Science Software Engineer

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), is NASA’s science operations center for missions including the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. STScI leads observation planning, data analysis, public engagement, and data archiving for flagship missions. Our staff spans astronomy, engineering, education, IT, communications, and administration—working together to bring space science to the world. (Click here to learn more about our missions).

STScI is seeking a motivated contributor to join the Science Instrument Calibration Software team (SCSB) as a Science Software Engineer. Expertise in code development is a key skill for the ideal candidate. In this role, you will help design, develop, and maintain the software that transforms raw spacecraft data into high-precision scientific products, directly supporting astronomers around the world and advancing NASA’s mission of exploration.

This position can support hybrid work onsite and at home. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to our local market. (MD, DE, VA, PA, DC & WV).

This position requires US Citizenship or Permanent Residence to meet ITAR requirements.

The posted salary range represents a general guideline; however, STScI considers several factors when determining base salary offers, such as internal pay equity, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's experience, education and skill and current market conditions.

• The annual salary range for a Senior Science Software Engineer (8+ years industrial working experience) is $120,000 - $135,000
• The annual salary range for a Science Software Engineer II (5+ years industrial working experience) is $100,000 - $115,000

Primary Responsibilities:

In this position, you will be responsible for developing software for processing astronomical data in a fast-paced multi-mission environment. You will build calibration software capable of precise reductions of astronomical observations and interact with astronomers to deliver innovative solutions to solve cutting-edge astronomical problems. The Software Engineer will contribute to the effort to develop the Advanced Scientific Data Format (ASDF) and support open-source libraries for astronomy. They will contribute to automating pipeline processing and data quality monitoring and develop software for the James Webb Space Telescope and Roman Space Telescope calibration pipelines. This role is both internal and external facing, and the engineer should be able to identify problems, implement solutions and offer guidance to development teams and end-users.

Required Qualifications:

• Expertise in code development with Python
• Experience with code development in C
• Experience with open-source libraries like NumPy, SciPy, Astropy
• Knowledge of Git and Git workflows in a team setting
• Familiarity with testing tools
• Strong teamwork, analytical, problem-solving, planning and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with YAML, JSON, HDF5 or other data formats
• Experience with astronomical data formats

Senior Level: Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree; Level II: Bachelor’s degree in: Computer/Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Astronomy, or similar discipline

Substitution of additional relevant education or experience for stated qualifications will be considered. The starting position and salary are commensurate with education and experience. We offer an excellent and generous benefits package.

TO APPLY: Share your experience by uploading a resume and completing an online application. Applications received by January 30, 2026, will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered until the position is filled. Reference #:0015267

individuals needing assistance with the employment process can contact us at [email protected].