Space Science and Mission Support: Software Developers Wanted Options

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The USGS Astrogeology Research Program is hiring computer programmers
to join our staff of computer scientists, planetary researchers,
cartographers, and other space science experts. The Astrogeology
Research Program is a team of over 80 scientists, engineers, and
experts working to support the efforts to explore, map, and understand
our solar system. The Program's primary mission is to scientifically
study and map extraterrestrial bodies, plan and conduct planetary
exploration missions, and explore and develop new technologies in data
processing and analysis, archiving, and distribution. Among the
current and future missions we are currently involved with are Mars
Exploration Rover, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Cassini-Huygens
Mission to Saturn and Titan, Phoenix, and Mars Science Laboratory. The
Program is located in the Shoemaker Center for Astrogeology on the
USGS Flagstaff Science Center campus in Arizona's high country.


To learn more about Flagstaff, visit:
link


The USGS Astrogeology Research Program has a rich history of
participation in space exploration efforts and planetary mapping,
starting in early 1960's when the Program was established to provide
lunar geologic mapping and assist in training astronauts destined for
the Moon. Throughout the years, the Program has participated in
processing and analyzing data from various missions to the planetary
bodies in our solar system, assisting in finding potential landing
sites for exploration vehicles, mapping our neighboring planets and
their moons, and conducting research to better understand the origins,
evolutions, and geologic processes operating on these bodies. A few of
the missions have been involved with are Mars Pathfinder, Mars Global
Surveyor, Clementine, Voyager, Galileo, Magellan, and Lunar
Prospector. To learn more about our history and current work, visit
our site: link
.


Computer Scientist and IT Specialist Positions
Software developers on our staff perform a wide variety of tasks,
mainly developing applications for our image processing and
cartography software package, Integrated Software for Imagers and
Spectrometers (ISIS). For more information about ISIS, visit the ISIS
website: http://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/. Our programmers work in a
multiplatform environment, including SUSE Linux on 32-bit and 64-bit
x86 hardware, Sun Solaris, Mac OS X, and Windows XP.


Major duties include, but are not limited to:
* Plans, organizes, implements and tests large, complex software
systems that handle and analyze terrestrial and planetary
multispectral images and imaging spectrometer data acquired by
telescopes, aircraft, Earth-orbiting spacecraft, and planetary
spacecraft.
* Designs, implements and tests C++ based software for n-
dimensional image and vector data as part of ISIS on various Linux/
UNIX-based computer platforms.
* Uses higher mathematics and computer programming to develop
algorithms and applications for the analysis of imaging spectrometer
data, geodesy, and digital cartography.
* Designs, implements, and tests system-level I/O routines for
rapid, efficient data transfer, including network transfers.
* Prepares scientific reports or papers on software systems or
techniques.
* Other miscellaneous duties may include: build graphical user
interfaces (GUIs) for ISIS, design and build databases containing
metadata on planetary image data, and design and implement web
services to provide planetary image data to end users across the
internet.


The experience we're looking for includes:


* Working and programming in a multiplatform environment,
including at least two or three of the following operating systems:
Linux (or Unix), Mac OS X, or Windows.
* Object-oriented analysis, design and implementation in C++ or
Java programming languages.


We have posted positions in two job series at various grade levels: IT
Specialist (APPSW) and Computer Scientist. Both of these positions are
for our software development team.


Qualifications for a given job series and grade level are based on
education and experience. See the following for more information about
qualifications for these series:


Information Technology Specialist (GS-2210)
link



Computer Scientist (GS-1550)
link



Software developers at lower grade levels perform a wide range of
tasks described above. Developers will be assigned work designed to
further develop and refine their knowledge and skills. Assignments
will typically combine productive work with on-going training and
instruction. Supervision will be closer with oversight and review
being provided more frequently. At the higher grade levels, software
developers will often act as a project leader or team leader,
directing the work of other team members and coordinating and
supporting team efforts. Project management, budget management, and
supervisory experience are desired in higher grade level applicants.


Apply Online
For more details and to apply online, visit the USGS Online Automated
Recruitment System link
.