Astronomy Software Architect: Lead Modernization & AI

Gemini Observatory; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 155,673 - 189,559; Full time

Job summary

NOIRLab, based in the United States, seeks a Principal Software Architect to lead architectural strategy for software powering astronomical research, observatory operations, and data management. In this senior role, you will define a cloud-native, HPC-enabled roadmap, champion DevSecOps, and mentor teams across science, software, and operations to deliver scalable, secure, and reliable systems.

You will partner with scientists and engineers to translate complex requirements into robust platforms

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing and evolving large-scale distributed software systems.
• Experience with cloud-native architectures and HPC environments.
• Strong leadership and mentorship in technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive architectural vision, roadmap, and standards for NOIRLab's software ecosystem.
• Lead reviews and critical technology decisions across software, data, and infrastructure.
• Guide modernization to improve scalability, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Mentor engineers and collaborate with scientists and operations teams to translate requirements into robust solutions.

Skills

Software architecture

Distributed systems

Cloud-native

DevSecOps

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE/CE

15+ years software engineering experience

Tools

Cloud platforms

Containerization (Docker/Kubernetes)

CI/CD tooling

Job description

NOIRLab, based in the United States, seeks a Principal Software Architect to lead architectural strategy for software powering astronomical research, observatory operations, and data management. In this senior role, you will define a cloud-native, HPC-enabled roadmap, champion DevSecOps, and mentor teams across science, software, and operations to deliver scalable, secure, and reliable systems.

You will partner with scientists and engineers to translate complex requirements into robust platforms