Software Engineer III-IV at National Radio Astronomy Observatory – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Position Description:

Position Summary

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is an exciting and prestigious research facility that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. The Observatory operates a variety of radio telescopes that span the globe, including the famous Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. These telescopes are among the most advanced in the world, allowing astronomers to explore the universe in unprecedented detail.

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is an array of 66 radio antenna located high in the Chilean Andes. Its scientific capabilities are, by a large factor, better than any other millimeter wave radio telescope. It was commissioned in 2013 and is, to date, the largest ground-based astronomical project. ALMA is supported by a diverse team of people on four continents (North America, South America, Europe and Asia).

We are seeking a Software Engineer to join the North America (NA) ALMA software development team and work jointly with our National Research Council (of Canada) collaborators and other ALMA software teams. The NA software team is responsible for the data acquisition (Control and Correlator) and Scheduling software; the EU software team is responsible for user tools such as proposal submission, project tracking, and quality assurance.

We are a small, distributed team that values curiosity, diligence, and professional communication. There is potential to grow into leadership of significant software infrastructure upgrades, and to design, prototype, and install new software technologies. We operate in an environment of continuous upgrades to both ALMA and to our team’s skills.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to the next generation of significant software upgrades to the ALMA telescope. The potential exists to lead significant software infrastructure upgrades and tackle obsolescence by designing and prototyping new software technologies, building new user tools for astronomers and operators, and interfacing with the next generation of ALMA system-wide hardware upgrades.

This position will ideally be located at NRAO facilities in Charlottesville (VA). It may be possible to work from our other facilities in Socorro (NM) or Albuquerque (NM). Fully remote work may be possible for an exceptionally qualified candidate.

What You Will be Doing:

The successful applicant will join the NA ALMA Correlator software team. The primary responsibility is development in modern, multi-threaded C++ and Python, testing, and integration of the Advanced Technology ALMA Correlator (ATAC). ATAC is a key project in the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) that will dramatically increase the observational capabilities of ALMA. The successful applicant will need to work with Canadian collaborators, other ALMA development organizations, and Chilean stakeholders to implement, test, integrate, and commission ATAC; coordinate with developers; conduct automated testing; deliver software to the software test team; and support integration, verification, and validation testing in Chile.

A key component of the ATAC project is the IDTF (Integrated Development and Test Facility) located in Charlottesville VA. The successful applicant will play a key part of the development of the IDTF, integration testing with other projects in the signal chain, and the fielding, testing, and commissioning of ATAC. We expect this effort to be a primary focus of the ATAC team for the next three to five years.

Testing is an integral part of the development process and it is expected that the applicant will write and maintain test software that will be run in an automated system. They will also help maintain the internal test systems used daily for initial testing of the software. It is expected that the successful candidate will engage in technical discussions with colleagues at remote locations to help troubleshoot problems.

Communication is key when designing and maintaining large, complex systems. The successful applicant will participate in both face-to-face and virtual discussions, and in meetings and workshops where complex design decisions will be made. Close collaboration will be essential as the team maintains and improves each subsystem, component, and interface. We use Jira to organize our tasks, Confluence for offline discussions, and Slack, Zoom, and Teams for collaboration. Our new team member will utilize all these tools and more to effectively engage with their colleagues.

The successful applicant will:

• Develop, test, and integrate the ATAC software written in C++ and Python
• Coordinate with FPGA and firmware developers at NRC (Canada)
• Contribute to the development of the IDTF by installing and configuring servers and network equipment
• Contribute to the operation of the IDTF by setting up and conducting integration testing with ALMA partners
• Proactively diagnose and troubleshoot problems found in the verification and validation of software
• Utilize continuous integration to automate builds and testing
• Participate in multi-country ALMA-wide software meetings
• Communicate effectively with staff at all ALMA sites

Work Environment

The successful candidate will join a team of professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of science, engineering, software development, and education. Work is typically performed in a research or development environment. Must be able to operate a personal computer. May occasionally work at high altitudes. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Who You Are:

• You have a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, engineering, science or related field
• You have at least 3 years of experience in software development for level 3, or 5 years for level 4

Competency Summary

• Experience with modern, multi-threaded C++ development
• Experience with modern Python development
• Familiarity with Linux operating systems
• Understanding of object-oriented design and development
• Familiarity with modern servers and network equipment
• Experience with version control software and testing methodologies
• Experience debugging and profiling software systems
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills
• Experience working with peers in a distributed team
• Willingness to travel internationally and work at high altitude (3000 meters) if needed

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with basic astronomical principles, in particular interferometry, and observatory operations
• Ability to work with international colleagues

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.

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.

For open rank positions, the starting salary/hourly rates for each level is between:

• Position level 3 $79,000 and $120,000
• Position level 4 $90,000 and $138,000

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 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 resumes@nrao.edu.PM20