The Role
Develops clean, reliable, scalable software for observing and data tools, collaborating across engineering disciplines. Responsibilities include code review, software design, testing, change control, build and release management, hardware interface development, database work, GUI development, networking, operating system administration, and maintaining software integrated with EPICS, motors, electric drives, and embedded systems.
Summary Generated by Built In
Join us as our newest Software Engineer II and make code that even our telescopes admire!
Are you someone who genuinely enjoys solving problems—even the weird ones that start with “so… this only happens on Tuesdays?” Do you ask good questions, share ideas freely, and collaborate without ego? Do you communicate clearly, write code thoughtfully, and aren’t afraid to admit when you don’t know something? Do you appreciate a workplace where the vibe is friendly, the work is interesting, and humor is very welcome? If so, apply to be our newest Software Engineer II!
What the Software Engineer II Does:
The Software Engineer II spends their days turning ideas into clean, reliable, scalable software—preferably without summoning any new and exciting bugs. They work with friendly humans across multiple engineering disciplines to transform napkin sketches and ambitious brainstorms into real, working features. They review code (theirs and others’) in a way that is constructive, kind, and ideally free of passive-aggressive comments. They have room to stretch into new areas, experiment with tools they’re curious about, and grow their technical and professional chops along the way. They may also use previous robotics or control systems experiences to understand what design tradeoffs that may exist when updating our software systems implemented in EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System). Tapping into any knowledge or previous experiences with motors and electric drives, embedded systems, or DFx would also help out greatly.
What the Software Engineer II Does:
The Software Engineer II spends their days turning ideas into clean, reliable, scalable software—preferably without summoning any new and exciting bugs. They work with friendly humans across multiple engineering disciplines to transform napkin sketches and ambitious brainstorms into real, working features. They review code (theirs and others’) in a way that is constructive, kind, and ideally free of passive-aggressive comments. They have room to stretch into new areas, experiment with tools they’re curious about, and grow their technical and professional chops along the way. They may also use previous robotics or control systems experiences to understand what design tradeoffs that may exist when updating our software systems implemented in EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System). Tapping into any knowledge or previous experiences with motors and electric drives, embedded systems, or DFx would also help out greatly.
In this role the Software Engineer II genuinely enjoys solving problems—even the weird ones that start with “so… this only happens on Tuesdays.” They ask good questions, share ideas freely, and collaborate without ego. On a daily basis they communicate clearly, write code thoughtfully, and aren’t afraid to admit when you don’t know something. They appreciate a workplace where the vibe is friendly, the work is interesting, and humor is very welcome.
Why Choose W. M. Keck Observatory:
- Competitive starting salary
- Generous benefits package, including 4 weeks of annual paid vacation
- A robust 8% 403(b) employer contribution (with a 4% employee contribution)
- Tuition assistance for dependent children grades K-12 attending private school on Hawai’i Island
- Comprehensive, employer provided health insurance
- We offer relocation support for candidates moving from outside the area.
- Be a part of a dedicated team working on the frontiers of astronomy.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science or equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or other relevant engineering or science field
- 3-7 years of experience in developing code used for observing tools, data tools, and/or general software development
- Practical experience creating software applications with Python
- Software applications with hardware interfaces
- Practical experience of change control, build and release management processes
- Unix/Linux shell scripting
- Experience with communication protocols (RS-232/485/422, SPI, I2C)
- Broad knowledge of modern software engineering practices, especially in areas of re-use and testability
- Good knowledge of database design
- TCP/IP networking
- Fundamental operating system administration
- Competency in C/C++, Python, databases
- User interface development with Java, Qt, React, or other GUI toolkits
- Competency using O-O paradigm and design patterns
About
At the W. M. Keck Observatory, we approach our work with wonder about the mysteries of the universe and with deep respect and care for Maunakea – a mountain revered in Hawaiʻi and unlike any other in the world. For more than three decades, astronomers using Keck Observatory’s twin 10-meter telescopes have vastly expanded our understanding of the cosmos through astonishing findings about our solar system, exoplanets, supermassive black holes, the evolution of the universe, and more. We are dedicated to the values of service and stewardship, while advancing the frontiers of astronomy, sharing our discoveries, and inspiring the imagination of all.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a relevant engineering or science field
- 3-7 years of experience developing observing tools, data tools, or general software
- Practical experience creating software applications with Python
- Experience developing software applications with hardware interfaces
- Practical experience with change control, build, and release management processes
- Unix/Linux shell scripting experience
- Experience with RS-232/485/422, SPI, and I2C communication protocols
- Knowledge of modern software engineering practices, including reuse and testability
- Knowledge of database design
- TCP/IP networking experience
- Fundamental operating system administration knowledge
- Competency in C, C++, Python, and databases
- User interface development experience with Java, Qt, React, or other GUI toolkits
- Competency with object-oriented programming and design patterns
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
The W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes are among the most scientifically productive on Earth. The two 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes atop Maunakea on the Island of Hawaiʻi feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectrometers, and world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics systems. Keck Observatory is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation. We wish to recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Maunakea has always had within the Native Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain
