Senior Software Developer DSP at NRF National Research Foundation

The Senior Software Developer collaborates with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and test software applications, ensuring that they meet the requirements of the radio astronomy community.

Design and develop software applications for radio astronomy applications

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure software meets requirements

Develop and maintain high-performance computing and GPGPU programming skills

Support the development of radio astronomy-focused Digital Signal Processing products and applications

Technical Skills

Programming languages: C++, Python, MATLAB

High-performance computing: OpenMP, OpenACC, CUDA

GPGPU programming: NVIDIA, AMD

Operating systems: Linux, Windows

Soft Skills

Collaboration and teamwork

Communication and documentation

Problem-solving and analytical thinking

Leadership and mentoring

Example of a Senior Software Developer’s Work

A Senior Software Developer at a leading radio astronomy research institution designed and developed a software application for processing and analyzing radio telescope data. The application used a combination of C++ and Python programming languages, and leveraged high-performance computing techniques to accelerate data processing.

Key Responsibilities

Designing and implementing digital signal processing (DSP) systems for radio astronomy data processing

Developing high-performance computing (HPC) and GPGPU architectures for efficient data processing

Ensuring high-speed data transport and communication between systems

Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate DSP systems into radio astronomy data processing systems

Architectural Design

The primary focus of this role is on designing and implementing digital signal processing (DSP) systems for radio astronomy data processing. This involves developing and integrating DSP systems that can efficiently process and analyze large amounts of data from radio astronomy observations.

Key Skills and Qualifications

The ideal candidate should possess a strong foundation in computer engineering, computer science, or a related field, with a minimum of 13 years of relevant experience. The candidate should also have a bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma in computer engineering, computer science, or a related field.

Designing High-Performance Data Processing Systems

Designing high-performance data processing systems requires a deep understanding of computer architecture, algorithms, and software engineering. The goal is to create systems that can efficiently process large amounts of data, often in real-time, to extract valuable insights from complex astronomical observations.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Proficiency in either Python or C++ programming languages

Strong understanding of systems engineering and software design life cycle

Experience with Linux operating systems and development tools

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Strong attention to detail and organisational skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Technical Skills

Programming Languages

Python and C++ are the primary programming languages required for this role.

It is a world-class research facility that provides access to radio astronomy facilities and expertise to researchers from around the world.

Radio Astronomy Facilities: SARAO operates a range of radio astronomy facilities, including the MeerKAT telescope, which is a 26-meter diameter telescope that uses a technique called aperture synthesis to form high-resolution images of the sky.

Expertise and Research: SARAO provides access to radio astronomy expertise and research facilities to researchers from around the world. This includes access to state-of-the-art radio telescopes, such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope, which is currently under construction in South Africa.

Collaboration and Partnerships: SARAO collaborates with international partners to advance the field of radio astronomy.

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