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!



The SKA Observatory has two new opportunities as Graduate Software Engineers. In this role you will have the possibility to join a development program that will guide you through the different areas of computing and software at SKAO, including:


High Performance Computing Big Data Distributed Control systems Web applications Platform Engineering Cloud computing Software development lifecycle support Corporate IT
Their focus will be to become an effective contributor to the SKA software development in one of the areas of work. On completion of the development programme, a review will be undertaken with a view to a promotion and increased contribution to the science and research carried out at SKAO.



We welcome applications from candidates of all nationalities, especially those from member countries. However, for these roles visa and relocation support will not be available and applicants must be able to comply with the terms of a UK based local contract, details of which may be accessed on SKAO's recruitment portal.



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.



There may be occasions where 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.

This role will be offered as a 3-year fixed term contract with the potential to convert to a permanent role on the successful completion of the Fixed Term Contract.

The Role



SKAO is one of the leading research infrastructures on the globe. Software developed in many different areas enables the operations of the SKA telescopes.



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 in different domains. Working at SKAO also presents many chances to join conferences and industry events that relate to your role and to your professional interests.



The program, of the duration of three years, will see a mixture of training on the job and more formal training events, giving the candidates the possibility to experience life and work at SKAO in the different areas, sites and functions related to software development:


In the first year the candidates will have the chance to experience working in different areas of SKAO. During this period of time the work will be organised along the cadence of SKA Program Increments (3 months) , with the candidate possibly joining a different team and area in each PI. A mentor will be identified to be the coordinator for the technical activities for each candidate. During the second and third year of the program, each candidate will focus on one specific area of interest, and join one team in a more stable way working as a developer alongside one of the more senior engineers at SKAO.
In this same period a number of basic technical training events will also be offered, along with the possibility to join and present the work at relevant technical conferences and SKAO events.



Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties



The main functions of this role will be to:


Work effectively with the different development teams, embracing an agile culture based on experimentation and feedback. Proactively define and deliver short term objectives for your work, and present them in the relevant forums such as the team, ART or system demos. Embrace learning as an integral part of the software engineering profession. Attending training sessions as presented, and obtaining relevant certifications where possible.
Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience


You will have recently achieved, or be expected to achieve, a degree (for example, equivalent to 2:1 or above in the UK system) in Computer Science, STEM or any relevant subject. You will be passionate about science or engineering and have a strong understanding and interest in software and computing technologies and you will demonstrate a basic understanding of computer programming.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience



The ideal candidate would also bring:


A passion for software development and software technologies, A passion for scientific research and astronomy, Ability and willingness to travel to SKAO partner sites world-wide as necessary and when possible in the context of any international travel restrictions (travel for this sort of role has typically been for up to one week 2 times per year).

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.