CDD Software Development Research Engineer (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

IRAP, the Toulouse-based astrophysics laboratory, is recruiting an engineer with strong expertise in scientific computing to contribute to the LISA gravitational wave space mission.
The successful candidate will participate in the prototyping and development of software dedicated to the identification, collection and integration of data external to the LISA mission. This scientific data is not collected directly by the mission, but will be used in the ground-based processing chains (Global Fit, Low Latency Alert pipeline and the LISA source catalogue) and will enrich the LISA data. The software developed will be integrated into the scientific ground segment processing chains, within the Distributed Data Processing Centre (DDPC).
The successful candidate will contribute to research on multi-messenger astronomy led by the existing scientific team.
He will work closely with the LISA team at L2IT (Laboratoire des 2 Infinis – Toulouse) and with the team at CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales).

Activity

• Experience in research, analysis and/or use of data from multi-wavelength astronomical observations relating to populations of astrophysical sources associated with gravitational waves, as well as experience of collaborative work — preferably in an international environment — is required,
• Experience in requirements analysis, prototyping and evaluation of technical solutions,
• Knowledge of the implementation of a quality management system: methods, tools, standards and procedures,
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (C++, Python, Julia, etc.) and collaborative development tools,
• Ability to demonstrate teaching skills, provide support and offer advice,
• Ability to communicate and report effectively through the drafting of technical reports,
• Proficiency in technical English (C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages),
• Enjoy working as part of a team.

Your Profil

Skills

• Help analyze researchers' needs and contribute to drawing up the project's functional specifications,
• Help design the technical solution,
• Help define the quality assurance and control plan for the development work and ensure it is implemented,
• Contribute to software development to implement the technical solution,
• Test and verify that the technical solution meets the identified requirements,
• Be responsible for producing technical documentation,
• Report on the progress of the work carried out; participate in and present work at project meetings and to the entire LISA consortium,
• Monitor technological and scientific developments,
• Participate in scientific projects related to LISA

Your Work Environment

The role's responsibilities form part of the scientific studies related to the future LISA space mission, a major European project involving numerous member states of the ESA (European Space Agency).
Approved by ESA in January 2024, the LISA mission aims to detect gravitational waves in a frequency range from millihertz to decahertz.
Within this frequency range, LISA will open up a new observational window, enabling the study of the merger of massive black holes (larger than 10^4 solar masses), their role in the growth of supermassive black holes (larger than 10^6 solar masses) at the centers of large galaxies (stellar mass larger than 10^10 solar masses), and their co-evolution with their host galaxies.
LISA will also enable the study of the demographics of certain galactic binaries, with implications for the history of star formation in our galaxy.
Furthermore, it will be able to detect certain systems of coalescing compact stellar objects ahead of ground-based gravitational wave interferometers such as the Einstein Telescope, offering the possibility of better constraining the physical parameters of these systems and, in some cases, obtaining more precise localizations, enabling improved electromagnetic follow-up.

The successful candidate will work on the prototyping and development of software dedicated to the identification, collection and integration of external data required for LISA's data analysis pipelines.
He will provide support to the LISA teams whilst adhering to the mission's quality requirements and the development schedule for its scientific ground segment (DDPC – Distributed Data Processing Centre). To this end, the successful candidate will work closely with the LISA teams at IRAP and L2IT, who share responsibility for the 'External Data' Working Package, and with the LISA team at the scientific ground segment of CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales), which is responsible for the DDPC.
IRAP, L2IT and CNES are located on the same science campus. The successful candidate will devote a portion of his time (to be defined) to contributing to scientific work related to the LISA mission.
Collaboration with other DDPC stakeholders will also be expected.

12-month renewable contract

Constraints and risks

Travel within France and abroad is to be expected.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Between € 3,143.64 and 3,645.42 gross per month, depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions