National Radio Astronomy Observatory jobs

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Software Engineer Group Lead, Common Domain Software Location: NRAO Headquarters, 520 Edgemont Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America - 800 Bradbury Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA - 1011 Lopezville Rd, Socorro, NM 87801, USA - 155 Observatory Rd, Green Bank, WV 24944, USA Requisition Number: 221 Job Family: Software Engineer Pay Type: Salary Required Education: ENG Position Description: Position Summary At NRAO, we are recruiting a full-time Software Engineering Group Lead to provide technical leadership, planning, and management for software products and shared software infrastructure that support radio astronomy data acquisition, data movement, processing, and analysis. The group, known as the Common Domain Software Group, will be responsible for developing and maintaining reusable software capabilities, common services, integration patterns, and infrastructure components that can be applied across multiple NRAO systems and projects. The Software Engineering Group Lead will guide short- and long-term planning, coordinate development activities, and help establish engineering practices that improve interoperability, reliability, maintainability, and operational effectiveness. The role includes leading work related to shared software models, system integration, messaging and communication mechanisms, data transport, workflow support, data repositories, service interfaces, deployment approaches, and other software infrastructure needed to support distributed scientific computing environments. The Common Domain Software Group is also responsible for frontline support of existing telescope operations and for the timely and appropriate resolution of real time issues that impede scientific operations at all NRAO sites. In support of operational responsibilities, this group will work to enhance diagnostic and monitoring tools and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to maintain operational performance. The combination of operations and common software under a single Common Domain Software Group Lead allows for the development of foundational software that is efficient and reliable in operations. This position requires close collaboration with scientists, software engineers, systems engineers, operations staff, and project stakeholders to ensure that common software infrastructure is aligned with current operational needs and future observatory capabilities. The group will help identify opportunities to standardize reusable components, reduce duplication, improve system consistency, and support the evolution of NRAO software systems over time. This position can be based at any of our NRAO locations, including Albuquerque, NM, Socorro, NM, Charlottesville, VA, or Green Bank, WV. For well-qualified candidates, a remote work arrangement may be considered. What you will be doing: As the Common Domain Software Engineer Group Lead, you will be responsible for the overall personnel and technical management of software teams responsible for 1) standardized data repositories, 2) system communications, 3) data transport, and 4) frontline 24x7 operational support and integration. You will also be responsible for regular reporting on management status and compliance with deadlines to senior management at NRAO and other participating organizations, and you may be asked to present that status to other stakeholders or advisory bodies in formal or informal reviews. Personnel management involves building and maintaining a culture of trust, mutual collaboration, accountability, and excellence within the Common Domain Software group and with its stakeholders. This includes: - Seeking to increase the technical diversity and expertise of the group through robust recruiting and onboarding practices. - Professional development for existing staff and succession planning. - Ensuring a professional working environment and efficient work processes are maintained through direct line management of staff. - Reviewing timesheets and periodic performance reviews, including interacting with the Human Resources and Business departments of the Observatory when necessary. - Proactive compliance with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures in own work area is expected. - With guidance from the Observatory Human Resource Department, coordinating and advising on personnel matters, ensuring compliance with applicable policies such as affirmative action. - Advising staff on planning, technical, and operational matters, instructs and orienting new employees as necessary. - Interpreting, implementing, developing and/or recommending changes to rules, regulations, policies and procedures set forth by the Observatory. Programmatic management involves oversight of all aspects of the lifecycle of software for which the group is responsible, including: - Gathering of requirements, planning development, assigning tasks, tracking progress, coordinating integration, testing, acceptance, and release while fulfilling high standards of quality. - Managing stakeholder relationships, establishing priorities based on stakeholder needs, and maintaining effective communications. - Ensuring the delivery of high-quality software products by the team that meets stakeholder expectations and schedules. Technical management involves interacting directly with all group members: - Developing the software infrastructure. - Guiding the integration of software components. - Maintaining a consistent view and quality of implementation across all of the software. - Approving technical direction within the team. - Interacting with a team of expert developers and improving on present practices whenever and wherever appropriate. Work Environment Work is typically performed in a research and development office environment. Occasional travel (domestic and international) may be required Who You Are: Education - A Bachelor's degree in computer science, physics, astronomy, or related field. Advanced degree preferred. Experience - You have at least seven years of experience in software development, with at least three or more years of experience managing a software team of three or more people. