National Radio Astronomy Observatory

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Electronics - Technical Specialist II Location: NRAO, PO Box 2, GREEN BANK, West Virginia, United States of America Requisition Number: 217 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 Technical Specialist II- Under general supervision from scientists and engineers, devises, layouts, fabricates, calibrates, tests, analyses, troubleshoots and/or repairs astronomical research related equipment such as computers, electronics, electrical, cryogenics, and lasers. Work performed is moderately independent. This is the intermediate level of four progressively more complex positions. This position is located on-site at the Green Bank Observatory in Green Bank, WV . What You Will be Doing: Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Discusses the design, layout, assembly, testing and troubleshooting procedures and problems with engineers and technical staff. May draw sketches to clarify design detail and functional criteria of the units. Designs, fabricates, assembles, and tests prototype or production units. Sets up standard test apparatus or devises test equipment to conduct functional, operational, environmental, and life tests to evaluate the performance and reliability of prototype or production units. Analyzes and interprets test data. Locates and orders parts and equipment; identifies necessary components by using part numbers and/or standard color codes. Locates and evaluates substitute parts for functional equivalence of any obsolete/non-obtainable components or parts. Writes technical reports and develops charts, graphs, and schematics to describe and illustrate the unit's operating characteristics, malfunctions, deviations from design specifications, and functional limitations. Recommends changes required to achieve functional requirements of the units Follows project schedules set by supervisors. Records final test results and writes reports on proper fabrication techniques. May assist in the installation of the finished units. May check functionality of installed equipment to evaluate system performance under actual operating conditions. Exercises a high degree of initiative and judgment, requiring a broad technical background, in the form of considerable experience (and some education) in the field of work or in closely related fields. Performs miscellaneous functions, such as maintenance and servicing of facilities and equipment, records and reports. May perform preventive and corrective maintenance of test apparatus and peripheral equipment. May train and lead technicians and others in the performance of their duties. Proactive compliance with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures in own work area is expected. Other duties as assigned. Work Environment Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in a research or development environment, in a lab, shop or climate-controlled environment. May also work at heights near mechanical and powered equipment. May be occasionally required to work outdoors. Who You Are: Education Associate's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience Five years. Experience Five years of related experience required for the position includes mechanics, electrical/electronic technology, physics, welding, machining or field related to the applicable technical area. Skills and Competencies Requires the skilled application of practical principles of mechanics, electrical/electronic technology, physics, or related fields. Must possess a working knowledge of the process, procedures, tools and equipment required to complete daily assignments. May be highly skilled in a mechanical craft or trade such as welding, machining, and/or electrical. Must pass any applicable knowledge/skills tests. Must possess leadership qualities. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Advanced working knowledge of general office productivity software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, Adobe suite etc.) as well as more specific tools like MS Project, Access, JIRA, CMMS etc. Prior experience working with ERP Systems, preferred. Additional Requirement Must be able to stand and sit; perform fine hand manipulation. Must be able to operate a personal computer. Must work near moving mechanical parts and/or with electrical equipment. Occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, and crouch. May occasionally work at high altitudes; and in high, precarious places and in outside weather conditions, and may be exposed to chemicals, or the risk of electrical shock. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color and depth perception. 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 $30.43 and $35.85 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: 30.43-35.85 Hourly Wage PI7168c15fa2c3-4864

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: FPGA Design Engineer Location: NRAO Central Development Lab, 1180 Boxwood Estate Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America Requisition Number: 209 Job Family: Electronics Engineer Pay Type: Salary Required Education: ENG Position Description: Position Summary T he 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 Central Development Laboratory (CDL) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is seeking an experienced FPGA Design Engineer to join its digital design team. The engineer will support the design and implementation of a new digital signal processing system for a next-generation radio telescope synthesis array. CDL's digital design team develops cutting-edge systems that enable advances in radio astronomy, supporting research into galaxy formation, star and planet origins, and black holes. The selected candidate will contribute to the design, implementation, and verification of embedded processor-based FPGA systems, with an emphasis on disciplined, timing-driven design and robust verification practices. Working within a small, centralized team, the engineer will collaborate across internal groups and contribute to systems shared with the international scientific community. The role requires strong time management, the ability to handle multiple concurrent efforts, and effective cross-disciplinary communication. The location for this position will be based at the Central Development Laboratory in Charlottesville, Virginia. What You Will be Doing: Design and implement embedded FPGA-based systems with a focus on performance, reliability, and timing closure Apply disciplined RTL design practices and sound synchronous design techniques, including management of clock domain crossings Develop and execute verification strategies, including self-checking testbenches and end-to-end system validation Perform static timing analysis, develop constraints, and drive designs to timing closure Translate algorithmic and DSP models into efficient FPGA implementations Contribute to reusable IP and scalable design architectures Work across multiple concurrent efforts, collaborating within a small, centralized team and with external partners Document designs, verification approaches, and technical decisions clearly Work Environment Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment. Who You Are: Education Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering Experience Five years of FPGA development experience in complex digital systems Strong proficiency in RTL design and hardware description languages Solid understanding of digital design fundamentals and FPGA implementation flows (synthesis through place-and-route) Experience with modern verification methodologies and design-for-verification practices Experience with embedded processor-based FPGA systems like (Intel Agile-X or similar) and high-speed or high-bandwidth interfaces Familiarity with DSP concepts and version control Strong problem-solving ability and effective written and verbal communication skills 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 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 $90,015-$126,000. 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 PId0610af74a8d-2856

