Job 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.

NRAO is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to join the Online Software Group. The online system is the real-time heart of our observing software. It is responsible for configuring, controlling, and monitoring the real-time systems of our telescopes, including the the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) spread across the US and its territories, and the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia. This software is responsible for taking scientific-domain configuration parameters and decomposing them into the hardware settings and motion commands required by our antennas, and into the corresponding configurations for the associated digital signal processing instruments (e.g. VEGAS for the GBT, and correlators for the VLA and the VLBA). When an observation runs, this software is what makes it happen.

This position will be based in 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

• Designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining components of the online software that configure and control the VLA, VLBA, and GBT in real time.
• Develop and extend the translation layer that decomposes scientific-domain observing parameters into the engineering parameters the hardware understands: IF-chain configurations, antenna motion commands, and digital signal processing configurations for instruments like VEGAS, WIDAR, and DiFX.
• Model the observing domain in software — frequency setups, subband and baseband layouts, polarization products, timing and integration structure — and implement the rules, constraints, and legality checks that determine which configurations are achievable on which instrument.
• Work from interface control documents and hardware specifications, in close collaboration with the engineers and scientists who own the underlying subsystems, to ensure the commands the online system emits are correct and complete.
• Diagnose and resolve issues that span the layers between a scientist's observing specification and the command stream sent to the telescope, often in collaboration with telescope operators, engineers, and scientific staff.
• Support the evolution of the online system to meet new observing paradigms and instrumentation, including work that informs and feeds into the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA).
• Write and maintain critical documentation, including requirements, software design documents, interface control documents, and user documentation.
• Participate in code review, testing, and release processes for software that runs mission-critical, 24/7 scientific facilities.

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. Occasional travel (domestic and international) may be required.

Who You Are

Education

• 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

• One or more years of experience developing software applications. Candidates with progressively more experience will be considered for a higher-level position ranking.
• Relevant experience with radio astronomy operating software and procedures is preferred. Knowledge of radio astronomy theories and practice would be valuable. Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership of complex data acquisition, scheduling, and operational support systems is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Proficiency with Java; familiarity with C/C++ and Python is valuable
• A solid understanding of object-oriented design and development
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new software languages and unfamiliar domains
• Understanding of networking concepts and technologies: multicast, TCP, UDP, HTTP, XML, JSON, REST
• Experience with version control software, testing methodologies, and CI/CD
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with scientists and hardware engineers
• Comfort working in a Linux (RHEL) environment

The following are highly preferred:

• Experience translating high-level domain concepts into machine- or hardware-level representations — compilers, planners, schedulers, configuration engines, or similar systems that turn intent into instructions
• Skill in domain modeling and in expressing complex validation rules and constraints clearly in code
• Experience with distributed systems, or with control and monitoring software for scientific, industrial, or other physical instruments
• A working comfort with mathematics and unit-bearing quantities — coordinate transformations, frequency and time calculations, and the care required to get them right
• Familiarity with signal processing concepts, digital IF chains, or correlator architectures
• Familiarity with basic astronomical principles, radio astronomy, or interferometry
• Experience collaborating in an Agile/Scrum environment, including sprint planning, estimating tasks, and breaking down requirements into user stories

Note that this position does not involve direct hardware or firmware development; though an understanding of these systems and real-time control principles can be valuable. Your work will live at the layer above, producing correct hardware-level configurations and commands from scientific intent, against interfaces defined and maintained by others.

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 $87,000 and $121,000. 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 https://public.nrao.edu/careers/. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to resumes@nrao.edu. PM20