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered. You must have prior experience in computing data transport and systems communications design and concepts. Skills and Competencies - Strong interpersonal and group communications skills, oral and written. - Familiarity with a wide variety of technologies, such as Java, C, C++, Python, testing frameworks, threading, parallelization. - Ability to translate science requirements into software requirements. - Understanding of software architecture and the implications it has for development. - Must possess strong leadership and delegation capabilities. Ability to maintain and develop productive collaborations across organizations, anticipate and mitigate political and technical issues. - Ability to establish firm, professional, and respectful interactions with staff and stakeholders. - Demonstrated strong initiative in refining and clarifying requirements, defining and implementing QA processes, plan definition and monitoring, defining technical direction, and facilitating alignment. - Ability to learn new areas and apply learning. - Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities. - Familiarity with project management concepts and techniques. Competency Summary As a Software Engineer Group Lead, you are expected to have demonstrated experience leading software development groups, preferably within the domain of astronomy. To be successful, you shall also have experience in leading a distributed team of developers and be familiar with management, planning, and reporting aspects. You should be prepared to deal with already ongoing activities, while also having the ability to formulate a long-term direction. You should have experience balancing the maintenance, improvement, and enhancement of operational software. Planning skills and appropriate management of a team of expert developers and scientists are essential. Competency and experience dealing with the development process from requirements gathering, to development, testing and the formalism needed to achieve an orderly process is also expected. You must be able to build strong and productive relationships with stakeholders who have complex and sometimes conflicting requirements, such as scientists, development partners, and operations organizations. Strong decision-making, consensus building, and communication skills are essential. Additional Requirement Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. Total Rewards: Compensation The starting salary rate of this position is between $123,000-$154,000 per year. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. Benefits: Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides: . click apply for full job details

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Systems Engineer II-III Location: NRAO Headquarters, 520 Edgemont Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America Requisition Number: 231 Job Family: Systems Engineer Pay Type: Salary Required Education: PPM Position Description: Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is an exciting and prestigious research facility that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. The Observatory operates a variety of radio telescopes that span the globe, including the famous Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). These telescopes are among the most advanced in the world, allowing astronomers to explore the universe in unprecedented detail. The Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) is a transformative astronomical observatory designed to deliver science-ready data products to a broad community of users. The Computing and Software System (CSS) is the backbone of this vision, encompassing all the software and hardware required to control the telescope, manage the flow of data, execute processing pipelines, and provide user-facing services. The CSS is decomposed into several major systems, each with a distinct role in the data lifecycle, from observation planning to final data analysis. The ngVLA project is seeking a highly skilled and experienced system engineer with a software background. The system engineer will collaborate with System Architects and Engineers with domain expertise (subject matter experts) to formalize, capture and manage the evolving sub-system requirements, computing and software sub-system architecture, and sub-system designs. This position extends and implements the project-level systems engineering management plan and software development plan, ensuring that a rigorous design process is followed and deliverables meet project quality standards. This position will be located at the NRAO facility in Charlottesville (VA). What You Will be Doing - Successfully lead all systems engineering tasks for CSS. - Ensure requirements traceability and process alignment between CSS and the ngVLA project, including tracking the traceability of requirements down to CSS software subsystems within the ngVLA Cameo model. - Document requirements, elaborate verification and validation (V&V) plans, update CSS design and system architecture, and create other technical documents needed for gate reviews. - Define and maintain internal and external Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for CSS software subsystems within the ngVLA Cameo model. - Model system and software subsystem behavior - including activity diagrams and state/mode diagrams - to document functional flows and control logic - Support the execution of verification and validation (V&V) activities for CSS software subsystems, working with development teams to confirm requirements are met. - Manage the development of all Systems Engineering plans and documentation for CSS needed for successful system design reviews. - Utilize Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) techniques - specifically Cameo Systems Modeler, SysML, and MagicDraw - to update and extend the ngVLA Cameo model, document workflows and system models, and maintain interface specifications. - Prepare technical documentation and presentations for CSS gate reviews and assist in managing subsystem design reviews - Participate in the systems engineering management processes, including configuration management, baselining, change management and document management processes Work Environment The successful candidate will join a team of professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of science, engineering, software development, and education. Work is typically performed in a research or development environment. Who You Are: - You have a bachelor's degree in systems engineering, physical science, computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, or related field or significant work experience in a similar environment. - At least five years working as a Systems Engineer in integrated project teams, preferably in scientific R&D environments. - Incose or similar certification beneficial. - Demonstrated experience with core systems engineering principles, including requirements capture, verification and validation plans, full project lifecycle planning. - Experience of working across life cycle phases including: preliminary design, detail design, design qualification, production, construction or fabrication, and transition to operations - Exposure to at least two of the following technology domains is preferred: electromagnetic, RF, digital signal processing, mechanical, software engineering, and civil engineering - Experience with model-based systems engineering methodologies and tools - Excellent verbal and written communication, and scheduling and running effective meetings with geographically dispersed teams. - Proactive and independent work ethic Additional Requirement Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position. Total Rewards: Compensation The starting salary of this position is between $87,390-$120,837. