The CTAO (Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory) will be the world’s largest and most powerful ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy at very-high energies. The Observatory has recently moved into its most exciting phase of development: the construction phase. Teams around the world are working together to make the CTAO reality. And with sites and staff located in Italy, Germany, Spain and Chile, the CTAO Central Organisation, which manages the construction and operation of the Observatory, is at the very centre of these activities.
For its Science Data Management Centre in Zeuthen, Germany, the CTAO Central Organisation’s Computing Team is seeking a SUSS Lead Developer to play a key role in the team responsible for the Science User Support System (SUSS) software. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of the next-generation gamma-ray observatory at the intersection of astronomy and computing.
The SUSS software systems and tools cover all aspects of the science operations of the observatory and provide the CTAO science community with the functionalities they need to conduct their research and interact with the observatory. Key components of the SUSS include a web-based platform for submitting and evaluating observation proposals from the science community, software for scheduling observations, and the science archive to store the resulting data products. Dedicated pipelines support their automated analysis and verification. The science community will have access to the data through a web-based science portal and will be provided with research software to analyse them. The SUSS software products comprise a wide range, including a suite of web-based platforms, libraries, pipelines, databases, and data management systems. The SUSS products will be offered as a service or standalone tools to its users. Preparations are underway for the first in a series of planned releases, each designed to deliver enhanced functionality and improved performance.
You will join the growing SUSS central team and assume a leading technical role within the SUSS work package. This work package is organised with a central team responsible for overall coordination, architecture, integration, and testing, supported by international and distributed contributing teams, each responsible for developing one or more of the SUSS software subsystems. In this role you will steer the development of the SUSS as a whole and guide the software development of the subsystem teams. This role offers the opportunity to work hands-on with SUSS central and subsystem team members, as well as with other product teams and domain experts across the CTAO Computing department.
Additionally, the CTAO will support your continuous professional development. You will have the opportunity to attend international conferences and workshops relevant to your work and professional interests and to build collaborations with other teams working on similar solutions in the field.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support and guide the software development activities of the SUSS team members across release cycles.
- Steer the definition of the technical solutions of the SUSS and its subsystems, including the evaluation of technologies and architectural decisions; review subsystem design documentation and technology choices.
- Contribute to the definition, implementation, and technical documentation of internal and external SUSS interfaces, including API definitions.
- Oversee software development activities by reviewing code in critical areas of the project, ensuring adherence to coding standards and architectural design.
- Produce and maintain technical documentation for each SUSS release, as needed, and contribute to use case documentation.
- Support the SUSS coordinator in developing and maintaining the SUSS architecture and software development plans.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Completed higher education in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, physics, mathematics, or equivalent knowledge.
- At least five years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Strong knowledge across the full software lifecycle, including architecture, design, code, testing, integration, and deployment.
- Experience in developing data management, workflow management, and/or web-based systems across a variety of technology platforms.
- In-depth understanding of Python or JavaScript.
- Experience with RESTful API design and implementation.
- Proficiency with Git-based workflows in GitLab or GitHub for larger software projects, including CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.
- Ability to bridge between user needs, software architecture, and technical solutions.
Desirable Skills:
- Familiarity with astronomical standards (e.g. IVOA) or science archive systems is an advantage.
- Familiarity with containerisation and orchestration (e.g. Kubernetes), scientific data management platforms (e.g. Rucio), or token-based authentication and authorisation workflows (e.g. OIDC) is an advantage.
Workplace: Zeuthen, Germany. Occasional travel will be required.
Contract: open-term, full-time. Gross salary 76,000 to 82,000 EUR depending on experience and qualifications. Benefits of 600 EUR per year.
Deadline for applications: 09 August 2026
For more information about the CTAO, visit www.ctao.org. For more information on the advertised position, please contact [email protected].
Applications are accepted without distinction on any grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, gender identity, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.
