Rubin Observatory Systems Integration, Test and Commissioning

General Summary Description of Position :

To achieve the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) primary scientific goals, a detailed understanding of the integrated as-built system performance of the Rubin observatory, telescope, camera, image processing and their relation to final derived data products is required.

The Systems Integration, Test and Commissioning (SIT-Com) Developer is responsible for the design, code, support applications and software infrastructure for Rubin.

Essential Functions :

• Designs and implements summit databases (postgres and / or ingres).
• Including developing the REST and / or other APIs used by the application code.
• Supporting the use of these databases by Rubin scientists and engineers
• Develops programs in Python to control and orchestrate the observatory using an existing (in-house) framework, based on the use of Python's async library ("SAL").
• Designs and implements tools generating reports, collating information and logs from disparate sources.
• Designs and implements source selection strategies for rapid analysis of incoming images.
• Designs and implements visible alerts to observing staff when calculated parameters are out of specification.
• Designs and implements tools to recognize potentially out of specification system states and performs automated analyses to debug them.
• Participates in analysis of performance of Rubin hardware and / or operational and pipeline software.
• Integrates new hardware such as anemometers into the summit environment.
• Installs new releases of the Rubin environment on the summit.
• Supports Rubin observing and commissioning team's day-to-day issues and troubleshoot / debug problems.

Other Functions :

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else.

This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.

Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position as defined in the Vela Award Management system.

Required Education / Experience / Skills / Abilities :

• Bachelor's degree in Astronomy, Physics, Computer Sciences or related field and 5 years of relevant experience; or a PhD with some relevant ground-based telescope commissioning / operational experience.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment with excellent organizational and communication skills in English.
• Understanding of distributed compute and storage systems.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (python or javascript preferred).
• Expertise with modern development tools ( git) and methodologies ( scrum, CI / CD).
• Ability and willingness to learn and establish best practices.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License; clean driving record; ability to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Preferred Education / Experience / Skills / Abilities :

• Experience with python-based data science libraries such as numpy, pandas, jupyter, bokeh, parquet, dask.
• Production development and management experience with container technologies (docker, singularity, containerd, CRI-O) and orchestration (kubernetes (k8s)), plus k8s help charts, and ArgoCD.
• Proficiency with configuration management and infrastructure as code technologies (ansible, Terraform, Github Actions, GitLab CI, ArgoCD).
• Experience with HPC cluster software ( HTCondor, SLURM)
• Experience with common software infrastructure software such as but not limited to postgres / mysql, nginx, apache, etc.
• Experience with Rubin data reduction pipeline software or similar.
• Experience with InfluxDB and SAL messages.
• Web development skills including python, javascript, FastAPI, React, and ideally Flutter / Dart and UI / UX design skills.
• Rubin data database skills including including python, Redis, web sockets, kafka, postgres, SQL, and influxDB.
• Proficiency with communication and issue tracking tools - Slack, Confluence and Jira.

Physical Requirements :

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and / or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files;

b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.

• Must possess : 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job;
• 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses;
• 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid;

and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately.

• Work at high elevation summit sites may be required (summit elevations range from 6,800 feet to 14,000 feet).
• For summit positions, consider : 1) Cerro Tololo : Able to climb stairs and work at 2,225 mts altitude; 2) Cerro Pachón : Ability to work at 2,713 meters altitude, sometimes during inclement weather.
• Required to pass medical examination (post offer and potentially at specified intervals while employed, if medically necessary).

Compensation : For US locations $85,300-$113,410. The final salary will depend on skills, qualifications, experience and location.

The position will remain open until it is filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by February 15, 2023.

• Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume in English, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format : Lastname Docname.
• Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to .
• Please enter 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process).

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 49 US institutions and 3 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for the and .

AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research.

In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce.

AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities.

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment.

Details on benefits can be found at

As a recipient of Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations.

As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity / gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and / or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws.

The statements below as well as the requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting.

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