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. Benefits: Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides: - Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days) - Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. - AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution. - Click Total Rewards for more information. Application Instructions: Select the "Apply Now" button. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit . If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to . PM20 Compensation details: 37 Yearly Salary PI00f1e1c4f6c0-0106

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Software Engineer III Location: 1011 Lopezville Rd, Socorro, NM 87801, USA - 5651 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USA - 155 Observatory Rd, Green Bank, WV 24944, USA Requisition Number: 230 Job Family: Software Engineer Pay Type: Salary Required Education: CPP Position Description: Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe. The NRAO is seeking a full-time software engineer to design, develop and maintain code for their radio interferometer data reduction and analysis pipeline. The pipeline is used for the majority of data processing by users of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. ALMA is now entering a very exciting phase. Over the next several years, ALMA will be undergoing a major upgrade of the array's components - the ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU). The objective is to increase the system bandwidth by at least a factor of two (and a goal of a factor of four), as well as to improve the sensitivity of most receivers and improve the digital efficiency throughout the signal chain. The position will be based either at our headquarters in Charlottesville, VA; at the Science Operations Center in Socorro, NM; our office in Albuquerque, NM; or at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. A remote workstation within the United States may be considered for candidates with sufficient experience, who can work independently while still communicating effectively with the team. What You Will be Doing: The ALMA Pipeline Software Engineer is responsible for all aspects of the software engineering lifecycle, from requirements derivation through design, development, testing and maintenance of code used in telescope data processing. You must be capable of formulating complex technical solutions suitable for operational deployment from broad scientific objectives in a research environment. You must possess both software engineering domain knowledge as well as the educational background and ability to understand the basic scientific concepts of radio interferometry. A key responsibility for this position will be improving ALMA quality assurance (QA) processes and the common pipeline infrastructure. All Pipeline development uses a a common infrastructure written in Python, which serves as the foundation of all essential aspects of the Pipeline functionality, including, heuristics-driving data calibration/imaging, weblog-based presentation of workflow and data quality assessment, as well as the final science data product delivery. Work Environment The successful candidate will join a team of professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of science, engineering, software development, and education. Work is typically performed in a research or development environment. Must be able to operate a personal computer. May occasionally work at high altitudes. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Who You Are: Education - You have a Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, scientific or related field; highly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a Bachelor's degree. - While not required, you may have an advanced degree in a related field. Experience - Minimum of three years of experience in the development of software applications; Skills and Competencies - An understanding of formal software engineering principles including design, documentation, ticketing systems, version control and testing frameworks - Experience with large development projects in Python - Experience writing code for data visualization and web presentation - Familiarity with basic astronomical principles and data reduction - Demonstrated ability to learn new scientific concepts and apply them to engineering implementation, ideally in radio astronomy and interferometry - Experience with scientific software development, numerical processing techniques, and mathematical packages such as Python/numpy - Experience with CASA (or similar data reduction package) - Familiarity with High Performance Computing and Big Data concepts including distributed data storage, parallel I/O, parallel processing, and memory caching - Familiarity with software development in Linux, Python, and with version control software Additional Requirement Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position. Total Rewards: Compensation The starting salary of this position is between $79,000 and $120,000. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. Benefits: Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides: - Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days) - Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. - AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution. - Click Total Rewards for more information. Application Instructions: Select the "Apply" button above. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position . Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit . If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to . PM20 Compensation details: 00 Yearly Salary PI62747daf5b4c-0105

