Software Engineer Group Lead, Online

Associated Universities • Green Bank, WV

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

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 full-time Software Engineering manager, who will directly supervise software staff. The Online Group Lead supervises a team of software engineers, while providing planning and technical leadership for 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 will supervise software engineering staff and guide short- and long-term planning, coordinate development activities, and help establish engineering practices that improve interoperability, reliability, maintainability, and operational effectiveness. The role includes leading work related to shared software models, system integration, and other software infrastructure needed to support more uniform scientific computing environments. 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.

Requirements

• At least three or more years of experience directly supervising a software team of three or more people.
• At least seven years of experience in software development.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, physics, astronomy, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading software development groups, preferably within the domain of astronomy.
• Experience leading a distributed team of developers.
• Familiarity with management, planning, and reporting aspects.
• Experience balancing the maintenance, improvement, and enhancement of operational software.
• Planning skills and appropriate management of a team of expert developers and scientists.
• Competency and experience dealing with the development process from requirements gathering, to development, testing and the formalism needed.
• Strong interpersonal and group communications skills, oral and written.
• Familiarity with a wide variety of technologies, such as Java, C, C++, Python, testing frameworks, threading, parallelization.
• Ability to translate science requirements into software requirements.
• Understanding of software architecture and the implications it has for development.
• Strong leadership and delegation capabilities.
• Ability to maintain and develop productive collaborations across organizations, anticipate and mitigate political and technical issues.
• Ability to establish firm, professional, and respectful interactions with staff and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated strong initiative in refining and clarifying requirements, defining and implementing QA processes, plan definition and monitoring, defining technical direction, and facilitating alignment.
• Ability to learn new areas and apply learning.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with project management concepts and techniques.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Overall personnel and technical management of software teams responsible for data acquisition software systems, dynamic telescope scheduling systems, observation preparation tools, and software system integration.
• Regular reporting on management status and compliance with deadlines to senior management at NRAO and other participating organizations.
• Presenting status to stakeholders or advisory bodies in formal or informal reviews.
• Building and maintaining a culture of trust, mutual collaboration, accountability, and excellence within the Online Software group and with its stakeholders.
• 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.
• Coordinating and advising on personnel matters, ensuring compliance with applicable policies such as affirmative action.
• Advising staff on planning, technical, and operational matters, instructing and orienting new employees as necessary.
• Interpreting, implementing, developing and/or recommending changes to rules, regulations, policies and procedures set forth by the Observatory.
• 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.
• 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.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

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