Software Engineer II

Job Summary: Gemini Observatory is part of NOIRLab, focused on building high-performance, scalable solutions for astronomical operations. The Software Development Engineer II will integrate and optimize backend technologies, develop low-latency services for telescope operations, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure observatory uptime and scientific data integrity. Responsibilities: • Design, implement and maintain backend services and middleware for telescope and instrument control • Develop and operate observability tools and dashboards to monitor system telemetry and health • Collaborate with hardware and instrumentation teams to integrate software and hardware interfaces • Own the identification and resolution of critical production faults with precision and speed • Build and improve CI/CD pipelines to streamline deployment and rollback processes • Drive clarity through high-quality technical documentation and strengthen team expertise through active knowledge sharing • Provide onsite system support and maintenance at an elevation of approximately 6,800 ft. Qualifications: Required: • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science or a related technical field • 4+ years of professional software engineering experience in backend or systems programming roles • Extensive, proven experience with Python, C and C++ • Extensive, proven experience designing, building and maintaining distributed systems or services in a real-time or data-intensive environment • Proven high-level proficiency of software engineering fundamentals, including algorithms, data structures, concurrency, version control, CI/CD, etc. • Extensive, proven experience working with APIs, network protocols or hardware integration • Proven high-level proficiency in problem-solving and debugging, including experience with live systems and production-quality software • Clear and effective communicator, adept at documenting and conveying technical information to non-technical audiences • Comfortable working with a remote, globally distributed team • Physically capable of working at the KPNO site, located at an elevation of approximately 6,800 ft. Preferred: • Knowledge of telescope control systems, remote observatory operations and observatory middleware architectures • Knowledge of observatory infrastructure, software integration and data pipelines in a scientific research context • Familiarity with scientific computing workflows, observational instruments and astronomical data processing • Contributions to open-source telescope, scientific or engineering software • Background in DevOps or SRE practices for critical system reliability • Experience with Tcl/Tk programming for legacy system integration and instrumentation control • Experience with PLC programming (e.g., ladder logic) for hardware interface and motion control in telescope subsystems • Passion for astronomy, scientific software and advancing scientific research and discovery through innovative technology Company: General Electric (GE) is an international partnership that provides state-of-the-art research facilities to astrophysicists. Founded in 1993, the company is headquartered in Hilo, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

Created: 2026-03-09