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Technical Specialist III-IV Location: 5651 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USA Requisition Number: 224 Job Family: Technical Specialist Pay Type: Hourly Required Education: NET Position Description: Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe. At NRAO, we are recruiting a Front End Technical Specialist III or IV. The preferred location for the position will be based at Albuquerque BP office. What You Will be Doing: - Assist with design, layout, testing, problem solving, and troubleshooting procedures for systems, assemblies, sub-assemblies while working with engineers and technical staff. - Conduct procurement and testing of RF and microwave components such as polarizers, couplers, amplifiers, cables, and waveguides. - Participate in regular Front End design, development, and future maintenance activities. - Design, fabricate, assemble and test prototype or production receivers and support electronics. - Set up standard test equipment, test fixtures, or devices to conduct functional, operational, and environmental tests to evaluate the performance and reliability of prototype or production units. - Analyze and interpret test data. - May assist in the first couple installations, then lead the subsequent installations of finished units at various antenna sites. - Other duties may be assigned based on the applicant's skills and the Observatory's needs. Work Environment Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment . The successful candidate may occasionally be required to work outdoors or climb on antennas to heights greater than 40 feet above the ground. Candidate may be required to travel domestically and internationally by air carrier and to travel by car between NRAO sites. Who You Are: Education - Associate's degree in electrical engineering technology or an equivalent combination of education and Ten years of related experience. - While not required, a Bachelor of science in electrical engineering technology or closely related field is preferred Experience - Minimum of ten years of experience in design, manufacture, and/or maintenance and repair of some or all the following technical areas: cryogenic receiver systems (front ends), antenna RF systems, and IF systems (e.g. oscillators and mixers) - While not required, fifteen years of experience in technical areas as described above is preferred Skills and Competencies - High level of competency in Microsoft software products and web-based systems, Visio and SharePoint. - Attention to detail is critical - Highly organized - Excellent communication skills - Problem solving skills - Good documentation skills - Ability to work well in a team environment - A strong foundation in electrical or electronics engineering technology - Knowledge of RF, analog, and digital circuit design along with specific test and measurement techniques - Use of various types of electronics test equipment and familiarity with automated test setups to support general test and measurement Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position. Safety Sensitive The selected candidate must successfully pass a post-offer, pre-employment/pre-placement drug screen. Failure to pass the screen will disqualify the candidate from employment consideration for a period of six months from the date of the results. Total Rewards: Compensation The starting salary/hourly rate of this position is between $33.66-$43.62 per hour. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. Benefits: Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides: - Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days) - Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. - AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution. - Click Total Rewards for more information. Application Instructions: Select the "Apply" button above. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position . Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit . If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to . PM20 Compensation details: 33.66-43.62 Hourly Wage PI19273bb272bb-2279

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Microassembly Technician - Technical Specialist Location: NRAO Central Development Lab, 1180 Boxwood Estate Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America Requisition Number: 228 Job Family: Technical Specialist Pay Type: Hourly Required Education: NET Position Description: Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe. At NRAO, we are recruiting a full-time, microassembly technician to join the Integrated Receiver Development (IRD) group at the Central Development Laboratory (CDL) in Charlottesville, VA. The IRD group is involved in the design and development of low-noise receivers, components, and novel concepts for radio astronomy instrumentation in the centimeter-wave, millimeter-wave, and submillimeter-wave frequency ranges, and is currently designing integrated receiver modules for the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). This position requires experience working under a microscope, handling and mounting bare semiconductor die, wire-bonding, soldering, and surface-mount circuit-board assembly. The position will also require probing custom chips and substrates using a wafer probe station, operating and maintaining a cryogenic refrigeration and measurement system, and testing microwave components using vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and power meters. The location for this position will be based at the Central Development Laboratory located in Charlottesville, Virginia. What You Will be Doing: - Assemble multichip integrated receiver modules: - • Obtain quotes and order parts for integrated receiver modules from an engineer-provided design. This may include compiling a Bill-of-Materials (BOM) and exporting manufacturing files (e.g. Gerber, DXF, GDS) from given design models and layouts. - Organize and maintain stock of commonly used components as well as project-specific custom parts. - Interface with the in-house machine shop and chemistry lab for the fabrication of custom housings, brackets, and chassis. - Populate circuit boards with surface-mount components as small as 0402 in size. - Construct multichip modules from engineering design drawings, including picking chips from diced wafers with tweezers, attaching bare die using silver epoxy, wire-bonding, and micro-soldering, as-needed. - Test multichip integrated receiver modules: - Use a wafer probe station to characterize custom chips and substrates. - Use commercial VNAs, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, power meters, and other microwave test equipment characterize components, both on-wafer and in-package, both at room temperature and in a cryogenic environment. - Construct custom test cable harnesses, fixtures, and mounting brackets as-needed. - Record and analyze test - Maintain detailed records of test results, assembly procedures, and performance characteristics. - Document measurement conditions, test setups, and any observed anomalies. - Monitor, track, and maintain laboratory inventory: - Monitor inventory levels of critical lab supplies, including electronic components, adhesives, wire bonding materials, and test equipment accessories. - Collaborate with engineers to refine assembly and testing procedures: - Collaborate with engineers, scientists, and other technical personnel to refine assembly and test procedures. - Provide feedback to engineers to improve custom designs, especially as it concerns manufacturability and measurement procedures. Work Environment Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in a laboratory within a research and development environment. Who You Are: Education - You have an associate's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience. - While not required, a bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred. Experience You have 10 years of experience in electrical/electronic technology, or a closely related field. While not required, you may have: - Professional experience fabricating radio frequency or microwave components or systems. - Experience with common RF and microwave measurement equipment. - Experience assembling microwave or millimeter-wave components. Skills and Competencies - Must be a methodical, motivated team player comfortable in an R&D environment. - Must be able to sit or stand at a bench for sustained periods. - High level of competency in Microsoft software products to manage and graph measurement results as well as other web-based systems. - Attention to detail is critical - Highly organized - Excellent communication skills to keep records and documentation Physical Requirements The candidate must be able to sit or stand at a bench for sustained periods. Visual acuity and manual dexterity are required, and this position requires lifting and carrying 50 pounds. Additional Requirement Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position. Total Rewards: Compensation The starting salary/hourly rate of this position is between $33.66-$43.62 per hour. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. Benefits: Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides: - Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days) - Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. - AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution. - Click Total Rewards for more information. Application Instructions: Select the "Apply" button above. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position . Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit . If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to . PM20 Compensation details: 33.66-43.62 Hourly Wage PI4848ae4d97e3-2281

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Agile Product Owner - Monitor & Control Systems Location: NRAO Headquarters, 520 Edgemont Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America - NRAO Array Operations Center, PO Box 0, SOCORRO, New Mexico, United States of America - Green Bank Observatory, PO Box 2, GREEN BANK, West Virginia, United States of America - 5651 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USA Requisition Number: 197 Job Family: Software Engineer Pay Type: Salary Required Education: CPP Position Description: Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is an exciting and prestigious research facility that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. The Observatory operates a variety of radio telescopes that span the globe, including the famous Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). These telescopes are among the most advanced in the world, allowing astronomers to explore the universe in unprecedented detail. In addition, the NRAO is undertaking several large projects, including the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) and Radar projects. NRAO is seeking a technically oriented Monitor & Control (M&C) Systems Product Owner to lead product strategy for the software systems that operate NRAO's world-class radio telescope facilities. M&C software products are the operational backbone of the Observatory: they integrate hardware and software for mechanical telescope controls, translate high-level observing parameters into real-time commands, and underpin science operations for the VLA, GBT, VLBA, ngVLA, and Radar programs. The successful candidate will bring deep familiarity with hardware-software integration in control systems environments, paired with the organizational and communication skills needed to translate complex technical requirements into a prioritized, actionable development roadmap. Using Agile/Scrum as a delivery framework, this role drives alignment between the software development teams and the scientists, engineers, and operations staff who depend on M&C products every day. The M&C Systems Product Owner will serve as the primary interface between the M&C software development team and a highly technical stakeholder community - including telescope engineers, observatory scientists, and operations staff - who have deep institutional knowledge of these systems. The M&C software team supports products spanning the entire Observatory portfolio, from legacy systems on established facilities to new development on ngVLA. To succeed in this role, the candidate must develop and maintain substantive knowledge of M&C system architectures, real-time control constraints, and hardware integration challenges. The Product Owner will translate that domain understanding into a clearly defined product backlog, collaborate with stakeholders to write meaningful user stories and acceptance criteria, and review completed work to ensure it meets real operational requirements. A working understanding of Agile frameworks and Scrum methodology is essential; Agile practice here is a means to deliver high-quality M&C software reliably, not an end in itself. This position will be located at one of the NRAO facilities in Charlottesville (VA), Socorro (NM), Albuquerque (NM) or Green Bank (WV). What You Will be Doing - Develops deep working knowledge of M&C system architectures, hardware-software integration challenges, and real-time control constraints, and uses that domain understanding to articulate a clear, credible product vision to software development teams working within a