While you browse, an agent could be applying to jobs like these for you — automatically, every day.
See how Auto-Apply works →Software Engineer Jobs in Hawaii
Scientific Software Engineer II
- Workplace Type
- Onsite
- Location
- Kamuela, HI
Department: Software Engineering
Employment Type: Full Time
Workplace Type: Onsite
Location: W.M. Keck Headquarters
Description
Do you love writing code that matters? As a Scientific Software Engineer II, you'll design, build, and support the software that keeps an observatory running. That includes instrument integration, data pipelines, and day-to-day operations. You'll own your software components and work with limited supervision. You'll shape design decisions and make systems more reliable, secure, and automated. You'll also take part in on-call support, share your know-how with junior engineers, and work with a multidisciplinary team to deliver solutions that work in the real world.
What the Scientific Software Engineer II Does:
The Scientific Software Engineer II is a fully competent individual contributor. They independently design, build, test, and support software for observatory operations, instrument integration, and data pipelines. They work with limited supervision and own specific software components. They follow established standards for quality, security, and change control. They troubleshoot component-level issues, join on-call and incident response, and escalate complex problems. They also guide junior engineers and work with scientists, operations staff, and partners.
Why Choose W. M. Keck Observatory:
- Competitive starting salary
- Generous benefits package, including 4 weeks of annual paid vacation
- A robust 8% 403(b) employer contribution (with a 4% employee contribution)
- Tuition assistance for dependent children grades K-12 attending private school on Hawai’i Island
- Comprehensive, employer provided health insurance
- We offer relocation support for candidates moving from outside the area.
- Be a part of a dedicated team working on the frontiers of astronomy.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Three (3) years of demonstrated experience developing production-quality software applications using Python or comparable modern programming languages.
- Experience developing and maintaining software components that integrate with existing systems, data pipelines, or instrumentation environments.
- Working experience with version control systems, testing frameworks, and structured release or deployment practices.
- Experience working in Unix/Linux environments including shell scripting.
- Exposure to operational support, troubleshooting, or on-call environments.
- Solid understanding of software engineering fundamentals including modular design, testing, documentation, and maintainability.
- Ability to analyze complex technical problems and implement effective solutions.
- Ability to write clear technical documentation and operational procedures.
- Effective time management and ability to manage multiple priorities within defined scope.
- Proficiency in at least one primary programming language (e.g., Python, C, JavaScript) and familiarity with supporting tools and frameworks.
- Working knowledge of databases, APIs, and web-enabled applications.
- Familiarity with object-oriented programming principles and common design patterns.
- Exposure to scientific computing, data processing, or automation workflows.
- Ability to use development tools including IDEs, debugging tools, version control systems, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Valid driver’s license.
About W. M. Keck Observatory
Research Services
The W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes are among the most scientifically productive on Earth. The two 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes atop Maunakea on the Island of Hawaiʻi feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectrometers, and world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics systems. Keck Observatory is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation. We wish to recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Maunakea has always had within the Native Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain
- Employees
- 146
- Industry
- Research Services
- Headquarters
- Kamuela, Hawaii
- Founded
- 1985
- Location
- 65-1120 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela, Hawaii 96743, US
- Specialties
- Astronomy, Spectroscopy, Adaptive Optics, Instrumentation, and Astrophysics
Team
Software Engineer Jobs in Hawaii
Browse software engineer jobs in hawaii, sourced directly from company career pages and updated daily. Recent openings come from Curotec, W. M. Keck Observatory and others.
Hiring snapshot
Based on the 3 most recent software engineer listings
- 3
- listings analysed
Employers hiring now
Where the openings are
Software Engineer Jobs in Hawaii FAQ
Common questions about software engineer jobs in hawaii.
See Software Engineer jobs in the United States, or remote Software Engineer jobs. Software Engineer openings in other cities: San Diego, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Tampa, FL, Indianapolis, IN, Columbus, OH, Philadelphia, PA, Orlando, FL, Jacksonville, FL. And in other states: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi.