Senior Application Developer

California Institute of Technology
vision insurance, parental leave, paid time off, sick time, tuition reimbursement, remote work
United States, California, Pasadena
Feb 11, 2025
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community. Job Summary IPAC at Caltech is seeking a Senior Software Applications Developer with a strong database background to join the staff of the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA). Come be a part of the team that is helping astronomers and data scientists worldwide access and explore IRSA's petabyte archives of astronomy data! IPAC, part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech (www.caltech.edu), provides science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to enhance discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground. IRSA (http://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu) is the steward of scientific data sets, ancillary data products, and documentation delivered by NASA's Infrared and Sub-millimeter missions. We enable ground-breaking scientific research using data from these and other missions. IRSA ingests petabyte-scale imaging datasets, maintains multi-billion row databases, and develops a variety of tools for accessing, visualizing, and analyzing data from cutting-edge astronomical facilities. We are also preparing to support upcoming astrophysics missions including: SPHEREx, a NASA mission which will conduct a spectroscopic, infrared survey of the entire sky; Euclid, a European Space Agency (ESA) mission to study the geometry and nature of the dark Universe; and NEO Surveyor, a mission designed to discover and characterize most of the potentially hazardous asteroids that are near the Earth. Essential Job Duties As an IPAC Senior Applications Developer, you will work with the engineering and scientific team members on development tasks which may include: Developing and improving data services to help scientists combine, extract, visualize and exploit information from archived datasets. Designing and maintaining databases supporting IRSA operations. Building and operating efficient search and retrieval mechanisms for IRSA's petabyte-scale growing data holdings. Application of cloud services for hosting of archive datasets. Developing and implementing plans to safeguard the integrity of archive contents and ensuring reliability and scalability of operations services. Interpreting and implementing project requirements and documenting the work that you've accomplished. Basic Qualifications If you have the following in your background, then we want to hear about your interest in joining our team: Bachelor's or equivalent degree in a technical subject such as Astronomy, Physics, Math, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Sciences, or a related field. At least 8 years of professional software development experience in Unix/Linux environments, including 3+ years of hands-on experience designing, implementing, and supporting relational databases (such as PostgreSQL or Oracle) and associated database applications. Proficiency in one or more of C, C++, or Python. Familiarity with software configuration management principles and tools, source code version control (e.g., Git/GitHub) and issue/bug tracking systems (e.g., Jira). Ability to communicate effectively across various technical levels and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders. Preferred Qualifications Beyond these basic qualifications, there are a set of skills and experiences which will add to your ability to contribute to the roles and responsibilities of an IPAC Applications Developer. Any of the following might give you a head start here, but even if these do not describe you or your experience, we would still like to hear from you! Master's or equivalent degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Science, or related field. Experience with very large databases supporting data warehouse workflows. Experience with servervirtualization and cloud services such as AWS, GCP, Azure. Experience with softwarecontainerizationand deployment technologies, such as Dockerand Kubernetes. Experience with big data technologies and data workflows. Experience working with scientific data sets and use cases. Required Documents Resume. Cover letter (optional). This position is an on-site role in Pasadena, California. There will be some allowability for remote work. Applicants for this position must be a United States (US) person as defined by ITAR regulations - A US person is a citizen of the United States, a lawful permanent resident alien of the US ("Green Card" holder), or individuals granted refugee and Asylee status under US law. Applications are due by March 31st, 2025. Life at Caltech/IPAC People choose to work at IPAC for many reasons, and our casual, employee-centric culture often leads to fulfilling, long-term careers and lasting relationships. IPAC staff have access to Caltech's benefits programs and facilities, including the athletic center, libraries, on-site daycare, professional development and enrichment classes, and Athenaeum club membership. Hiring Range $132,000 - $156,000 Per Year The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks. EEO Statement We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf. Disability Accommodations If you would like to request an accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.