Scrum framework. - Engages deeply with a highly technical stakeholder community - including telescope engineers, observatory scientists, and operations staff - to translate complex M&C system requirements into well-defined user stories, acceptance criteria, and a clearly prioritized product backlog. - Prioritizes the product backlog by weighing scientific and operational value against technical risk, system dependencies, and engineering feasibility - making informed tradeoff decisions that reflect both stakeholder needs and M&C system realities. - Serves as the primary liaison between a skeptical, expert stakeholder community and the software development teams, earning trust through technical credibility and consistent follow-through on commitments; identifies and removes roadblocks that impede delivery of M&C system improvements. - Gathers and organizes operational feedback from scientists and engineers across multiple NRAO facilities to continuously refine the M&C product roadmap, ensuring development priorities stay aligned with real-world observatory needs as telescope programs evolve. - Reviews and accepts completed development work with sufficient technical depth to evaluate whether M&C system requirements have been correctly implemented, catching gaps before they reach operational systems. - Participates in Scrum ceremonies, as appropriate, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, reviews, and retrospectives, adapting Agile product owner practices to the realities of complex M&C system development without losing the benefits of iterative delivery. - Continuously evaluates Agile product backlog definition to improve requirements and story effectiveness, always in service of delivering better M&C software - not process for its own sake. - Proactive compliance with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures in own work area is expected. - Other duties as assigned. Work Environment The successful candidate will join a team of professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of science, engineering, software development, and education. Work is typically performed in a research or development environment. Who You Are: - Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, physics, astronomy, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. At least four years of combined experience in control systems, hardware-software integration, or scientific software development - including at least two years in a Product Owner, technical lead, or systems engineer role responsible for defining and managing requirements. - Active certification as a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO), or equivalent Agile credential preferred. Candidates who demonstrate strong Agile practice through direct experience but lack formal certification are encouraged to apply; NRAO will support certification upon hire. - Demonstrated hands-on background with control system software products that integrate hardware and software - such as SCADA systems, telescope control systems, industrial automation, or similarly complex real-time hardware-software environments. This is a core requirement, not a nice-to-have. - Expertise using Atlassian tools, including Jira and Confluence, to manage backlogs and team workflows. - A passion for Agile and Scrum practices and a dedication to inspiring continuous improvement across teams. - Demonstrated ability to craft a clear product vision and roadmap that aligns with long-term organizational goals. - Expertise in prioritizing user stories based on value, technical dependencies, and stakeholder needs. - Ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships and balance competing demands while maintaining buy-in across the organization. - Technical depth sufficient to engage credibly with M&C software engineers on system architecture, hardware interfaces, and implementation tradeoffs - not just to relay requirements, but to participate meaningfully in technical conversations about feasibility and risk. - Experience working with large, long-lived software systems - particularly operational or legacy systems where stability, reliability, and backward compatibility are as important as new feature delivery - in a distributed team environment. - Excellent interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to establish and maintain working relationships with a wide range of people and personality types. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to communicate comfortably and effectively with software engineers, scientists, and senior managers. Competency Summary - Advanced degree in computer science, electrical engineering, physics, astronomy, or a related technical discipline. - Background that includes Physics or Mathematics. - Prior experience as a software developer, systems engineer, or technical lead on control systems or hardware-integrated software; familiarity with C++ or Python in a scientific or real-time systems context is a strong plus. - Experience supporting scientific operations in radio astronomy or related fields. - Substantial experience developing or supporting hardware-software integration in domains such as telescope control, industrial automation, embedded systems, or scientific instrumentation. - Familiarity with basic astronomical principles, in particular radio astronomy, and observatory operations. - Ability to work with international colleagues and across geographically distributed teams. Additional Requirement Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States . click apply for full job details

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: VLBA Operations Specialist I-II Location: 1011 Lopezville Rd, Socorro, NM 87801, USA Requisition Number: 223 Job Family: Operations Specialist Pay Type: Hourly Required Education: NET Position Description: Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe. At NRAO, we are recruiting an Operations Specialist to join our Operations team at the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in New Mexico. The Operations Specialist provides skilled technical assistance, under limited supervision, in the execution of astronomical observing programs, basic data analysis and correlation of observed data. The Operations Specialist operates and array of ten telescopes as one system ensuring the acquisition of data from the instrument delivers a high level of data quality while ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment. Candidates with preferred experience and education will be considered for a higher-level Operations Specialist ranking; duties and responsibilities increase with each