Head of Science Operation Software Department

Big Science Sweden; Deutschland; Remote; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

ESO's Science Operation Software Department in Garching near Munich, Germany, invites applications for the Head of Science Operation Software Department. The role leads a team of about 32 software engineers and ~18 subcontractors across Dataflow Infrastructure, Pipeline Systems, and Software Engineering & Quality, while contributing to key ESO projects.

The successful candidate will balance strategic leadership with hands-on technical contributions, shaping software for end-to-end dataflow

Job description

Head of Science Operation Software Department

Datum: 19 september, 2026 Tid: 11:59

Placering: ESO

Mer information

The ESO Science Operation Software Department (SCS), within the Directorate of Engineering (DoE) at its Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany, is advertising the following opportunity: Head of Science Operation Software Department.

The Science Operation Software Department provides software engineering expertise to all ESO projects within the ESO matrix organization, in the areas of end-to-end dataflow science operations software for ESO observatories, LaSilla-Paranal, ALMA, and E-ELT. In addition, the department provides support to operational applications used by ESO operation teams, with application support encompassing troubleshooting, deployment, and monitoring of science operation software.

The successful candidate will dedicate approximately 50% of their time to leading a team of around 32 software engineers and ca 18 subcontractors across three groups, the Dataflow Infrastructure group, the Pipeline Systems group, and the Software Engineering and Quality group, while also contributing to own technical developments to one or more ESO projects.