Job Description

At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one of the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next-generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development.



More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.



Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide.



Our Global HQ is located near the buzzing city of Manchester at the historic Jodrell Bank Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Cheshire countryside. It is home to a rapidly expanding international team of more than a hundred, working in a highly collaborative and inclusive way, in coordination with SKAO teams in Australia and South Africa as part of a global astronomy and engineering community.



Being part of Team SKA means contributing to something extraordinary: a uniquely exciting project to advance human knowledge that will last for decades. In return, we offer a diverse multicultural working environment, 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme, visa and support with relocation (if applicable), regular social events, a family-friendly environment and much more. Come and join us!



This is an amazing opportunity for a software engineer with experience in high-performance time-domain data processing and a passion for high performance computing.




The Role



The SKA Computing and Software team are looking for a Pulsar Signal Processing Software Engineer to work in one of our Agile software engineering teams, to help us (a) build a high-performing real-time processing pipeline for pulsar and transient search, as well as pulsar timing; (b) maintain and expand the functionality of the code-base of the pulsar search and timing subsystems.


As a Pulsar Signal Processing Engineer you will be working with other developers based at SKA development sites around the world (especially SKAO and SKA precursors). You will be reporting to the SKA Data Processing Architect, and you will be working as part of an Agile team in our SAFe software development organisation. In your role, you will also contribute to the development of the suite of pulsar processing software for the SKA telescopes.



We are appointing a single position for this task, and we are looking for a candidate who can contribute in different areas of the development of SKA PSS (pulsar search) and PST (pulsar timing), which might require different specialisations. These include:


Development and support of the real-time signal processing + building high-performing time-domain algorithms in advanced C++ [high-performance C++]

Development and support of the products batch-processing pipelines + building batch processing pipelines in python (and C++) to perform post-processing of the pulsar candidates and pulsar timing products, generated by the real-time pulsar subsystems [python, C++]

Support the continuous integration and testing of pulsar search and timing pipelines + maintaining the repository of automated regression tests for verifying the correctness of pulsar processing, as well as the functionality of the automated product testing framework [python]

Support the development of the monitoring & control interface to the pulsar subsystems support the development and maintenance of pipeline health & state monitoring information (i.e. pipeline logs) generated by the pulsar pipelines [python, C++]
In this role, you will be able to grow as a software engineer within our organisation. We will support the development of your skills with training in the most relevant scientific and technical aspects of your role, and you will have the opportunity to work closely with more experienced software engineers. Working at SKAO also presents many chances to join conferences and industry events that relate to your role and your professional interests.

This role will be based at the SKAO Global Headquarters at the iconic Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, UK and is internally known as Data Processing Software Engineer.

SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.



This role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.



Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties



The main functions of this role will be to:


Work in one of the SKA pulsar software development teams to build, test and maintain libraries of base algorithms for pulsar search, transient search and pulsar timing Work with SKA system integration and commissioning teams to support integration testing and SKA Low and Mid pulsar commissioning observations Work with SKAO Operations Scientists and Product Managers to clarify the product functionalities, flexibility and limitations, to assist them in developing and maintaining their Operational and Software Development roadmaps Collaborate with other SKA software development teams based in the SKAO member countries Occasionally travel internationally as required (typically for up to one week, 2-3 times per year)

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience



The successful candidate will bring to the team:


Proficiency in signal-processing of high time-resolution data and aptitude for optimising processing pipelines to meet faster-than-real-time performance. Demonstrated experience with advanced C++ development, preferably in a professional setting A track record of actively influencing the direction and architecture of C++ projects by proposing technical solutions Demonstrable ability to develop high-quality, maintainable, and testable software by consistently applying software engineering best practices. Proven ability to collaborate in an international and diverse environment

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience



The ideal candidate may also bring:


Enthusiasm for astronomy and modern data reduction techniques in radio astronomy, especially in the time-domain fields of pulsars and fast transients Experience with manycore / multicore data-driven processing on hardware accelerators Experience with object-oriented python programming and with python C/C++ wrappers

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement

SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory's agenda.



Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background.



Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants.



Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.



SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.



The "How to Apply" information contained within the SKA Observatory recruitment portal provides more detail regarding our application and selection approach.