level. This is a "safety sensitive" position as described in the Position Requirements below. The location for the position will be the Domenici Science Operations Center (DSOC) in Socorro, New Mexico. Socorro is a small, historical town in the Rio Grande Valley, 75 miles south of Albuquerque. What You Will be Doing: The essential duties of an Operations Specialist I include: - Operating and monitoring ten telescopes and supporting equipment - Troubleshooting and taking corrective action when errors and faults occur - Communicating with remote personnel working on the telescopes, notifying personnel of dangerous weather conditions, monitoring fire alarm systems and responding to emergencies - Initiating telescope control and preparing the antenna, receivers, clocks, recording systems and other hardware and software for operation - Receiving observing instructions and executing observing programs including, but not limited to, processing incoming observing files, verifying against published schedules, annotating files on the observation schedule, executing observation programs and sending results to observers - Aiding and accommodating requests from observers, scientific staff, engineers and technicians in regards to basic commands for telescope controls and data analyses - Monitoring readings and alerts on multiple computer screens to detect unsafe equipment conditions and ensuring all systems are configured correctly and operating normally - Monitoring fringe amplitude readings and data flagging codes to check data quality - Performing system tests to measure values used to finely tune each antenna, verifying antenna functionality and receiver performance and updating system parameters following major hardware upgrades, in consultation with a system expert - Taking prescribed actions to protect telescope equipment i.e. weather conditions exceed operating parameters - Making necessary personnel call-outs when equipment safety is compromised and/or when major problems occur - Maintaining an accurate observing log of failures, abnormal conditions, significant events, equipment status changes, procedural changes, or special instructions from observers or staff - Writing detailed maintenance reports for hardware and software problems - Documenting operational procedures and assisting with their upkeep - Managing the correlator queue efficiently, appropriately balancing the priorities of observing and correlator functions - Ensure data disk packs are properly handled and stores during and after usage - Proactive compliance with all NRAO policies and procedures is required - Other duties may be assigned Additional responsibilities of Operations Specialist II include: - Providing advanced troubleshooting support and corrective actions when errors and faults occur - Performing ongoing analysis of operator tools and methods, and documenting improvements - Developing procedures and documentation for new equipment based on technical information supplied by engineers or supervisors - Writing technical reports to describe operating characteristics, abnormal conditions, and functional limitations - Providing input/feedback on related and proposed hardware/software developments/issues and assisting in troubleshooting any detected problems - Training new operators - Assisting scientists in basic data analysis Work Environment Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment. The Operations Specialist will work as part of a team that supports a 24 hour / 7 day weekly rotation shift pattern of day, evening and night shifts made up of either five eight hour shifts or two twelve hour plus two eight hour shifts per week. The work is indoors with multiple computer terminals. Operators must be available for emergency call out and may be required to work overtime to cover vacant shifts or in emergencies until relieved. Who You Are: Education - Associates degree (A.A.) or equivalent from an accredited two-year college or technical school with training in math, physics, science or a related technical field. - While not required, a bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred. Experience - No prior experience is required. - While not required, three or more years of experience in operating an industrial-sized astronomical instrument is preferred. Skills and Competencies - Must be able to follow procedures and policies - Attention to detail is critical - Highly organized and able to multitask - Excellent communication skills; able to express yourself clearly both verbally and in writing, and able to work well with others, sometimes in stressful situations - Be able to handle emergency situations calmly - Must be able to operate a computer using process control software applications and able to use a Windows computer and software. - Must have experience with, or ability to learn, a LINUX/UNIX operating environment - Must have demonstrated ability to read and interpret documents such as schematics, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals Additional Requirements - Be able to frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. - Distinguish the primary and secondary colors (red, blue, yellow, orange, green, etc.) on a computer screen - Must be able to hear audible alarms and see flashing and/or illuminated indicators to respond to system alerts Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position. Safety Sensitive The selected candidate must successfully pass a post-offer, pre-employment/pre-placement drug screen. Failure to pass the screen will disqualify the candidate from employment consideration for a period of six months from the date of the results. Total Rewards: Compensation The starting hourly rate of this position is between $22.75-$32.31 per hour. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. Benefits: Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides: - Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days) - Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. - AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution. - Click Total Rewards for more information. Application Instructions: Select the "Apply" button above. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position . Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit . If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to . PM20 Compensation details: 22.75-32.31 Hourly Wage PI962862af74bf-2179

