Petascale Database Systems Developer

SLAC Job Postings

The Opportunity

Join the Data Management (DM) team at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, one of modern astronomy's defining missions. With your team, you¿ll develop, deploy, and operate an innovative distributed database system to house the astronomical catalogs of our groundbreaking mission: The Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).

Your Impact

• Maintain, extend, and enhance a distributed parallel relational database system, implemented as a map/reduce style SQL query rewrite and aggregation system in C , running on a dedicated hardware cluster of ~100 nodes.
• Work on a petascale data challenge , managing astronomical catalogs characterising tens of billions of individually identified galaxies and stellar objects, and tens of trillions of individual photometric measurements. Rubin will conduct an optical survey of the night sky, generating 15 TB of data nightly with its 8-meter mirror and 3.2 gigapixel camera. Once completed, the LSST will be the largest optical survey ever made.
• Directly contribute to a range of astrophysical discoveries , from discovering potentially hazardous asteroids to unlocking the mysteries of dark energy.
  
  

The Team

You'll be part of the Rubin Data Management team, a distributed group of over 60 scientists and engineers responsible for turning the raw data from the camera into science-ready measurements. Our technology stack includes state-of-the-art image processing algorithms, large distributed databases, and the next-generation Rubin Science Platform (RSP). We openly share our code on GitHub under an open-source license.

Your Role

• Be a principal C developer within the Data Management organization, one of a team of three experts focused particularly on ongoing design and implementation work on the ¿Qserv¿ distributed database system.
• Support access to data products worldwide , playing a key role in the observatory's output and scientific achievements.
• Enjoy an insider¿s view up close and personal with the ongoing internal operation of a world-class scientific experiment.
  
  

The next few years will be exciting for Rubin Observatory as SLAC becomes its data production facility and survey images begin to flow from the world¿s biggest digital camera. Join us in making history at the Rubin Observatory as we embark on a decade-long journey to capture the universe like never before.

Given the nature of this position, SLAC is open to on-site, hybrid, and remote work options.

Your Responsibilities Will Include The Following

• Drive ongoing design and develop code in C for the Qserv distributed database system.
• Ensure (by architecture and in practice) that Qserv is scalable, robust, maintainable and secure.
• Manage DevOps-oriented deployment of Qserv with Kubernetes.
• Participate in the collective engineering activities of the team, including performing code reviews, acting as a troubleshooting buddy, and participating in design discussions based on a shared understanding of team needs. Engage with other members of the Qserv team to identify ways to improve the team¿s tools and workflows.
• Write documentation to effectively capture and communicate architectural and implementation choices.
• Share responsibility with the rest of the team for the overall success of catalog data releases within the Rubin Science Platform.
  
  

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, and at least 8 years of relevant experience as a C developer, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. To include a working knowledge of contemporary C development tools and practices, including standard and boost libraries, cmake, git/github, containerized applications, and the linux operating environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency with performance-oriented multi-threaded, asynchronous, and network-distributed programming.
• Familiarity with SQL-oriented relational databases, including an understanding of schema design, storage engines, indexing, query plan interpretation, configuration, management, and performance optimization.
• Experience working with data at scale.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with colleagues working both locally and remotely.
• Dependability, flexibility, and willingness to take the initiative.
  
  

Applying For This Position, You Should Know That

SLAC offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and an attractive, inclusive and collaborative work environment in the foothills of Silicon Valley. Relocation expenses will be covered. Remote or hybrid work will be considered for locations within the United States.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but must be received by January 5, 2026 to ensure full consideration. You should direct questions to the Chair of the Search Committee, Fritz Mueller ( fritzm@slac.stanford.edu ).

SLAC Employee Competencies

• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, team collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.
  
  

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
  
  

Work Standards

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1¿General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
  
  

Classification Title: Software Developer 3

Grade: L

Duration: Regular Continuing

Job code: 4823

The expected pay range for this position is $137,773 to $194,585 per annum. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.