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Real Time Software Engineer - Job Opportunity at Bertin Alpao

Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, France
Full-time
Mid-level
Posted: August 17, 2025
On-site
€55,000 - €75,000 annually based on the specialized nature of adaptive optics expertise, the company's international market position, and the Grenoble region's competitive tech salary landscape. The unique combination of real-time programming skills and optics domain knowledge commands premium compensation in the French market.

Benefits

Access to cutting-edge adaptive optics technology and world-class research projects including collaborations with Nobel Prize-winning teams
Opportunity to work on prestigious international projects with partners like ESO, NASA, CNES, Airbus, Thales, and Safran
Unique working environment in Europe's Silicon Valley at the foot of the Alps in Inovallée technology park
Exposure to multidisciplinary technological challenges across space, astronomy, quantum communications, and medical applications
Professional development in a rapidly expanding high-tech company with 90% international market reach

Key Responsibilities

Architect and develop mission-critical real-time software systems that directly enable breakthrough scientific discoveries in adaptive optics, ensuring atmospheric turbulence correction for world-leading telescopes and research instruments
Drive performance optimization initiatives to achieve stringent real-time requirements with minimal latency and jitter, directly impacting the quality of high-resolution imaging for space exploration and astronomical research
Lead the development and maintenance of sophisticated software drivers and interfaces for complex hardware ecosystems including advanced cameras, deformable mirrors, and specialized processing units
Pioneer the implementation and validation of both classical and AI-based real-time control algorithms that push the boundaries of adaptive optics technology
Collaborate strategically with system and optical engineers to seamlessly integrate software solutions into complex adaptive optics platforms used in Nobel Prize-winning research
Establish and maintain comprehensive technical documentation standards that ensure knowledge transfer and system reliability across international research collaborations
Provide expert-level troubleshooting and debugging for real-time software systems, maintaining operational excellence for critical scientific instruments
Drive continuous improvement in software development methodologies and contribute to code quality through rigorous review and testing processes

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field

Experience

Proven experience in real-time software development, preferably in an adaptive optics or similar domain

Required Skills

Strong programming skills in C/C++ Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) Familiarity with hardware interfaces and communication protocols (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet, Camera Link, CoaxPress) Understanding of adaptive optics principles, including wavefront sensing and control algorithms Experience with high-performance computing and parallel processing techniques (e.g. GPUs) Strong problem-solving and analytical skills Excellent communication and teamwork skills Experience with CMake, CTest, CPack, git, GitLab Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., Python, Matlab) Fluent French and English
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The adaptive optics market is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by increasing investments in space exploration, with major space agencies like NASA and ESA expanding their telescope programs and requiring more sophisticated real-time correction systems. The integration of AI and machine learning algorithms into traditional control systems is revolutionizing the field, creating demand for engineers who can bridge classical optics knowledge with modern computational techniques. Quantum communications and quantum computing applications are emerging as major drivers for adaptive optics technology, as these systems require extremely precise optical control for quantum state manipulation and transmission. This trend is creating new market segments beyond traditional astronomy applications, expanding into telecommunications and quantum technology companies. The medical and industrial applications of adaptive optics are rapidly expanding, particularly in ophthalmology for retinal imaging and in semiconductor manufacturing for precision lithography. This diversification is creating more stable market demand and reducing dependence on cyclical research funding, making real-time software expertise increasingly valuable across multiple industries.

Role Significance

Likely working within a small, specialized engineering team of 5-8 professionals including optical engineers, system engineers, and other software developers. Given the company's size of 50 employees and specialized focus, this role would be part of a tight-knit technical team with high visibility and direct impact on product success.
This is a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role with significant technical influence on product development and system architecture. The position requires autonomous decision-making on complex technical challenges and serves as a key technical interface between software and hardware engineering teams, indicating substantial responsibility within the organization's technical hierarchy.

Key Projects

Development of real-time control systems for next-generation extremely large telescopes (ELT) that will enable unprecedented astronomical observations and potentially revolutionary discoveries about exoplanets and deep space phenomena Implementation of AI-enhanced wavefront correction algorithms that could significantly improve the performance of adaptive optics systems across multiple application domains Integration projects with major aerospace and defense contractors for space-based optical communication systems that will enable high-bandwidth data transmission for future satellite constellations

Success Factors

Deep technical mastery of real-time systems programming combined with practical understanding of optical physics principles, as the role requires translating complex mathematical models into high-performance software that operates within microsecond timing constraints. Success depends on the ability to optimize code for both computational efficiency and real-time determinism. Strong collaboration skills and systems thinking approach, as adaptive optics systems are inherently multidisciplinary and require close coordination between software, hardware, and optical engineering teams. The ability to communicate complex technical concepts across engineering disciplines is crucial for successful system integration. Continuous learning mindset and adaptability to emerging technologies, particularly in AI and machine learning applications to optics. The field is rapidly evolving with new algorithmic approaches, and staying current with both software development best practices and optical science advances is essential for long-term success in this role.

Market Demand

High demand with limited supply of qualified candidates, as the intersection of real-time programming expertise and adaptive optics knowledge represents a highly specialized skill set. The growing space economy and expanding applications in quantum technologies are driving sustained demand for these capabilities.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Real-time C/C++ programming expertise is absolutely essential as adaptive optics systems must process sensor data and control actuators within microsecond timeframes. Any latency or jitter can compromise the system's ability to correct atmospheric turbulence, making performance-optimized code development a core competency that directly impacts product functionality and market competitiveness. Deep understanding of adaptive optics principles including wavefront sensing and control algorithms is crucial because software developers must implement mathematical models that accurately represent physical phenomena. This knowledge enables the creation of more efficient algorithms and better debugging capabilities when systems don't perform as expected. Hardware interface programming skills are critical since adaptive optics systems integrate multiple specialized components including high-speed cameras, deformable mirrors, and real-time processors. The ability to develop reliable drivers and communication protocols directly impacts system reliability and performance in demanding scientific applications.

Beneficial Skills

AI and machine learning expertise is increasingly valuable as the industry moves toward intelligent adaptive optics systems that can learn and optimize their performance automatically. This knowledge positions professionals for leadership roles in next-generation system development and opens opportunities in the growing quantum optics market. Experience with GPU programming and parallel computing techniques provides significant advantages for implementing computationally intensive wavefront correction algorithms. As system requirements become more demanding, the ability to leverage modern computing architectures becomes increasingly important for maintaining competitive performance. Knowledge of astronomical instrumentation or laser systems provides broader context for adaptive optics applications and enables better system design decisions. This domain expertise also opens career opportunities in related fields such as space technology development and precision manufacturing.

Unique Aspects

Direct contribution to Nobel Prize-winning research through the development of instruments used to study the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, providing exceptional professional prestige and the opportunity to work on scientifically groundbreaking projects
Access to cutting-edge technology development in the rapidly expanding space economy, with direct involvement in projects for the world's largest telescopes and next-generation space-based systems
Opportunity to work at the intersection of traditional optics and emerging AI technologies, positioning for career growth in both established and emerging market segments
International exposure through collaborations with prestigious organizations like ESO, NASA, and major aerospace contractors, providing global networking opportunities and career mobility

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 3-5 years for advancement to senior individual contributor roles, with management or principal engineer positions achievable within 5-8 years given the specialized nature of the expertise and the rapid growth of the adaptive optics market.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Software Architect for Adaptive Optics Systems, leading the technical design and architecture decisions for next-generation platforms Technical Product Manager for Optical Systems, bridging engineering and commercial teams to guide product development strategy Principal Engineer or Technical Lead positions at major aerospace companies like Airbus or Thales, leveraging the specialized expertise gained in adaptive optics Research and Development Leadership roles in emerging quantum optics companies or advanced telescope projects

Company Overview

Bertin Alpao

Bertin Alpao operates as a specialized subsidiary within the broader Bertin Technologies group, focusing exclusively on adaptive optics solutions with a strong emphasis on innovation and cutting-edge research applications. The company has established itself as a key technology provider for some of the world's most prestigious scientific institutions and has contributed to Nobel Prize-winning research, indicating exceptional technical capabilities and market recognition.

Bertin Alpao holds a strong position as a world leader in adaptive optics technology, with over 90% of revenue coming from international markets. The company's collaboration with major space agencies, prestigious research institutions, and leading aerospace contractors demonstrates significant competitive advantages and market credibility in a highly specialized technical field.
Strategically located in the Inovallée technology park near Grenoble, positioning the company at the heart of Europe's photonics and optics ecosystem. This location provides access to world-class research institutions, a skilled technical workforce, and proximity to other high-tech companies, creating an advantageous environment for innovation and talent acquisition.
The company culture emphasizes scientific excellence, innovation, and international collaboration, with employees working on projects that contribute to fundamental scientific discoveries. The relatively small team size of 50 employees suggests a collaborative, low-bureaucracy environment where individual contributions have high visibility and direct impact on company success.
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