Senior C/C++ Software Engineer (all genders)

## Responsibilities * Support the implementation, further development, and maintenance of software components within an existing software architecture. * Contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes and system integration workflows. * Work closely with hardware, system, and quality assurance engineers to develop reliable and maintainable software solutions for complex technical systems. * Extend and adapt existing systems for new applications and customer-specific requirements. * Develop and maintain software for next-generation Quantum Optical Ground Stations supporting free-space optical communication and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). * Develop application and control software in C/C++ and Python for telescope operation, optical instrumentation, tracking systems, and measurement equipment. * Design, implement, and continuously improve software modules supporting new Optical Ground Station capabilities and future system extensions. * Integrate cameras, sensors, motion control systems, scientific instruments, and other hardware into a modular software architecture. * Develop and maintain software interfaces between hardware devices, distributed software services, and external control systems. * Debug, test, and optimize performance of complex hardware/software systems in laboratory and operational environments. * Participate in laboratory integration, system verification, on-site installation, commissioning, and acceptance testing of Optical Ground Stations. * Contribute to software quality through unit testing, code reviews, requirement traceability, technical documentation, version control, and CI/CD workflows. ## Requirements * Strong programming skills in C/C++ and Python. * Experience with version control systems such as Git. * Familiarity with unit testing and automated testing methodologies. * Experience with CI/CD pipelines and modern development workflows. * Understanding of requirement tracing and technical documentation. * Familiarity with Linux-based development environments. * Understanding of multithreaded or asynchronous software systems. * Ability to work within a defined software architecture and follow coding standards, development guidelines, and software product assurance requirements. * Experience with CMake-based build environments and dependency management. * Solid experience in modern software engineering and structured development methodologies. * Strong understanding of maintainable software design and collaborative development workflows. ## Nice to Have * Embedded software engineering experience. * Java and JavaScript development experience. * Experience with GUI development (e.g., web-based interfaces, or similar frameworks). * Knowledge of HTML and CSS for user interface development. * Experience developing and maintaining graphical user interfaces for desktop or web applications. * Experience with hardware interfaces and communication protocols. * Knowledge of network architectures and network topologies. * Experience with distributed systems and network-based communication. * Experience with real-time or high-performance systems. * Experience with scientific, optical, or physics-related applications. ## Benefits * Opportunity to work on advanced technical systems at the intersection of software, hardware, quantum optical technologies, and applied engineering. * Minimum gross salary of €3,378.48 per month (based on full-time employment) in accordance with the collective agreement, with willingness to offer higher salary depending on experience and qualifications. * Equal opportunity employer committed to diversity.