Software Engineer Group Lead, Online

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is seeking a Software Engineering Group Lead to guide the Online software group serving VLA, VLBA, and GBT operations. In this hybrid role based in Green Bank, WV, you will provide direct supervision of software staff and deliver planning and technical leadership across software products and shared infrastructure for data acquisition, dynamic telescope scheduling, observation preparation, and system integration.

This position includes both personnel management and programmatic and technical management responsibilities, with an expectation of clear reporting to senior leadership and participating organizations.

What you will do

• Oversee personnel and technical management for software teams covering data acquisition systems, dynamic telescope scheduling systems, observation preparation tools, and software system integration.
• Provide regular management status updates and report on compliance with deadlines to senior management at NRAO and other participating organizations.
• Present status to stakeholders or advisory bodies in formal or informal reviews when requested.
• Strengthen the group’s technical diversity through robust recruiting and onboarding practices.
• Support professional development for current staff and contribute to succession planning.
• Maintain a professional working environment and efficient processes through direct line management, including reviewing timesheets and participating in periodic performance reviews with Human Resources and Business as needed.
• Maintain proactive compliance with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures in the assigned work area.
• With guidance from the Observatory Human Resource Department, coordinate and advise on personnel matters and ensure compliance with applicable policies such as affirmative action.
• Advise staff on planning, technical, and operational matters, including instructing and orienting new employees as required.
• Interpret, implement, develop, and/or recommend changes to Observatory rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Gather requirements, plan development, assign tasks, track progress, coordinate integration, test, acceptance, and release while meeting high quality standards.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, set priorities based on stakeholder needs, and maintain effective communications.
• Ensure the team delivers high-quality software products that meet stakeholder expectations and established schedules.
• Develop and guide the software infrastructure and the integration of software components, maintaining consistent implementation quality.
• Approve technical direction within the team and collaborate with expert developers to improve practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, physics, astronomy, or a related field. An advanced degree is preferred.
• At least 3 years of experience directly supervising a software team of three or more people.
• At least 7 years of experience in software development.
• Relevant experience with radio astronomy operating software and procedures is preferred.
• Knowledge of radio astronomy theories and practice would be valuable.
• Preferred experience: technical leadership of complex data acquisition, scheduling, and operational support systems.
• Preferred experience: leading software development groups, preferably within astronomy.
• Experience leading distributed teams of developers, including management, planning, and reporting responsibilities.
• Experience balancing maintenance, improvement, and enhancement of operational software.
• Ability to manage requirements gathering through development and testing, including the formalism needed for the process.
• Strong interpersonal and group communication skills, both oral and written.
• Familiarity with technologies including Java, C, C++, Python, testing frameworks, threading, and parallelization.
• Ability to translate science requirements into software requirements and understand software architecture and its development implications.
• Leadership, delegation, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Familiarity with project management concepts and techniques.
• Demonstrated initiative in refining and clarifying requirements, defining and implementing QA processes, planning, and monitoring, defining technical direction, and facilitating alignment.
• Ability to learn new areas and apply learning, and to establish productive collaborations across organizations while anticipating and mitigating political and technical issues.
• Demonstrated capacity to maintain firm, professional, and respectful interactions with staff and stakeholders.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory currently cannot sponsor H-1B visas for this position.

Compensation

• USD 123,000 - 153,000 per year

Technology stack

• Java
• C
• C++
• Python

Benefits

• Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days)
• Medical, dental and vision plans effective on the first day of employment
• AUI’s retirement benefit contributes 10 percent of base pay for a qualified participant, with no required employee contribution

Work environment

• Typically performed in a research and development office environment
• Occasional travel (domestic and international) may be required