ngVLA - Scientist (Open Rank)

AUI; Charlottesville, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO and holidays

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) seeks a researcher to advance ngVLA software and operations in Charlottesville, VA. You will help develop calibration pipelines and ingrain robust workflows for next‑generation radio astronomy facilities.

Requirements include a PhD in Astronomy/Physics and at least 3 years post‑PhD experience, with expertise in radio data reduction, software development, and interferometry. Collaboration across distributed teams is essential.

Qualifications

• PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of post-PhD experience preferred.
• Experience in radio astronomy data reduction and software development.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and prototyping of operations processes and workflows.
• Develop detailed system and subsystem requirements for ngVLA software.
• Contribute to calibration strategies for ngVLA.
• Carry out independent astronomical research.

Skills

Radio astronomy data reduction

Software development

Interferometry

Collaboration across distributed teams

Education

PhD in Astronomy/Physics

Tools

CASA

Job description

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. We are currently designing the Next-Generation VLA (ngVLA), a new facility which will offer an order-of-magnitude advance over the current VLA and VLBA with first light expected in the 2030s.

What You Will be Doing

• Supporting the development and prototyping of operations processes and workflows.
• Developing detailed system and subsystem requirements for ngVLA software, including but not limited to the calibration and imaging pipelines and their underlying functionality.
• Contributing to calibration strategies under development for ngVLA.
• Carrying out a program of independent astronomical research.

Work Environment

Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment.

Who You Are

• You have a PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics or a related field, and (preferably) at least 3 years of related experience after PhD.
• Previous experience in radio astronomy data reduction and analysis, software development, and/or commissioning.
• Established record of independent research.
• Research expertise in interferometric radio/millimeter/submillimeter astronomy.
• Proficiency working with a geographically distributed, multi-disciplinary team.

While not required, you may have

• Experience with standard radio astronomy data reduction software (e.g., CASA)
• Experience with observatory capability development and/or observatory operations.
• Experience with modern machine learning / deep learning techniques and software packages
• Experience with high performance or high throughput computing (HPC/HTC)
• Experience leading a team.

Competency Summary

• Fluency in the English language.
• Excellent communication skills including both presentations and writing technical reports.

Additional Requirement

Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor new H-1B Visas for this position.

Total Rewards

Compensation

The starting salary rate for this position is between $85,000-138,000. Factors which may affect starting pay 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.

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]. PM20