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: HPC Software Engineer III - UPDATED Location: 800 Bradbury Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA - 1011 Lopezville Rd, Socorro, NM 87801, USA - 155 Observatory Rd, Green Bank, WV 24944, USA Requisition Number: 159 Job Family: Software Engineer Pay Type: Salary Required Education: CPP Position Description: Position Summary The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is an exciting and prestigious research facility that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. NRAO operates a portfolio of world-class research facilities and, as part of its long-term strategic roadmap, is expanding the large-scale computing infrastructure needed to support increasingly data-intensive science. This includes building modern, scalable data-processing systems in partnership with leading high-performance computing (HPC) centers. This effort involves designing and prototyping technical infrastructure and data-processing software that is significantly larger in scale and more complex than any existing NRAO systems, developed in close collaboration with a leading national HPC center. At NRAO, we are recruiting an experienced Software Engineer to design, implement, optimize, and maintain scientific applications and data-processing software executed on large-scale high-performance computing (HPC) systems. This role will prototype, develop, benchmark, and optimize mission-critical HPC software in collaboration with our external computing partners. The role requires demonstrated proficiency in Python and C++, experience with parallel and distributed computing frameworks, and the ability to collaborate closely with domain scientists, systems engineers, and HPC support personnel. The successful candidate will contribute to the full software lifecycle from requirements analysis and algorithmic design through implementation, testing, optimization, and long-term maintainability within a performance-critical, research-driven environment. This position ideally will be based either in Albuquerque, NM, or Socorro, NM but could also be based at our Charlottesville, VA or Green Bank, WV locations. For well qualified candidates, a remote work arrangement may be considered. What You Will be Doing The primary focus of this position will be prototyping, profiling and optimized cutting edge software for RADPS within the Data Processing group. Immediate activities may include (but are not limited to): Software Design and Development - Develop high-performance scientific software in C++ and Python, including numerical algorithms, data-analysis pipelines, and simulation components. - Implement scalable solutions leveraging modern parallel programming. - Build Python interfaces, bindings, and workflow tooling around high-performance C++ cores. - Design modular, maintainable, and testable codebases following established software engineering best practices. Performance Engineering and Optimization - Profile, benchmark, and optimize HPC applications for multi-core and distributed-memory systems. - Improve algorithmic efficiency, memory usage, I/O patterns, and data-movement behavior to achieve target throughput and scalability. - Work with HPC system engineers to tune application performance for specific architectures. Scientific Workflow and Data Pipeline Development - Create robust, automated workflows for large-scale simulations, experiments, or data-processing tasks. - Integrate software with HPC schedulers, containerization technologies, and workflow engines. - Implement data ingestion, transformation, and storage strategies for multi-terabyte to petabyte-scale datasets. Work Environment The successful candidate will join a team of professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of science, engineering, software development, and education. Work is typically performed in a research or development environment. Must be able to operate a personal computer. May occasionally work at high altitudes. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Who You Are: - You have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field - While not required, you may have an advanced degree in a related field (Ph.D. preferred for research-intensive domains). - You have at least three or more years of experience . Competency Summary - Strong proficiency in Python and modern C++. - Experience with parallel programming paradigms and performance-profiling tools. - Familiarity with Linux development environments, version control, software build systems, and automated testing frameworks. - Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and scientific stakeholders - Prior contributions to open-source scientific computing libraries encouraged preferred. - Demonstrated experience developing scientific or numerical software for HPC systems. - Experience with workflow orchestration frameworks and HPC schedulers. - Background in numerical methods, computational physics, signal processing, or other scientific domains relevant to the organization. - Experience with large-scale data management strategies and parallel I/O libraries. - Familiarity with container technologies and reproducible science practices. - Experience with software engineering principles, working within an Agile framework, and experience in the complete product lifecycle are preferred. Additional Requirement Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. Total Rewards: Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) offers a comprehensive total rewards package for this position, subject to eligibility requirements. We are committed to serving our employees and their families with an extensive and competitive compensation and benefits package that supports our employees' overall well-being and career growth. Compensation AUI strives to attract and retain dedicated, highly qualified, competent, and motivated employees by offering competitive compensation and recognition for performance. For open rank positions, the starting salary/hourly rates for each level is between: - Position level 3 $79,000 and $120,000 Benefits AUI's benefits package addresses the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment. AUI provides excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days and 15 sick days, additional time off for doctor/dentist visits, and 8 weeks of paid parental leave). Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. AUI's retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant's base pay with no required employee contribution; we also offer an optional supplemental, tax-deferred plan for employee retirement contributions. Application Instructions: Select the "Apply Now" button. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit . If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to . PM20 Compensation details: 00 Yearly Salary PIfe1e-6329