Computing Postdoctoral Position to Upgrade the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment Fast Radio Burst Project (CHIME/FRB)

The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (http://www.chime-experiment.ca) is a radio telescope situated in the beautiful Okanagan Valley at Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory near Penticton, British Columbia. CHIME operates 24/7, generating terabytes of data per day. The CHIME/FRB project uses the CHIME telescope and its Outriggers to study the phenomenon of Fast Radio Bursts. 

CHIME/FRB has recently been awarded funds for a major upgrade of its HPC-based FRB data acquisition system. Duties of the candidate will include design, writing, testing, commissioning, maintenance and development of our upgraded software systems, monitoring and maintenance of hardware and servers, monitoring system health, providing troubleshooting and technical support, and maintaining databases and web systems. The successful candidate may have some time for a scientific research program subject to interest, and should have a strong research record in analysis, observation, experimental and especially computer-related projects, including managing computer hardware and software. Candidates should have a PhD in physics, astronomy, or another relevant field.  Knowledge of the field of Fast Radio Bursts, radio pulsars, general radio astronomy or time series analysis are assets. The position(s) may commence immediately (negotiable). Funds are available to support travel to the DRAO site near Penticton, BC for deployment and testing.

Review of applications will begin July 15, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

An ideal candidate will have experience with some of the following, and a strong willingness to learn on the job:
- Ability to manage and troubleshoot computer hardware, networks and clusters
- Ability to work in a complex software environment and to learn new tools and skills independently and in collaboration with team members
- Knowledge of distributed Systems and Container runtimes (e.g. Docker)
- Proficiency in Python
- Knowledge of Linux/Unix System Administration and Networking
- Proficiency in deploying, using, and managing relational and NoSQL databases
- Proficiency in full-stack development, including modern JavaScript/TypeScript and a frontend framework (e.g. React/Next.js)
- Experience designing, building and maintaining Python-based backends and APIs (e.g. Sanic, Django)
- Ability to play a leadership role with a team (assigning tasks, overseeing work, code
reviews etc)
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think critically
- Excellent communication (oral and written) and collaboration skills

The candidate will report to the CHIME/FRB Principal Investigator and will interact with CHIME and CHIME/FRB team members, including Project Managers, staff, researchers, faculty and students at multiple institutions.

We hire on the basis of merit and are committed to employment equity. The CHIME/FRB project is committed to diversity and equity within its community. We especially welcome applications from: women, Indigenous/Aboriginal persons of North America, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, visible minorities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.