Software Engineer – Back-End

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the most powerful ground-based telescope ever engineered. It was designed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and discover the unknown. With unmatched image quality, seven of the world’s largest mirrors will launch our view into the universe to uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant exoplanets for the first time.

The 30-meter class telescope is under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the best locations on Earth to view the heavens. From this unrivaled vantage into the southern sky, the Giant Magellan Telescope will produce the sharpest and most detailed images ever taken of our universe.

When complete in the early 2030s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be the largest public-private funded science project in history. The endeavor was founded by an international consortium of 15 research institutions representing Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, and is managed by the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pasadena, California. Our culture is impactful, inclusive, and fearlessly innovative. We solve the most difficult engineering challenges and scientific questions with talented individuals who share a passion for revolutionizing humanity’s knowledge of the universe.

We invite you to join our team and leave your mark on astronomy’s future and beyond.

The Universe Awaits™

Software and Controls

Software and Controls Manager

The GMTO Software and Controls team develops the control systems, frameworks and applications that will enable the observatory to operate safely and efficiently, including telescope operation and control, observation scheduling and execution, data management, observatory configuration and monitoring, and operation user interfaces.

We are looking for a thoughtful, curious and motivated Back-End Software Engineer to join our growing team. In this role, you’ll collaborate with system architects, engineers and scientists to shape the architecture implementation of the back-end services and database infrastructure that underpin our observatory’s operations. You will work on the core logic, APIs and data management layers that power our control software, and design and build scalable, maintainable systems for complex data flows that support scientific operations in real-time. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys designing APIs, modeling data, and thinking deeply about system performance, integrity, and maintainability. We’re open to early-career applicants who demonstrate strong fundamentals, a passion for learning, and good engineering judgement.

• Design, develop, and maintain back-end services, applications, and frameworks that support observatory operations and engineering tools.
• Build and evolve APIs that interface with front-end clients, distributed systems, and external tools.
• Model and manage structured and time-series data in NoSQL databases.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define data schemas and ensure data integrity across services.
• Contribute to the development of software frameworks and SDKs used across the observatory’s distributed computing environment.
• Conduct code reviews, write unit tests, and participate in continuous integration to ensure software quality and adherence to coding standards and architectural guidelines.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation such as design documents, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), user guides, API documentation, code examples, trade studies and test reports.
• Monitor and improve the performance, reliability, and observability of services and data pipelines.
• Assist in the deployment of software into test and production environments and troubleshoot runtime issues in distributed configurations.
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends and propose improvements for our technology stack and software development best practices.
• Willingness and ability to travel to foreign and domestic vendors, partners, and observatory locations as the need arises.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• Strong foundation in Computer Science and Software Engineering principles, including data structures, algorithms, design patterns, object-oriented programming, functional programming, and general best practices.
• Strong proficiency in C++, Python, and JavaScript programming languages, and Linux environments.
• Familiarity with API design (REST, gRPC, or GraphQL) and data modeling.
• Experience working with relational databases (e.g., MySQL) or NoSQL systems (e.g., MongoDB).
• Knowledge in software testing strategies, techniques, and tools, including test-driven development and regression testing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate with team members and external stakeholders.

• Familiarity with real-time systems, observatory software, astronomical instrumentation, industrial control or scientific computing environments.
• Experience with messaging systems (e.g., nanomsg, nng or zeromq) and monitoring and logging tools used for distributed systems.
• Experience with Software Framework design and development.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, containerization, and related services.
• Knowledge of software architecture patterns relevant to distributed systems (e.g., microservices, actor model, message queues and event driven design)
• Experience working in Agile or Scrum-based teams.
• Understanding of basic distributed systems concepts and inter-service communication.
• Experience using Git or other version control systems in a collaborative environment.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to demonstrate analysis of complex technical issues.
• Ability to analyze complex systems and identify potential bottlenecks or areas for improvement.

• Normal open-plan office environment.
• Access to the Server Room and Electronics lab for prototyping and testing.
• Occasional trips to foreign and domestic vendors, partners, and observatory locations.

No special physical requirements

No direct reports

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance

$110,000- $135,000

The salary for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, and training.

To apply send your resume or CV and a cover letter to careers@gmto.org.

If your skills and experience are a match for the position or if we need additional information, we will contact you. If we do not see a suitable match between your qualifications and the position, we will keep your information on file in the event future positions become available that are more suitable to your qualifications.

We are an equal opportunity employer. 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.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation Human Resources Representative.