Software Engineer Group Lead, Online - UPDATED

National-Radio-Astronomy-Observatory; Green Bank (WV); Hybrid; USD 123,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) seeks an experienced Software Engineering Group Lead to manage software teams delivering data acquisition, scheduling, and observation preparation tools for the VLA, VLBA, and GBT. You will drive staffing, priorities, and engineering best practices across projects used by the international astronomy community.

This full-time role involves coordinating with scientists, engineers, and project stakeholders, guiding short- and long-term planning, and

Qualifications

• Must have experience supervising software teams (3+ staff).
• Familiar with Agile/Scrum and product owner interactions.
• Proven ability to lead long-term software projects and staff development.

Responsibilities

• Oversee lifecycle of software for data acquisition, scheduling, and observation prep systems.
• Personnel management: recruiting, coaching, performance reviews, and succession planning.
• Coordinate with scientists, engineers, operations, and stakeholders; report status to leadership.

Skills

People management

Agile/Scrum

Stakeholder collaboration

Software leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, physics, astronomy, or related field

Job description

Position Description

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.

Position Summary

At NRAO, we are recruiting an experienced, full-time Software Engineering manager, who will directly supervise software staff. The Online Group Lead manages a team of software engineers, including overseeing resource allocations, team priorities, performance evaluations, recruiting, team building, professional development, and staff succession planning. The team you will manage provides software products and shared software infrastructure that support online operating systems for the VLA, VLBA, and GBT, notably data acquisition, dynamic telescope scheduling, and observation preparation. The data acquisition process includes preparing the antenna arrays for scientific observations and dynamically selecting and executing the most suitable scheduling blocks based on the current array configuration and weather conditions. Observation Preparation Tools support calls for proposals for use of the NRAO telescopes. The Online software group will develop and maintain software capabilities and infrastructure components that can be applied across multiple NRAO systems and new projects.

The Software Engineering Group Lead is also responsible for guiding short- and long-term planning, coordinating development activities, and establishing engineering best practices that improve interoperability, reliability, maintainability, and operational effectiveness.

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 Online Software Engineer Group Lead, you will be responsible for the overall personnel management of software teams responsible for 1) data acquisition software systems, 2) dynamic telescope scheduling systems, 3) observation preparation tools, and 4) software system 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 Online 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:

You are an experienced personnel manager who has formed and supervised high-performing software teams. You derive satisfaction from supporting the professional development and continuous improvement of your staff. You have worked in an Agile environment and understand how a team interfaces with Product Owners and Scrum Masters to deliver customer value. This is a management position, and you will not personally be expected to write any software.

Education

• A Bachelor's degree in computer science, physics, astronomy, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• You must have at least three or more years of experience directly supervising a software team of three or more people, including managing staff performance, resource allocations, recruiting, professional development, and team building. Additionally, you have at least seven years of experience in software development.
• You have worked with stakeholders to develop plans and priorities to deliver high quality and high value products.
• You have worked in an Agile environment and are familiar with Scrum and team workflow management practices.

Preferred Experience

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.

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 $123,000 and $153,000. 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.

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]. PM20