Assistant Software Engineer

The Department  

The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) is a major research group in the Department of Physics at Durham University with approximately seventy staff and research students. It has established a pre-eminent reputation in the development of complex instrumentation for high profile national and international projects.  The group is distributed across two physical locations in the Durham area. There is the Department of Physics located in Durham itself, with its world leading reputation in academic research. Secondly, there is a dedicated technology facility based at NETpark in nearby Sedgefield, providing access to unrivalled technical facilities for the assembly and test of complex instrumentation.  

CfAI’s mission is to design and develop novel instrumentation based on cutting edge technologies with applications across a range of strategically important scientific areas. CfAI develops state-of-the-art ground and space-based instruments for applications across a wide range of disciplines including adaptive optics, spectroscopy, biophysics, remote sensing and fusion diagnostics.  

CfAI has provided major instruments for many of the world’s leading astronomical facilities including the James Webb Space Telescope, William Herschel Telescope, Gemini Telescopes, Southern African Large Telescope and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. Major current ground-based instrumentation projects in CfAI include HARMONI and MOSAIC, the first-light spectrograph and multi-object spectrograph for the upcoming 40m diameter Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). When commissioned towards the middle of this decade, this will be the world’s largest optical telescope, enabling observations of the faintest and most distant objects in the Universe in unparalleled detail. Adaptive Optics (AO) is a technology that provides high-speed optical correction for image distortions caused by the atmosphere and telescope itself. CfAI are responsible for the design and delivery of the AO real-time control system for both the HARMONI and MOSAIC instruments over the next 3-5 years, and the successful candidate will be heavily involved with the instrument design, build and commissioning phases for both instruments. 

The Role  

Applications are invited for an Assistant Software Engineer in real-time control for Adaptive Optics (AO) systems for the ELT. The successful candidate will join the existing real-time control team working on these systems, led by Dr. Tim Morris.    

Within this team, the candidate will be involved in all aspects of the development of the real-time control system. This will include: 

• Working on low latency ‘hard’ real time control system for both HARMONI and MOSAIC, implementing and optimising the various adaptive optics control schemes required by the instruments on the selected hardware architecture. 
• Development of the data, telemetry, command and control interfaces to match standards required by the observatory.
• Working with a wide variety of hardware devices including high-speed cameras and deformable mirrors, and the candidate will be expected to develop and test software interfaces to these hardware devices. 
• The applicant will also be expected to contribute to CfAI’s ongoing research program developing new software for techniques and technologies that will enable the next generation of adaptive optics real-time control systems. These will be for use not only within astronomy but also other fields such as laser communications or microscopy where adaptive optics can be used.
• The applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to high quality publications in refereed journals as a result of participating new research areas within the field of real-time AO control.
• When working on large instrumentation projects such as HARMONI and MOSAIC the applicant will be expected to contribute to any project deliverables (such as preparing design documentation or user manuals) and adhere to project software development standards. 

Working at Durham      

• A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:          

• 27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year.  The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.    
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.   
• On site nursery is available and access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16 throughout the year.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.    
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local.
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• We offer generous pension schemes.        

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion 

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.        

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.       

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.  If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application.  If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.    

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification   
   
When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role.  Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description.  Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.     
   
Your application should cover the following criteria:    

Essential Criteria  

Qualifications/Experience  

1.     Educated to degree level in Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or Physics (or equivalent experience) and five GCSE’s at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.    

2.     Industry or professional knowledge/recognition relevant to the role supported by relevant courses or certification.  

3.     Experience of working in a team.   

4.     Experience or ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues.   

5.     Experience of implementing policies and procedures.   

6.     Experienced practitioner who has led teaching/research project working within an educational, commercial or industrial environment.   

7.     Extensive experience of relationship building and ability to turn opportunities into long-term knowledge exchange and collaboration.   

8.     Extensive knowledge and experience of monitoring own activities and others to ensure health and safety regulations are adhered to.   

9.     Knowledge of C, C++ and Python programming languages.   

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge  

10.  Good spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.  

11.  Strong digital competence across a range digital devices and apps including [digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, business systems].  

12.  Committed to continuing professional development.  

13.  Regulatory, local and national professional knowledge and experience of compliance.   

14.  Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.  

15.  Professional knowledge and expertise in one or more areas of technical specialism, and the application of skills to create, build, construct and realise new and innovative resources, equipment and research outputs.   

16.  Demonstrable ability to deliver high precision technical skills and the operation of standard and complex scientific, technical and creative equipment.  

Desirable Criteria  

17.  Experience in one or more of the following:  

a)    operating system internals and device drivers  

b)    real-time computer systems  

c)     distributed systems middleware  

d)    Multi- and / or Many-core scientific computing  

18.  Experience in the use, design or simulation of Adaptive Optics systems  

How to apply        

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above.  Where there are desirable criteria, we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence.  Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).        

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.          

Submitting your application         

We prefer to receive applications online.  We will update you about your application at various points during the process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.          

What you are required to submit:

1.     A CV      

2.     A covering letter or statement which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification       

Contact details         

For informal enquiries please contact Dr. David Barr at [email protected] . All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.     

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.      

This post is fixed term for 2 years to coincide with the duration of our existing funding. There is the possibility for extension beyond this period if additional funding can be secured.   

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.   

Typical Role Requirements    

Role responsibilities:   

Service Delivery:  

• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.  
• Ensure that the University’s procedures and values are always reflected in all aspects of the service and adapt ways of working where this is not evident.
• Provide specialist advice and make decisions to resolve problems relating to the services you are responsible. 
• Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues relevant to your role and make recommendations based on your findings.  
• Provide the best possible service to staff, students and others who you work with by reviewing and make suggestions to improve the service.  
• Collect, organise and record data and information accurately to provide reports.   
• Take responsibility for carrying out more specialist risk assessments and incident resolution. 
• Monitor and report incidents.   
• Carry out more in-depth investigations, searches and research information and data to identify trends and patterns.   
• Reactive and proactive service provision with others to deliver an excellent stakeholder experience.   
• Contribute to the implementation and use of group and project software development standards. 
• Present and discuss specialist and / or highly technical information to others, contributing to research publications and design reviews.   
• Develop project software for release to users of the AO control system following software lifecycle and quality assurance practices, including testing and verification, as defined by the instrument consortium. 
• Contribute to or provide advice for software development of other research projects within the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation when required. 
• Assist with the HARMONI and MOSAIC system and instrument commissioning activities. 

Planning and Organising:  

• Plan and organise own workload with or without involvement with project work streams.   
• Deliver projects that demonstrate a high standard of accuracy, complexity, originality, and excellence.   
• Supervise the work of staff and teams involved in delivering events, project work or core operational service. 
• Seek feedback from staff, students and anyone else that you come across as part of your role to ensure that the service is updated to meet customer expectations.  
• Accountable for managing/maintaining financial and budget records and reconciling consumable expenditure queries. 
• Experienced service practitioner, planning and co-ordinating of projects and work streams with inter-related activities.   

Teaching and Learning Support  

• Commission, construct and setup test and experimental scenarios and practical sessions.
• Construct, test, repair and calibrate, tools, resources, equipment, components and instrumentation.
• Be an expert in the use of a range of machinery and equipment either physical, virtual or digital.
• Provide high-level technical guidance and advice to solve problems and help shape the delivery of teaching, learning and research outcomes. 
• Arrange the maintenance of technical and experimental facilities, teaching and research environments. 
• Setup, demonstrate, instruct and supervise the use and operation of specialist pieces of equipment. 
• Record, monitor and collate information, analyse patterns and trends as part of teaching and research activities.  

Communication and Liaison

• Develop and improve services by taking part in meetings, working groups and committees. 
• Explain and demonstrate to others how to carry out tasks and use a range of tools, machinery, equipment and digital services.
• Create good working relationships, including internal and external networks which allow you to increase your knowledge and skills, while swapping information with peers. 
• Build relationships with contractors and third-party suppliers to share good practice, exchange information and work together on joint initiatives. 
• Any other reasonable duties.  

Specific role requirements   

• Assisting with the HARMONI and MOSAIC system and instrument commissioning activities may include travel to instrument consortium partners across Europe, and to the telescope in Chile. This may include working away from home for periods of up to a month and working at an altitude of 2400m.