Job Description

Scientific Software Engineer II

Application Deadline: 4 December 2026

Department: Software Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: W.M. Keck Headquarters

Compensation: $94,966 - $114,760 / year

Description

Join us as our newest Scientific Software Engineer II and build the software behind the stars!

Do you love writing code that matters? As a Scientific Software Engineer II, you'll design, build, and support the software that keeps an observatory running. That includes instrument integration, data pipelines, and day-to-day operations. You'll own your software components and work with limited supervision. You'll shape design decisions and make systems more reliable, secure, and automated. You'll also take part in on-call support, share your know-how with junior engineers, and work with a multidisciplinary team to deliver solutions that work in the real world.

What the Scientific Software Engineer II Does:

The Scientific Software Engineer II is a fully competent individual contributor. They independently design, build, test, and support software for observatory operations, instrument integration, and data pipelines. They work with limited supervision and own specific software components. They follow established standards for quality, security, and change control. They troubleshoot component-level issues, join on-call and incident response, and escalate complex problems. They also guide junior engineers and work with scientists, operations staff, and partners.

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

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Experience

• Three (3) years of demonstrated experience developing production-quality software applications using Python or comparable modern programming languages.
• Experience developing and maintaining software components that integrate with existing systems, data pipelines, or instrumentation environments.
• Working experience with version control systems, testing frameworks, and structured release or deployment practices.
• Experience working in Unix/Linux environments including shell scripting.
• Exposure to operational support, troubleshooting, or on-call environments.

Skills

• Solid understanding of software engineering fundamentals including modular design, testing, documentation, and maintainability.
• Ability to analyze complex technical problems and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to write clear technical documentation and operational procedures.
• Effective time management and ability to manage multiple priorities within defined scope.

Technical Competencies

• Proficiency in at least one primary programming language (e.g., Python, C, JavaScript) and familiarity with supporting tools and frameworks.
• Working knowledge of databases, APIs, and web-enabled applications.
• Familiarity with object-oriented programming principles and common design patterns.
• Exposure to scientific computing, data processing, or automation workflows.
• Ability to use development tools including IDEs, debugging tools, version control systems, and CI/CD pipelines.

Certificates and Licenses

• Valid driver’s license.