Senior Cloud Engineers - Multiple Openings!

Calling for Cloud Engineers to support NASA missions!  The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a multi-mission science and flight operations center for NASA’s flagship observatories on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Learn more about our missions.

This position can support hybrid work. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to our local market. (MD, DE, VA, PA, DC & WV).

This position requires US Citizenship or Permanent Residence in order to meet ITAR requirements.

The Data Management Division is hiring 5 Cloud Engineers to help advance our state-of-the-art, astronomical data archive, the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST). MAST is the public data archive for more than 20 missions spanning more than 30 years, including HST, JWST, Roman, GALEX, PanSTARRS, Kepler, K2, and TESS. Our Cloud Engineers are responsible for the development, design, implementation, and maintenance of cloud-based application platforms, infrastructure, services, data and automation tools for 20+ Petabytes of data.

#1 Science Platform Branch (SPB) – 2 opportunities

The SPB team leads the development of novel data management platforms (based on JupyterHub) to support the science of the astronomy community and migrating legacy data pipelines and analytics workloads to the public cloud.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop scalable, reliable, and secure AWS native cloud applications
• Develop infrastructure configuration as IaC using technologies such as Terraform, CloudFormation, etc.
• Implement CI/CD/CT pipelines to build, deploy and testing, native cloud application code

Targeted Skills:

• Expertise in cloud-native application development, containerization (Kubernetes), and cloud infrastructure management.
• Strong experience with AWS and proficiency in Python, Java, Node.js, BASH, and IaC tools like Terraform and CloudFormation.
• Proficient in building automation tools and CI/CD/CT pipelines using platforms like Ansible, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and CodePipeline.
• In-depth knowledge of AWS services (EC2, Lambda, DynamoDB, RDS, S3, API Gateway).

#2 Catalog Science Branch (CSB) – 2 opportunities

CSB is responsible for the development, design, support and operational maintenance of astronomical catalogs, high-level science products (HLSPs), and the Common Archive Observation Model (CAOM) for our missions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, construct, install, test, and maintain robust, highly scalable, flexible and cost-effective cloud-based data management systems: data store, data backup, data integration, data governance, data recovery and data retrieval
• Design, develop and maintain scalable data ingestion and data migration pipelines and build out to support increasing mission data volume and complexity
• Design, develop and maintain cloud-based scientific catalog data exploration tools/services
• Design, install, deploy and support of hybrid environments with mixture of legacy and active mission astronomical data

Targeted Skills:

• Strong SQL programming skills and experience with cloud SQL databases (e.g., Amazon RDS).
• Extensive knowledge of ETL/ELT processes and cloud data Lakehouse solutions (e.g. Trino, Iceberg)
• Familiarity with big data tools and frameworks. Experience with distributed database platforms (e.g. Massive Parallel Processing database clusters)
• Familiarity with data modeling, data architecture, and data governance.
• SQL and database tuning expertise.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms, especially Amazon Web Services (AWS), including building and deploying cloud applications to automate processes.
• Proficiency in cloud data storage and access strategies.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python.
• Knowledge in machine learning
• Experience with containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) 

#3 Data Analysis Tools Branch (DATB) – 1 opportunity

DATB is responsible for the development and operational maintenance of data analysis tools for our missions. The DATs are primarily "post-pipeline" tools, enabling scientists in the astronomy community to extract maximal science from the observations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analyze client/business requirements and design appropriate cloud-based systems and architectures
• Develop, testing and debug cloud-native applications using programming languages like Python, Java, Ruby, and JavaScript

Targeted skills:

• Experience in refactoring applications to cloud native/work well in cloud environment.
• Experience with heavy load, large data, visualization application in cloud environment.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.  8+ years industry experience. Preferred certifications include AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or equivalent experience.

Compensation is commensurate with education and experience. Salary range - $130,000 -150,000k  Our excellent benefits include:

• Employer retirement contribution – direct STScI contribution of 10% of your salary from your first day
• 12 days sick leave, up to 24 days’ vacation, and 10 paid holidays
• Flexible work schedule with healthy work/life balance
• Relocation Assistance
• Comprehensive medical/dental/vision/prescription plans, and more!

TO APPLY: Please complete an application only using the below link: https://stsci.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/81246/dHm6HcuESp

Applications received by 10/29/24 will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered until all positions are filled.

Explore all career opportunities at www.stsci.edu/opportunities

STScI offers a flexible and welcoming workspace for all. STScI embraces the diversity of our staff as a strategic priority in creating a first-rate community. We strongly encourage women, ethnic minorities, veterans, and disabled individuals to apply for these opportunities. Veterans, disabled individuals, or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process can contact us at careers@stsci.edu EOE/AA/M/F/D/V.

As a leader in the astronomical community, AURA is committed to diversity and inclusion. AURA develops and supports programs that advance our organizational commitment to diversity, broaden participation, and encourage the advancement of diversity throughout the workforce www.aura-astronomy.org/diversity.asp

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA and all of the centers do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The statements below, as well as the requests for self-identification, are required under these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements for protection and assisting us in our record-keeping and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential.