Consultant (Seasonal)

Gemini Observatory • Tucson, AZ

1d

About The Position

AURA/NOIRLab has an immediate opening for a Senior Planning Consultant with US-ELT. The Senior IT Consultant (Seasonal Employee) supports the development of the cost, schedule, and planning framework for the cross-program NOIRLab Program Platform (NPP). Focus on producing credible planning products to support NPP maturation and phased development across NOIRLab programs, including the definition and refinement of project scope, work breakdown structures, assumptions, staffing profiles, cost estimates, and integrated schedules. Works closely with project management, systems engineering, software leadership, and program stakeholders to translate technical scope, requirements, architecture, reuse assumptions, and implementation strategy into a defensible cost and schedule package to include: helping structure and document the Basis of Estimate, supporting schedule logic and milestone planning, identifying dependencies and risks that affect delivery, and participating in internal and external reviews as needed.

Requirements

• 15 or more years of experience as a senior manager, senior consultant, or equivalent technical planning lead in scientific or engineering data management systems development
• Demonstrated high level of expertise in defining, estimating, and documenting cost and schedule for complex scientific data management systems
• Experience supporting proposal development and all major phases of the system life cycle, including concept, design, development, integration, test, deployment, and operations planning
• Experience developing or contributing to work breakdown structures, Basis of Estimate packages, staffing models, and integrated schedules
• Strong ability to review and interpret technical and management documentation and translate it into credible planning products
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly document assumptions, rationale, risks, and dependencies
• Bachelor’s degree or higher

Nice To Haves

• Experience with astronomy, observatory, or scientific research software systems
• Experience estimating costs and schedules for software platforms that integrate multiple systems, stakeholders, or organizations
• Familiarity with phased review environments such as conceptual, preliminary, or final design maturity
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including project management, systems engineering, software architecture, and science operations
• AURA and NSF cost estimating and scheduling experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and refinement of cost estimates for the cross-program NPP effort
• Assist in the development of project plans, work breakdown structures, staffing profiles, and budget frameworks
• Translate technical and management inputs into a credible Basis of Estimate and associated planning assumptions
• Support development of the integrated master schedule, including milestone structure, dependencies, schedule logic, and critical path inputs
• Review management, engineering, architecture, requirements, and technical planning documents to ensure alignment with cost and schedule products
• Identify planning risks, assumptions, and uncertainties that affect estimate credibility and schedule realism
• Support updates to cost and schedule products as the NPP scope, architecture, reuse strategy, and pathfinders/pilot evidence mature
• Participate in internal and external reviews and help respond to review comments related to planning, cost, and schedule
• Provide planning guidance to project leadership on scope boundaries, phasing, contingencies, and delivery assumptions
• Contribute to the preparation of review-ready documentation for major decision points and project milestones
• All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position.
• Other duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior