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Working at ESO
Are you interested in working in areas of frontline technology and in a stimulating international environment? Do you feel your profile matches our requirements? Learn more about our current vacancies and apply online. Read more..
The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.
ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor (home to ALMA), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.
At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world's largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA. On Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.
Within its Maintenance, Support and Engineering Department (MSE) at the La Silla Paranal Observatory, within the Directorate of Operations, ESO is advertising two positions for local staff members as:
Data Engineer
Santiago
Deadline 25/09/2024
In the context of the development of future site operations the Paranal Observatory is preparing operations of the VLT and the ELT. The Integrated Operations Programme builds and implements a process model which delivers high performance science data through sustainable operations processes. The digital transformation of operations plays a major role in our success and thus makes the Data Engineers key players in the engineering team of the programme.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The appointed candidate will have the following responsibilities:
- Work in a diverse core team of IOP architects, engineers, scientists and other operations experts to design, develop, and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure that support the digital transformation of the observatory.
- Harness different pipelines and give development teams and management feedback to make strategic decisions and improve related processes.
- Explore how data science and ML/AI techniques can improve predictive maintenance and observatory performance management.
- Collaborate and network with research institutes and industry on data science.
Reports to:
The Group Leader, Paranal Software Group.
Key Competences and Experience:
Essential competences:
- Proficiency in developing ETL (Extraction, Transformation, and Loading) processes, including creating data integration workflows to transform and make data accessible to development teams.
- Building and managing data pipelines and MLOps.
- Ensuring data quality and consistency across the pipeline.
- Proficiency in relational database management systems such as PostgreSQL, and NoSQL databases such as OpenSearch.
- Strong programming skills in Python.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to tackle complex data engineering challenges.
- Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to analyse complex systems.
- Ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies and methodologies in both data engineering and operations.
- Excellent communication skills to effectively work with cross-functional teams from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Two years of relevant working experience.
Desirable and considered as an asset would be:
- Proficiency in statistical analysis and data mining techniques.
- Experience with tools and libraries for data analysis, such as Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, and R.
- Knowledge of machine learning frameworks and libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn.
- Experience applying machine learning techniques to large datasets for tasks such as anomaly detection, classification, and prediction.
- Experience with Kafka.
- Proficiency in cloud platforms and cloud computing.
- Strong knowledge in Bash and Linux systems.
Qualifications:
A university degree or equivalent in relevant disciplines like computer science, physics, mathematics or engineering is required.
Language Skills:
ESO is an international organization where the official language is English. The position requires proficiency in oral and written communication in English.
Remuneration and Contract:
We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary and educational benefits, as well as financial help in relocating the candidate's family, where applicable. ESO aims to support its members of personnel in maintaining a good work-life balance (https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/#work-life-balance) between their professional and private life.
The initial contract is for a two-year term subject to medical clearance and successful completion of the probation period with a possibility of indefinite extension following the two years. The title or grade may be subject to change according to qualification and the number of years of experience.
For further information, please visit https://www.eso.org/public/archives/static/jobs/conditions/brochure-lsm-updated-jan2020.pdf.
Duty Station:
ESO premises in Vitacura, Santiago de Chile, and the Paranal Observatory, located 120 km south of the city of Antofagasta, Chile. The working schedule will be 75% in Vitacura, with 5x2 shifts, and 25% at the Paranal Observatory with 5x2 shifts, with the option of mobile working within our corresponding framework. These percentages may vary depending on operational requirements, so some flexibility is expected.
Career Path: V
Application:
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details. Applicants are invited to apply online at https://recruitment.eso.org/. Your application should be in English and include your curriculum vitae (CV) and a letter of motivation. All interviews will be conducted in English.
Closing date for applications is 25 September 2024.
Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.
Nationality:
No nationality is in principle excluded from employment at ESO, however, non-Chilean applicants to this role must reside in Chile and/or have a pertinent working permit, according to Chilean regulations at the time of their application. ESO is committed to equal opportunities. The post is equally open to suitably qualified candidates irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.
ESO Values:
An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organisation and its people.
The ESO values are:
ESO strives for excellence through innovation.
ESO provides outstanding services to its communities.
ESO fosters diversity & inclusion.
ESO believes in the key role of sustainability for its future.
Achieving the above are recognized as only possible on the basis of personal values and attitudes that we expect from our employees: respect, integrity, accountability, commitment, collaboration, and clear & open communication.
Applicants to any ESO role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised they may be asked about them if called for interview.
Diversity:
ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Please visit https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/ for further details.