National Radio Astronomy Observatory Title: Systems Administrator III-IV - UPDATED Location: 1011 Lopezville Rd, Socorro, NM 87801, USA• 800 Bradbury Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA• 155 Observatory Rd, Green Bank, WV 24944, USA Requisition Number: 139 Job Family: Systems Administration 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. 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 NRAO also host conferences and workshops, providing opportunities to exchange ideas and expertise as well as build partnerships. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory seeks an experienced Systems Administrator (Level III or IV, based on qualifications) to maintain the Red Hat Enterprise Linux infrastructure supporting the end-to-end science data pipeline for NRAO's flagship observatories. This senior role combines deep systems expertise with operational ownership, mentoring, and direct contribution to mission-critical science delivery. The position is based in Charlottesville, VA; Greenbank, WV; Albuquerque or Socorro, NM. What You Will be Doing: Contribute to the design, implementation, and lifecycle management of RHEL-based systems supporting processing and archival science data flows across global observatories. Lead the transition to GitOps-driven infrastructure and application deployment, striving for consistency, auditability, and reproducibility. Migrate legacy science services from Docker Swarm to future environments based in kubernetes. Develop and maintain automation tools in Python and SQL to monitor data pipeline health, generate operational metrics, and trigger reliable alerts. Serve as Level-3 escalation for production incidents; conduct root-cause analysis, author post-mortem reports, and implement preventive measures. Triage and resolve escalated support tickets, providing timely, astronomer-facing status communications during incidents. Participate in agile development cycles (2-week sprints, daily stand-ups, Jira/Confluence) to deliver measurable improvements in stakeholder projects. Validate software releases, prepare deployment packages, and produce comprehensive user documentation and training materials. Contribute to the NRAO Common Computing Environment (CCE) initiative for cross-site standardization and knowledge transfer. Mentor junior and peer administrators in infrastructure-as-code, automation, and operational best practices. Travel occasionally to NRAO sites, including the Very Large Array (VLA), Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, and international operations centers. Work Environment Work is typically performed in an office environment. The successful candidate Must be able to lift 25 lbs, climb stairs, and occasionally work at moderate altitudes (up to 7,000 ft / 2,134 m at the VLA site). Who You Are: You have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Astronomy, Physics, or equivalent professional experience. You are a seasoned Linux systems administrator with at least four years of progressive responsibility in mission-critical or scientific computing environments While not required you may have; Direct experience with high-data-rate scientific pipelines (radio astronomy, genomics, earth observation, or similar). Working knowledge of VictoriaMetrics, Ceph, SLURM, Prometheus/Grafana/Loki stacks. Familiarity with both agile (Scrum/Kanban) and traditional waterfall project methodologies. Competency Summary strong communication skills (written and verbal); ability to remain calm while supporting demanding clients; analytical thinker; ability to learn new systems quickly. Expert in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8/9; RHCE or RHCA certification strongly preferred. Proficient in modern infrastructure automation and orchestration: Ansible Automation Platform (playbooks, collections, Execution Environments) GitOps workflows using ArgoCD or Flux Production container platforms (Kubernetes/OpenShift and Docker Swarm) Skilled in Python 3 automation and SQL (PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL) for monitoring, reporting, and system health. Experienced with Telegraf, Prometheus, and alerting systems in operational settings. A clear communicator capable of translating complex technical conditions into concise updates for astronomers, project leads, and senior management. Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position 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. Salary range $74,000-$106,000 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: 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 PI01be617ba5-