Software Engineer (f_m_x) at the SLR Station Potsdam

at  GFZ HelmholtzZentrum fr Geoforschung

GFZ is Germany’s national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth’s system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this according to our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.
For section 1.2: Global Geomonitoring and Gravity Field (department “Geodesy”), we are looking for a:
Software Engineer (fmx) at the SLR Station Potsdam

REFERENCE NUMBER 10140

GFZ is operating a Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) station in Potsdam within the framework of the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) since January 2003. The SLR observation technique was established in 1964 and still serves as one of the most precise space geodetic techniques with continuously improving accuracy. Main scientific contributions of SLR are monitoring of Earth rotation parameters (polar motion and length of day), monitoring of 3-dimensional deformations of the solid Earth (station coordinates and velocities), or the determination of time-varying geocenter coordinates and static and time-varying coefficients of the Earth’s gravity field.
To advance the operation, strengthen the reliability and increase the performance of the station, we are looking for a versatile software engineer to assist in the enhancement of the existing heterogeneous software currently available at the SLR station. The successful applicant will be an active member of the SLR team working together with the SLR station head.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS:

• Computer scientist, software engineer (BSc. or equivalent desirable), or equivalent if proves enough exposure to software-related tasks
• Experience with databases or data modelling
• Experience with at least one compiled programming language and willingness to implement in C++ and Qt
• Exposure to different Operating Systems such as Linux or Windows under different distributions, e.g. Linux Mint including software package administration, distribution upgrades, process and daemons handling, network status queries, among others, for the daily operations and new developments
• Very good command of English (written and spoken)
• Strong ability for autonomous working
• Strong ability and willingness to work in a multidisciplinary team and to communicate with internal and external partners
  Start date: 1st March 2025
  Fixed-term: 31st December 2026
  Salary: The salary grouping is determined by the conditions of the Collective Wage Agreement “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)” and the appropriate personal qualifications.
  Working hours: Vollzeit (derzeit 39 h/Woche); Die Stelle ist grundsätzlich teilzeitgeeignet.
  Place of work: Potsdam

• Development of a new database for the data archive of our SLR station using modern programming standards utilizing the existing legacy databases as a baseline
• Further development of existing software prototype for processing SLR observations: software development and migration to C++ and Qt (version 5 preferable)
• Creation and maintenance of repositories centralizing all existing software of the SLR station using the technology available at GFZ (e.g. Gitlab)
• Performing unit and regression tests for different software packages
• Development of low-level software ensuring the proper interaction and interfacing between heterogeneous hardware units at the SLR station
• Development of backup schemes for the available systems at the SLR station likely in collaboration with the Computing Center at GFZ
• Investigate options to scale the developed software using the High-Performance Computing resources available at GFZ
• Take part in the regular observations at the SLR station with at least one shift of 8 hours per week
• Refactoring of legacy software in different programming languages such as Perl, Fortran, C++, Python, Matlab, etc.
• Documentation and software delivery: All the work has to be properly documented (traceable and shareable). The code has to be delivered clean and with a defined coding style so that the cooperation with other team members is smooth and optimal