IT Specialist Automation & Systems Management

European Southern Observatory; Garching bei München; On-site; EUR 54,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Educational benefits

Support for work-life balance

Job summary

European Southern Observatory (ESO) seeks an IT Specialist Automation & Systems Management for its Chile IT Operations group. The role focuses on reliable, automated system administration across ESO observatories and the HQ, aligning with ESO IT standards and roadmaps.

You will implement automation, manage configuration and monitoring, and guide contractors while ensuring secure, scalable operations.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in Linux and VMware administration using automation tools.
• 2

Responsibilities

• Implement automated systems administration aligned with IT architecture standards.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patching and monitoring of IT infrastructure.
• Maintain automation platforms with version control and traceability.
• Monitor health and automate remediation tasks and support contractors.

Skills

Communication skills

English proficiency

Scripting (Python, Bash)

Automation & IaC

Linux administration

VMware administration

Education

University degree in Computer Science or equivalent

ITIL certification desirable

Tools

Linux

VMware

Ansible

Git

Container platforms

Kubernetes

Job description

Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..

The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO operates (La Silla, Paranal) and collaborates (ALMA) in three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile, and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.

At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world's largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory (the so-called "integrated operations", IOP).

For its IT Department in the IT Group in Chile, within the Directorate of Engineering, ESO is advertising a local staff member position of:

IT Specialist Automation & Systems Management

We are looking for an early career Computer Engineer with residence in Chile, who will work on ESO IT Operations, Projects, programmes and collaborations, ensuring the continuous work of our systems environment, in particular our Observatory sites in Chile and their connection to ESO Headquarters in Germany.

ESO IT Department has a diverse team of engineers from multiple countries and backgrounds performing their work in an international environment focused on evolving IT technologies to support the most advanced astronomy initiatives in the world. In Chile, the IT Department supports the ESO observatories, including ESO Paranal and ESO ELT and multiple collaboration projects with institutions from all over the world.

The Automation & Systems Management engineer is part of the IT Operations Chile Group working in close collaboration with the La Silla Paranal Observatory departments, the IT Department team in Garching and external service providers. The primary objective of this role is to ensure reliable, secure, automated operation of the systems environment in alignment with ESO IT standards, architectural principles, and approved technology roadmaps. The engineer is responsible for implementing and maintaining automated systems administration practices, with a strong focus on infrastructure as code, configuration management, monitoring and life cycle management.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Implement and continuously improve automated systems administration practices in alignment with approved IT architecture standards and operational procedures
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patching and monitoring of IT Infrastructure including Hypervisors, Linux-based Servers and approved cloud environment, using standardised tools and infrastructure as code practices.
• Maintain and operate approved automation and configuration management platforms, ensuring reliability, version control and traceability of changes.
• Monitor systems health and performance and automate the handling of recurring operational alerts and routine remediation tasks appropriate to the different systems.
• Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot scripts to support operational efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
• Deploy and operate applications on Linux-based and approved container platforms according to established platform standards and documented deployment models.

Additionally, you will be responsible for guiding and overseeing the work of contractors for the implementation and support of these technologies and for leading the troubleshooting of complex issues while designing and implementing operational remediation measures within approved architectural standards.

Reports to:

Head of IT Operations Chile Group of the Information Technology Department within the Directorate of Engineering.

Key competences and Experience

• Service oriented attitude, excellent communication skills to work on a multicultural team, and ability to work on projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Three years of experience in the field: administration of Linux and VMware based systems using automation and configuration management tools, such as Ansible and Git.
• Strong troubleshooting skills.
• Understanding of Containers and Orchestration tools.
• Knowledge of monitoring and observability.
• Scripting for automating tasks using Python and Bash
• A good command of English and Spanish language (most internal meetings are performed in English) as well as good English documentation skills.
• Infrastructure as a service in cloud environments and infrastructure deployment through Infrastructure as Code.
• Understanding of databases.
• Understanding of secret management tools
• Contribution to the preparation of service provision contracts.

Qualifications:

• University degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
• Linux Knowledge, ideally using RedHat Enterprise Linux.
• ITIL certification will be desirable.

Language Skills:

ESO is an international organization where the official language is English. The position requires proficiency in oral and written communication in English.

Remuneration and Contract:

We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary and educational benefits, as well as financial help in relocating the candidate's family, where applicable. ESO aims to support its members of personnel in maintaining a good work-life balance ( https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#work-life-balance ) between their professional and private life.

The initial contract is for a two-year term subject to medical clearance and successful completion of the probation period with a possibility of indefinite extension following the two years. The title or grade may be subject to change according to qualification and the number of years of experience.

ESO Vitacura Offices in Santiago, Chile. This position involves regular duty travel to the observatory sites in Chile and eventually to the headquarters in Germany.

Closing date for applications is 29 november 2026.

ESO Values

An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.

The ESO Values are:

ESO strives for excellence through innovation.

ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.

ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.

ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.

Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.

Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.

Nationality

No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO. However, non-Chilean applicants must hold a valid Chilean permanent residence at the time of application.

ESO is committed to equal opportunities. The post is equally open to suitably qualified candidates irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.