Python Job: Software Engineer - Taxonomic Data Services

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

The Opportunity

The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is funded under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and hosted by CSIRO. The ALA is the Australian node of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Our digital infrastructure is developed in-house to support research activities, government decision-making and community events.

The ALA uses and produces software services and tools to aggregate Australian biodiversity data from a variety of providers and make it discoverable and reusable online. Our technology stack is reused by over 25 countries.

• Supportive, rewarding, inclusive and truly flexible environment.
• Endless opportunities to grow & develop your career
• Join CSIRO and support Australia's premier scientific organisation!

Joining the ALA as a computer software engineer and informatician to support and maintain our taxonomic names system. You will be supporting and maintaining, the ALA’s taxonomic backbone is a multilayered system that combines taxonomic lists from multiple Australian authorities into a single index, and an API to query and match input names to those in the index. Linking species names is the core functionality of all ALA systems.

This is an exciting and challenging problem. Worldwide there are over 2 million named species. The global and national taxonomic tree constantly grows and changes as scientists better understand organisms and the natural world. The biodiversity informatics community works towards applying systematic approaches and data management practices to make taxonomic data searchable and discoverable.

Your duties will include:

• Building and maintaining software to support the ALA taxonomic names index and associated web services
• Undertaking data analysis to identify functional and non-functional requirements of the names index and web services
• Undertaking and practicing contemporary software engineering practices to produce robust software
• Utilising leading cloud-based technologies to scale data processes and build reliability
• Working collaboratively with a team of international product managers, taxonomic specialists, research scientists, and developers to meet project and product goals

Location: Canberra, Melbourne, or Brisbane are preferred but we will consider all locations where CSIRO has a significant presence.

Salary: AU $100,710 to AU $108,985 plus up to 15.4% superannuation (This position may consider both full-time and part-time arrangements, between 0.8 to 1.0 FTE. In case of a part-time arrangement, salaries and superannuation will be calculated pro rata)

Tenure: Specified term of 3 years

Reference: 88004

To be considered you will need:

Essential Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following languages: Java, Python, JavaScript or Groovy
• Experience with relational and non-relational databases and SQL, data modelling and standardisation, and managing and analysing large scale datasets from multiple sources
• Experience with Linux OS, REST and service-oriented architecture
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team, taking initiative and exercising sound judgement in resolving issues to achieve desired results
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills and a strong capacity to communicate technical concepts to a non-technical audience

Desirable Criteria:

• Strong interest or knowledge in taxonomy and biodiversity informatics
• Experience across large and changing data systems
• Technical presentation skills
• Experience developing and managing software in a cloud environment, such as AWS, GCP, Azure, or OpenStack

CSIRO thrives on innovation; innovation that is harnessed by the diversity of the minds and lived experiences brought to our greatest challenges. CSIRO recognises that a candidate's capability to perform a role can be demonstrated in a variety of ways and encourages candidates to address the role criteria with this in mind.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or you must either hold, or be able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

To enter a CSIRO site, CSIRO will require you to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (or show a valid medical exemption from vaccination). If you are unable to meet this requirement, then you must return a negative result on a Rapid Antigen Test (within 48 hours prior to attending site) and wear a face mask whilst on the CSIRO site. These requirements apply if you are attending a CSIRO site as part of a recruitment process.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish.

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

27th November 2022, 11:00pm AEST