

This position will work closely with the T&S Lead Software Manager and with other members of the software team. The Software Engineer will be responsible for:

For software component, in coordination with customers and software team:

Elicits software requirements, showing traceability to higher-level requirements.

Participates in selection of input and output electronic devices, where appropriate.

Prepares component structural model.

Creates behavioral model showing system triggers and states.

Develops detailed design class model.

Implements design in source code.

Builds and deploys application.

At each step, participates in review of element with team. Participates with team in reviews of other components.

Provides component development plan inputs and reports progress against plan.

Communicates constructively with customers and fellow team members to ensure successful realization of project needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or physical science. Master's degree preferred.

Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Analytical and problem solving ability.

Attention to detail and commitment to achieving high quality results on time.

At least two years of software experience.

Experience with hardware control applications and real-time operating systems.

Demonstrated working experience in National Instruments LabVIEW (including Real Time and FPGA applications). Knowledge of LabVIEW Object-Oriented Programming is a plus.

Demonstrated working experience in MATLAB, Excel Visual Basic, C code.

Experience working with version control systems.

Experience with unit testing.

Ability to function in an unstructured and dynamic work environment.

Desired Experience/Skills/Abilities:

Experience in the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Systems Modeling Language (SysML). Especially advantageous is expertise with Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect.

Skill in object-oriented analysis and design. Knowledge of object-oriented design patterns is a plus.

Experience working with issue tracking and management software, especially Atlassian JIRA.

Working experience in wiki publishing, especially Atlassian Confluence.

Ability to work in iterative development cycles.

Experience working with publish-subscribe protocols, especially Data Distribution Service (DDS).

Knowledge of C and other comparable languages used for real-time work.

Expertise in Java or Python.

Experience in contract management

Experience working on telescopes or similarly complex systems.

Ability to learn and apply new skills.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. All complete applications received by November 1, 2015 will be given full consideration.

Please apply online here: http://www.aura-astronomy.org/jobs/

As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate because of race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. Preference granted to qualified Native Americans living on or near the Tohono O'odham reservation.

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