Software Engineer Group Lead, Online - UPDATED

Associated Universities • Socorro, NM

2d

About The Position

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed and operated by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation, is hiring a full-time Software Engineering Group Lead to manage the Online Software group. The group develops and maintains software products and shared infrastructure supporting online operating systems for the VLA, VLBA, and GBT, including data acquisition, dynamic telescope scheduling, observation preparation, and system integration. The position may be based at NRAO locations in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Socorro, New Mexico; Charlottesville, Virginia; or Green Bank, West Virginia. A remote arrangement may be considered for well-qualified candidates.

The Group Lead directly supervises software staff and oversees personnel management, resource allocation, team priorities, performance evaluations, recruiting, team building, professional development, and succession planning. The role guides short- and long-term planning, coordinates development, establishes engineering practices, and promotes interoperability, reliability, maintainability, and operational effectiveness. It also involves close collaboration with scientists, software and systems engineers, operations staff, and project stakeholders to align shared infrastructure with operational needs and future observatory capabilities.

The role includes personnel, programmatic, and technical management. Responsibilities span the software lifecycle—from requirements gathering and development planning through task assignment, progress tracking, integration, testing, acceptance, and release—and include stakeholder communications, delivery quality, technical direction, and consistent implementation. The position is a management role; the successful candidate is not expected to write software personally. Regular reporting on management status and deadlines to senior management and other participating organizations is required, with possible presentations to stakeholders or advisory bodies.

Work is typically performed in a research and development office environment. Occasional domestic and international travel may be required. Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States; the Observatory cannot currently sponsor H-1B visas for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, physics, astronomy, or a related field.
• At least three years of experience directly supervising a software team of three or more people.
• Experience managing staff performance, resource allocations, recruiting, professional development, and team building.
• At least seven years of software development experience.
• Experience working with stakeholders to develop plans and priorities for delivering high-quality, high-value products.
• Experience working in an Agile environment and familiarity with Scrum and team workflow management practices.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree.
• Relevant experience with radio astronomy operating software and procedures.
• Knowledge of radio astronomy theories and practice.
• Demonstrated technical leadership of complex data acquisition, scheduling, and operational support systems.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise software staff and manage team priorities, resource allocations, performance evaluations, recruiting, team building, professional development, and succession planning.
• Build and maintain a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability, and excellence within the Online Software group and with stakeholders.
• Manage and oversee software teams responsible for data acquisition systems, dynamic telescope scheduling systems, observation preparation tools, and software system integration.
• Guide short- and long-term planning and coordinate software development activities.
• Establish engineering best practices that improve interoperability, reliability, maintainability, and operational effectiveness.
• Gather requirements, plan development, assign tasks, track progress, coordinate integration, and oversee testing, acceptance, and release.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, set priorities based on stakeholder needs, and maintain effective communications.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality software products that meet stakeholder expectations and schedules.
• Develop software infrastructure, guide integration of software components, and maintain consistency and quality across implementations.
• Approve technical direction within the team and improve existing technical practices where appropriate.
• Report management status and deadline compliance to senior management and participating organizations, and present status to stakeholders or advisory bodies when requested.
• Maintain professional working conditions and efficient work processes through direct line management.
• Review timesheets and conduct periodic performance reviews, working with Human Resources and Business departments as needed.
• Coordinate and advise on personnel matters with guidance from Human Resources, ensuring compliance with applicable policies such as affirmative action.
• Advise staff on planning, technical, and operational matters; instruct and orient new employees as needed.
• Interpret, implement, develop, or recommend changes to Observatory rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Proactively comply with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures in the employee's work area.

Benefits

• Paid time off, including 13 holidays and annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans effective on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements.
• Retirement benefit 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