CDL - Central Devel Lab - CO-OP Student

AUI; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation travel reimbursement up to

Travel reimbursements up to $900

Job summary

NRAO Central Development Lab in Charlottesville, Virginia seeks undergraduate and graduate interns in electrical engineering and computer science to join design and research teams developing instrumentation for the next generation of radio telescopes.

Assignments include digital circuit design, FPGA programming (Verilog), RF design, antenna/RF analysis, and signal processing. On-site cooperative learning emphasizes teamwork and hands-on testing.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a four-year accredited university majoring in electrical engineering or computer science and can participate in an on-site co-op program.
• Completed at least one year of undergraduate studies; two years preferred.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Assist digital design, FPGA programming (Verilog), RF circuit design, and antenna/RF analysis.
• Develop and test millimeter-wave receivers and related instrumentation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and learn industry best engineering practices.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Computer science

Verilog

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

FPGA design

RF design

Signal processing

Job description

NRAO Central Development Lab, 1180 Boxwood Estate Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Friday, August 28, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Position Description

Position Summary

The Central Development Laboratory (CDL) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is the largest engineering team in the US dedicated to the development of radio astronomy technology. The CDL is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, and has the mission to develop state-of-the-art technology for use in radio telescopes used by the international scientific community

The Central Development Laboratory (CDL) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) seeks undergraduate and graduate electrical engineering and computer science co-op students and interns to work in our design and research teams to develop instrumentation technology for the next generation of radio telescope. Our technology is used on the ALMA millimeter/sub-millimeter wave telescope in Chile, the Jansky Very Large Array in New Mexico, and in observatories around the world to study exoplanet formation, black holes, stellar and galaxy formation and evolution, and to search for chemical precursors for life in the universe. The selected co-op student(s) will, depending on skills and interest, work with and learn from experts on our digital design team, our millimeter/sub-millimeter receivers team, our ALMA front end support team, our antennas and electromagnetics team, and our spectrum measurement team.. The CDL is the world leader in the application of many technologies used in radio astronomy. Learning objectives for our co-ops and interns are to:

• Learn industry best practices for engineering design and testing,
• Learn to work on a professional multi-disciplinary team,
• Learn how engineering supports scientific exploration.

Individual assignments will depend on knowledge, experience, and interest, and could include:

• Digital circuit design, implementation and testing.
• FPGA programming (Verilog) and testing.
• RF circuit design, implementation and testing.
• Antenna/RF design and analysis, and testing.
• Signal processing algorithm development.
• Software development and testing.
• Test and evaluation of millimeter-wave receivers, antennas, and electromagnetic structures.

Assignment will take place in an indoor lab setting with some outdoor work possible testing equipment. Must be able to work at a computer with detailed and complex textual and numerical information. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Who You Are

• You are enrolled in a four-year accredited university and are majoring in electrical engineering or computer science and can participate in an on-site co-op program.
• You have completed at least one year of undergraduate studies, two years preferred.
• You must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Total Rewards

Compensation

The starting hourly rate of this position is between $17 - $22. 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.

**Housing assistance or stipends are not available for this position. Travel reimbursements up to $900 are available for qualifying relocation expenses. For more information about the Charlottesville area, please visit https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/**

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 [e-mail] .

NRAO Central Development Lab, 1180 Boxwood Estate Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America