Software Engineer

at  Space Telescope Science Institute

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a multi-mission science and flight operations centers for NASA’s flagship observatories on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the science operations center for several NASA missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
The Data Management Division at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is seeking a Software Engineer to support the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST). MAST will also contribute to science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, including its archive, in formulation for launch in the mid-2020s. STScI hosts the MAST archive that contains data from more than 20 missions. This position will lead archive scientific development activities related to astronomical catalogs data products, and provide scientific guidance on catalog development efforts. This employee will assist in the development of user documentation and tutorials on MAST catalog data products, tools, and interfaces.
This position can support hybrid work (only one day in the office, every quarter). Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to our local market. (MD, DE, VA, PA, DC & WV). This position requires US Citizenship or Permanent Residence in order to meet ITAR requirement.
Applications received by 5/25/2024, will receive full consideration.
Apply here: https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/SPA1004AURA/JobBoard/93330e50-7b3a-4ba8-94f2-6f32360aa4e1/Opportunity/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=060f337e-405a-4f33-b327-63b2c03af3c8

REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum 2 years work experience ( NOT to include school projects, graduate research, internships).
• Strong in Python. Other programming languages good to have.
• Experience with large datasets processing and development.
• Experience with data lake and databases and SQL development.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to describe astronomical data to a broad science community.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems independently, as well as work collaboratively and communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams, and leadership.

EDUCATION:

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Engineering, Astronomy, Physics, Math or a relevant field with a minimum of 2 years work experience. Substitution of additional relevant education or experience will be considered.
Compensation is commensurate with education, skills and experience.

• Participate in the design and development of various tools for astronomical catalogs and services that support community usage of catalogs.
• Develop and maintain various mission catalog data products: observation catalogs (Common Archive Observation Model), source catalogs (Roman Source Catalogs, Guide Star Catalog, Pan-STARRS1 Object Catalog, Hubble Source Catalog, TESS Input Catalog, etc.) and spectra catalogs.
• Participate catalog metadata management development.
• Develop software tools for enhancing catalog data exploration both cross missions in the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) and cross archive centers.