Software Engineer III-IV in CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia at National Radio Astronomy Observatory

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.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory seeks an experienced Software Engineer (Level III or IV, based on qualifications) to join the Science Information Services Operations Group. This role will play a key part in supporting and modernizing critical scientific software tools and web infrastructure for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).The successful candidate will provide development support for the ALMA Dashboard software during its Phase-A activities, collaborate closely with the Subsystem Scientist, maintain and improve our science helpdesk platforms, and drive the migration of legacy organizational websites and applications from outdated technologies to modern, maintainable solutions.

The position is based in Charlottesville, VA.

What You Will be Doing:

• ALMA Dashboard Development Support
  • Collaborate to deliver development support for Phase-A activities of the ALMA Dashboard software used in the control room to monitor the state of the array elements. This includes implementing new features, fixing issues, and ensuring the software meets the needs of ALMA operations and users. Related technologies involve Spring boot and Angular.
• Science Helpdesk Support & Modernization
  • Provide ongoing technical support and development for the NRAO and ALMA science helpdesks, currently based on Deskpro which contain multiple customizations. Related technologies involve Angular and PHP.
  • Evaluate and drive the exploration/migration to alternative helpdesk or ticketing systems that reduce custom code, improve maintainability, scalability, and user experience.
• Website and Application Migrations
  • Lead and contribute to the modernization of organizational websites and web applications currently built on legacy technologies.
• • Migrate and refactor applications away from older stacks including:
    • Python web frameworks
    • PHP
    • HTML/CSS/JavaScript (legacy implementations)
    • Tomcat, Apache, MySQL
    • Plone, FosWiki, and Kayako
• Target modern, sustainable architectures (e.g., contemporary Python frameworks such as Django or FastAPI, modern JavaScript frameworks like React or Vue, containerized deployments, and current database solutions).
• Design, implement, and maintain robust CI/CD pipelines to automate building, testing, and deployment processes across all supported applications, improving reliability, release speed, and operational efficiency.

• Work closely with scientists, operations staff, and other engineering teams to deliver reliable, user-focused solutions in a scientific research environment.

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in an office environment.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 3+ years of professional software development experience, with a strong focus on web application development and system migration projects.
• Proficiency in modern web technologies, including Python (Django or FastAPI preferred), JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML/CSS, Spring boot, Angular and relational databases.
• Experience migrating legacy applications (PHP, older Python frameworks, Plone/FosWiki, or similar CMS/ticketing systems) to current architectures.
• Solid understanding of web servers (Apache/Tomcat), databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL), and deployment practices.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders (including scientists).

While not required, these are preferred:

• Experience with helpdesk/ticketing systems (Deskpro or similar) and interest in SaaS migration strategies.
• Familiarity with scientific research environments or large-scale observatory/astronomy projects (ALMA or NRAO experience is a plus).
• Knowledge of containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with modern frontend frameworks (React, Vue, or Svelte) and responsive design.
• Understanding of accessibility, security best practices, and performance optimization for public-facing web applications.

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 $80,000-$120,000. 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. 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