Software Scientist / Research Software Engineer

Join our team to use your Python experience and love of research to enable SLS and SwissFEL scientists to record, analyse and interpret petabytes of data from cutting-edge experiments.

You will join the Experiment IT Development and Operations Group within the AWI department to play a central role in our collaboration with the Photon Science Division (PSD) and the Large Research Facilities (GFA) division. You will develop, improve and support solutions for the experiment IT environments at PSI's photon facilities SLS and SwissFEL. Exciting efforts are underway at these internationally recognised facilities to push forward the forefront of both scientific discoveries as well as state-of-the-art data science, computing research and development.

Your role will interface with beamline teams and specialist groups across a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. You will act as translator and facilitator between the involved parties both in terms of collaborative discussions and developed code. Aiming at providing functional, reliable, and efficient solutions you will meet the demanding and diverse needs of synchrotron and FEL measurements, before, during and after experiments.

• Design, develop and support solutions for the experiment IT environments at PSI's photon facilities to enable state-of-the-art and novel science
• Collaborate with beamline staff, IT and controls groups on IT-related problems and assist scientists in defining their IT requirements
• Collaborate with leading national and international institutions and consortia

Your profile

You are an enthusiastic and talented team player with demonstrated programming experience in Python and/or C++. You are motivated to support scientific discoveries by working in the interdisciplinary area among scientific software development, data science and HPC.

Some of the following expertise would be advantageous:

• PhD degree in natural science, computer science, engineering or mathematics; or equivalent practical experience in computing with experiences in another special field
• Experience with and understanding of the needs for supporting time-critical experiments
• Experience in developing scientific software solutions using Python and/or C++ producing high-quality code and following good software development practices (e.g., version control, CI/CD, unit testing)
• Experience in integrating and deploying scientific software solutions in state-of-the-art and novel IT environments
• Good knowledge of Linux, computing clusters and high-performance file systems to support science
• You are a good listener and a strong team player with excellent communication skills and sense of responsibility
• Fluent in English (spoken and written), speak German (an advantage, not a must) or willing to learn it.

We offer

This position will offer you a great opportunity to develop your career in an exciting and highly multidisciplinary environment.

Our institution is based on an interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration. You will profit from a systematic training on the job, in addition to personal development possibilities and our pronounced vocational training culture. If you wish to optimally combine work and family life or other personal interests, we are able to support you with our modern employment conditions and the on-site infrastructure.

The salary offer will be commensurate with the depth and breadth of your experience.

For further information, please contact Dr Sven Martin Augustin, e-mail sven.augustin@psi.ch

Please submit your application online by 11 September 2022 (including list of publications and addresses of referees) for the position as a Software Scientist / Research Software Engineer (index no. 7901-01).

Paul Scherrer Institut, Human Resources Management, Mariusz Prus, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland