Carlos Barría

How does a sound engineer end up at an optical astronomy observatory, working with a project focused on completely different sensory input? Meet Carlos Barría, a sound engineer turned supercomputer IT expert!

To talk about Carlos's work, we need to explain Development Operations, or “DevOps.” In simple terms, DevOps is a new way for software and IT teams to design, build, and manage the development and release of software in an automated way, so that updates can be released more quickly and reliably. As a DevOps engineer for Rubin Observatory, Carlos helps maintain the servers and supercomputers that process Rubin data. As an analogy, if Rubin were a custom-built house, a DevOps team would do everything to make that house the best it could be: they would draw up the plans, build it, maintain it, and even help with any expansions needed. Essentially, it’s a more efficient way of working because instead of needing separate teams of architects and builders for each project, DevOps can do it all!

The Rubin DevOps team doesn't build houses, but they do take care of the technology that functions as the “brain” of the observatory. Carlos is in charge of the servers that scientists use for research. “Just like home computers, we have to update the operating systems on the servers. I am responsible for updating the servers in the United States, located in Tucson, Arizona; and those in Chile, in La Serena,” he says.

How did Carlos, a sound engineer, end up working at Rubin? It all started with early access to computers. “My father, who is a doctor, had access to a computer at his hospital that I used much more than he did,” Carlos says. His interest in computers grew so much that one of his school teachers began helping him after regular classes, at his home. “My family started getting excited about the idea of me becoming a computer scientist. But when I studied it formally, I got very bored because while I already knew how to program in 'C' or databases, the teachers were teaching Excel or Word.” Carlos left formal computer science studies to pursue another field that combined many of his interests. “Someone recommended I look for something that satisfied my interest in music — specifically the guitar — computers, and electronics,” he says. “And then they mentioned sound engineering.”

Carlos worked in sound engineering for a while and even founded his own audio company with a colleague — all while continuing to study computer science independently. But jobs in audio became scarce, so Carlos decided to try something new. “Since I knew about sound and video,” says Carlos, “I worked in marketing for an internet services company. There, I quickly started creating software to make my job easier and automated.” He then took a job as a television support engineer. “I was one of only five people in Chile who held that position,” he recalls.

Six years later, an astronomer friend mentioned an open position at Rubin. “I applied without high expectations.” says Carlos, “but I did it anyway.” And since he likes challenges, he did it while organizing his wedding. After Carlos successfully passed a series of tests, and demonstrated that he was the best fit for the position, the DevOps team was also pleasantly surprised to discover that Carlos is a fan of heavy metal, video games, and anime (like several others on the DevOps team).

“Rubin feels like a new family to me,” says Carlos. “I have found colleagues with whom I identify a lot because, apart from sharing passions, hobbies, and similar personal stories, we spend time outside of work, travel together, and share with our families.

Lightning round Q&A: Get to know Carlos better!

What is your most used emoji?

I like using the hand emoji that says OK (👌) to add expressiveness to things that are good. I have slowly been popularizing it at work!

Would you go to space?

Definitely, yes. It must be the best thing that could exist. Hopefully, there will soon be commercial trips to go there.

What food could you eat for a week straight?

Chinese food (the kind we have in Chile), because the dishes are adapted to the local culture. Rice with Mongolian beef or chicken are my favorites.

If you could live in any fictional universe, which would it be?

I would be a paladin in World of Warcraft because I invested seven years of my life in it!