Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and improve data processing telescope software and data products.
• Documentation and testing of the pipeline and data processing software
• Support deployment of releases
• Respond to system incidents and provide support for the telescope data processing pipelines and software
• Participate in Computing and Software Operations planning and continuous improvement
• Be an integral, senior member of Computing and Software operations teams, providing regular operations support for the telescope's data processing capability.
• Provide senior support to the more junior team members during operations, and be their point of escalation.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with members of other teams.
• Work with other subsystems team members to respond to inter-team and system-level issues.
• Maintain external links with professional and/or specialist bodies, communities or groups.
• Participate in telescope-wide and integration activities and events and represent Data Processing interests and issues
• Represent the telescope (and the Computing and Software of a telescope in South Africa in particular) at international meetings with partner and peer organisations.
• Adhere to the spirit and practice of both organisational Values as well as the Code of Conduct, Health, Safety and Environment procedures and policy, Diversity initiatives and Making Safety Personal goals.

Key Requirements:Qualification:

• A Degree/ Master's/ PHD in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, or related, applied/interdisciplinary sciences

Experience:

• A Degree coupled with 9 years relevant working experience or Master's Degree coupled with 7 years relevant working experience or PHD coupled with 5 years relevant working experience in astronomy, astrophysics, or related, applied/interdisciplinary sciences
• Experience in development, testing, deployment, commissioning, release and support of scientific software or data analytics projects
• Experience developing scientific software using Python and Python libraries, or similar languages
• Experience working with Radio astronomy software packages, e.g. CASA, MeqTREES

Knowledge:

• Experience in Radio astronomy data analysis calibration and imaging techniques and tools
• Knowledge of Radio Astronomy instrumentation and observatory practices
• Experience in performing data-driven astronomy research
• Experience in Software development, preferably scientific programming using Python and Python libraries
• Experience in large science data curation, manipulation, transfer, management and archival
• Experience and understanding of system architecture concepts
• An understanding of scaled agile methodologies and DevOps processes
• Knowledge of Systems Engineering and systems delivery practices
• Experience working in interdisciplinary environments and matrix teams during some project phases such as integration, deployment, testing, verification as well as during telescope operations.
• Effective communication and collaborative work within teams, and with other subject matter experts
• Ability to develop and convey a technical and business vision to both stakeholders and development or support teams

Additional Notes:
Skills/Ability/CompetenciesEssential:

• Strong quantitative research skills in a relevant or translatable area
• A record of publication of scientific articles in an area of expertise, demonstrating ability to conduct research and collaboration with peers
• Radio Astronomy data and science products analysis
• Radio Interferometer telescopes scheduling, observation and calibration techniques
• Radio astronomy data cleansing, calibration techniques and tools
• Scientific software and pipelines development using Python and Python libraries, e.g. NumPy, SciPy. MatPlotlib
• Radio Astronomy data formats and other formal or informal standards
• IT and Information systems analysis, design, implementation, integration, delivery and operations
• Agile approaches to systems development
• IT systems architecture concepts
• An understanding of DevOps processes (CI/CD)
• Data curation, transfer, management, archival and governance
• IT Services, Operations and Support

Desirable :

• Knowledge of Radio Astronomy techniques, instrumentation and observatory practices
• Mentorship and upskilling of more junior developers or colleagues who may need your expertise
• Commissioning of scientific instruments
• Ability to work as part of a globally distributed team, which may include travel or accommodating work in different time zones
• Ability to communicate effectively to a wide audience and a wide range of stakeholders, gathering information and distilling information and tailoring it appropriately for the target audience.
• Ability to reliably estimate and plan software developments with long (multi-year) time horizons
• Health, Safety and Environment
• Organizational governance and administration

Related Skills:

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Cooperates with others to achieve organisational objectives. Collaborates with other teams as well as industry colleagues. Sharing skills and knowledge with, mentoring and motivating team members as required.
• Influence and Communication: Identifies critical stakeholders and influences them via an influential third party, for example through an established network, to gain support for sometimes contentious proposals / ideas.
• Judgement and Problem Solving: Anticipates and manages problems in ambiguous situations. Develops and selects an appropriate course of action and provides for contingencies. Evaluates, interprets and integrates complex bodies of information and draws logical conclusions, synthesises proposals and defends options with reasoned arguments.
• Independence: AS senior developer, work independently in assessing, analyzing and implementing and verifying potential solutions to complex technical challenges.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility in thinking and adapts to and manages the increasing rate of organisational change by adjusting strategies, goals and priorities.

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