In support of ESA’s Science, Robotics and Exploration Directorate at ESAC we are looking for a: Scientific Archives & Virtual Observatory Developer

The Science Archives & Computer Engineering Unit has the role of developing science archives, providing easy access to mission data for the scientific community worldwide. A Science Archives team at ESAC works on various archive projects (ISO, XMM-Newton, Integral, Herschel, Planck, Rosetta, Mars Express, Smart-1, Venus Express, Soho). All mission archives are on-line via the internet, with data distribution usually done via FTP. Modular and flexible multi- tier and client-server architecture – together with the use of an object-oriented approach, Java and XML – allows configurability and re-use of systems across
projects.

The ESAC Science Archives Team is playing a greater role in the Virtual Observatory (VO) worldwide to position itself as the main VO actor for all European space-based astronomical data. A VO is a network of interoperating data archives and software tools that use the connectivity provided by the internet (and in future the GRID) to form a scientific research environment in which astronomical research programmes can be conducted.

No one in the Science Archives Team is dedicated to any one archive in particular but everyone works on similar sub-systems across all the projects. There are database engineers, experts on user interface and middle-tier and other specialists on data storage, data distribution and interoperability aspects.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

Specific tasks related to Science Archives & VO databases are as follows:

• Database design and modelling taking into account the user requirements;
• Database installation, population, modelling and maintenance;
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain database interfaces with the rest of the archives and VO system;
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain applications related to database information (user admin tools, statistics tools etc);
• Configuration control and documentation tasks relevant to the above. Specific tasks related to Science Archives & VO user interfaces and middle-tier applications are as follows:
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain the Science Archive & VO graphical user interfaces which allow users to make queries, see the results, select products and request them
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain the Science Archive & VO middle- tier applications which provide transparent access for applications to the database and to the data products repository
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain some Science Archive Data Visualization tools, which enable the display of images and spectra.
• Configuration control and documentation tasks relevant to the above.

Specific tasks related to Science Archives & VO data distribution and interoperability applications are as follows:

• Design, develop, deploy and maintain the Science Archive Data Distribution systems, which allow users to retrieve archive data products via FTP or via an off-line physical media
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain the Science Archive interoperability services, which provide a scriptable interface to the science archives databases and data products
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain the VO compliant interoperability systems, making sure that all RSSD science archives at ESAC are VO- accessible
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain an ESA VO portal, including an ESA multi-missions archive based on VO protocols
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain VO applications and VO clients (Registry, VOSpec)
• Take part in VO interoperability working groups where VO standards are defined and discussed
• Configuration control and documentation tasks relevant to the above.

Skills and Experience:

• University Degree in computer science or software engineering or equivalent;
• Specific experience in ESA Ground Segment and Scientific Archives Software engineering is required;
• Experience in designing multi-tier architecture applications is valuable;
• Extensive JAVA programming experience;
• Experience in web technologies (JSP, web services, http,)
• Experience in SQL and XML
• Experience in Graphical User Interfaces application
• Experience in Data Distribution applications through web services
• Experience in the VO standards and protocols, working groups, working processes and environment would be an asset
• Experience in interacting with the scientific community is an advantage;
• Good interpersonal and communication skills;
• Fluent in English; knowledge of Spanish is an asset but not essential

Starting date: September or as soon as possible thereafter

An exciting international working environment in a highly innovative and motivated team awaits you!

HE Space Operations is an international human resources company specialised in the space market. We have been providing consultancy services in space engineering and business administration for over 25 years. We generally work directly on-site with our principal customers such as the European Space Agency and EADS Astrium.