Software Engineer (ICE-CSIC)

Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory(CTAO); Bellprat; On-site; EUR 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

ICE-CSIC invites applications for software engineers to contribute to control software for astronomical instrumentation and telescopes. The team will enhance scheduling and analysis tools powering the CTAO control infrastructure.

The role requires a degree in Software Engineering with a master, strong C++/CMake, Linux, and GitLab experience, and good English for international collaboration. Knowledge of CI/CD, Docker, and DevOps is a plus.

Qualifications

• Degree in Software Engineering or related with an official master (MECES3).
• Proficiency in C++ and CMake; Linux envs; Git (GitLab).
• English sufficient for international interaction; remote collaboration is expected.

Responsibilities

• Develop control software for astronomical instrumentation and telescopes.
• Support the development of scheduling and analysis tools for CTAO control infrastructure.
• Engage in optimization algorithms and potential AI scheduling approaches.

Skills

C++

CMake

Design patterns

Linux

Git (GitLab)

English proficiency

Education

Software engineer degree with official master

Tools

CI/CD tools

Docker

DevOps

Web development

Job description

The Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) has an opening for a software engineer(s). The candidate will join a group developing control software for the operation and control of astronomical instrumentation and telescopes and will be strongly involved in the implementation and future exploitation of the CTAO.

The CTAO is a multinational, worldwide project to build a new generation of ground-based gamma-ray instrument in the energy range extending from some tens of GeV to about 300 TeV. The successful candidate will work on supporting the development of the scheduling and the analysis software tools for the control infrastructure of the CTAO.

Minimum requirements:
Degree on Software Engineer or related with an official master (or older degree that was already equivalent to a current master); at MECES3.

Minimum technical skills:

• Knowledge in C++ and CMake
• Good understanding of design patterns.
• Used to Linux environments
• Experience with git (with a GitLab working environment)
• Able to write clear high-quality, standardised and usable code
  English at a sufficient knowledge, allowing international interaction
  level is a must.

Merits to be considered:

Desired technical skills:

• Used to CI/CD tools
• Virtualization with Docker
• Experience as DevOps engineer
• Experience in web development

The core problem that we are addressing is a form of Job-Shop Problem (JSP), and as a result, experience with optimization algorithms and scheduling methods are valued. Furthermore, knowledge and willingness to dive deeper into AI optimization algorithms such as Metaheuristic scheduling, Swarm Intelligence, and Evolutionary Computation would be a plus. Experience on astronomical facilities, and on the ones involved in the project, will be valued.

Salary scale
The contract is intended to be made in CSIC M3 scale, approximately 34000 euros gross salary per year (37.5 hrs/week, 22 days of holidays).

About the Institute of Space Sciences
The Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) has been distinguished with the María de Maeztu Excellence Seal, as one of the top research centers in the country. Their areas of research vary from engineering applied to several space missions to fundamental physics and cosmology, from high-energy astronomy to theoretical astrophysics. ICE-CSIC is part of the “Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas” (CSIC, the Spanish National Research Council). CSIC is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe. The Institute is also affiliated with the Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, (IEEC).

ICE-CSIC strives to build a culturally diverse community of researchers, dedicated to contributing to an inclusive environment. We encourage, in particular, applications by women and members of minorities.

ICE-CSIC is located in a modern building on the Campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Bellaterra, just outside Barcelona. The Campus is well served by public transportation (railways and buses), and a variety of accommodation options can be found both in Barcelona city center and in the smaller towns close to the University Campus (Cerdanyola, Sabadell, Terrassa, Sant Cugat, Sant Quirze, Rubí, and others).