Genesis - CH Senior Reseach Assistant

University of Bern; Bern; On-site; CHF 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Bern seeks a Senior Research Assistant in Bern to coordinate extensive software modifications for ESA's Genesis project. The role requires implementing enhancements, reviewing HPC workflows, and ensuring robust data handling.

You will collaborate with international partners and ESA teams, contributing to high-precision Earth-fixed coordinate system work and space geodetic analyses. English fluency is essential.

Qualifications

• Master or PhD in computer science, astronomy, geodesy, physics or related field.
• Experience in software engineering using Fortran, C++, Python and Perl is mandatory.
• Background in space geodetic data analyses, ideally with Bernese GNSS Software.
• Fluent in English; able to speak and write clearly.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate software modifications for the Genesis mission in a two-year frame.
• Review and advance development environment and processes as needed.
• Engage with external partners (BKG, VUGTK, TUM) and ESA teams.

Skills

English fluency

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master or PhD in CS/astronomy/geodesy/physics

Tools

Bernese GNSS Software

Fortran

C++

Python

Perl

Job description

UniBE is interconnected.With us, you're part of an international community and benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration.

Objective

The main objective of ESA's Genesis mission is to realize an ultra-stable, global Earth-fixed coordinate system (aiming for 1 mm accuracy and 0.1 mm/year stability necessary to monitor climate change relevant processes). The Genesis satellite will combine the four space geodetic techniques, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS, like GPS), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS), and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), on a highly calibrated and stable platform. The adequate analysis of these mission data requires significant upgrades and developments in scientific software packages, like for instance the Bernese GNSS Software maintained and used at AIUB.

The position of the Senior Research Assistant is scheduled for two years and will coordinate the significant amount of software modifications, that need to be done in parallel. In this context, the development environment and process used at AIUB shall be reviewed and advanced where necessary. In the frame of this project a number of decisions have to be taken (regarding, e.g., software design, data handling, High Performance Computing, HPC), where professional input from a software engineer is welcome. The activities will also include contacts to external partner institutions such as the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG), Germany, the Research Institute of Geodesy, Cartography and Topography (VUGTK), Czech Republic, and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany. The planned developments will be performed in close exchange with ESA's Genesis Science Exploitation Team and the IAG/IERS Joint Working Group, where IAG is the International Association of Geodesy and IERS stands for International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service.

Education

The candidate is expected to have successfully completed a Master or Ph.D. thesis in computer science, astronomy, geodesy, physics, or a related topic. Experience in software engineering (we use modern Fortran, C++, Python, and Perl) is mandatory, a background in space geodetic data analyses, ideally using the Bernese GNSS Software package, is beneficial. The candidate should speak and write English fluently.

The candidate should start working in Bern as soon as possible.

The position is scheduled for two years with an option for an extension to three years. The salary follows the guidelines of the University of Bern and depends on the qualification of the successful candidate.

Application and Contact

Applications (including CV, university diploma copies, record of study, possible references) should be received as soon as possible but no later than November 15, 2026 at the following address:

Prof. Dr. Adrian Jäggi
Genesis-CH PI
Astronomical Institute
University of Bern
Sidlerstrasse 5
CH-3012 Bern
Switzerland
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]