Position Description

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) operates and is a partner in several domestic and international radio astronomy observatories, including the Very Large Array, the Very Long Baseline Array, the Green Bank Observatory, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. NRAO is also in the design phase of an exciting new advance in radio astronomy- the Next Generation Very Large Array.

NRAO is looking to welcome a new member to our growing team to provide both project management and systems engineering. The selected candidate will take a leadership role in projects across the observatory assisting engineering and software teams with key project management responsibilities while employing systems engineering techniques to mature unique concepts into successful projects to improve radio astronomy facilities across the world.

Job Duties Summary

The selected candidate will manage projects throughout the project lifecycle. The candidate will also contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives within the Program Management Department and may also provide training in project management and systems engineering to observatory staff. Using project management and systems engineering best practices, the candidate will fully implement observatory-defined standards, processes, tools, and techniques.

• Assist Principal Investigators in managing projects by setting and executing on technical and business milestones, coordinating project deliverables, writing reports, preparing/delivering presentations, managing project budget, and coordinating with external partners or vendors
• Ensure that project teams meet technical and budgetary milestones with regular internal/external meetings using project management tools such as Gantt Charts, SharePoint, Confluence, Jira, etc.
• Be an active team member maturing technology and bringing it to a successful completion
• Lead project teams in risk identification, tracking, and mitigation
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with staff (e.g., principal investigator, engineers, business managers, and contracts managers) as well as external vendor and academic partners
• Update existing Standard Operating Procedures and work instructions
• Identify internal processes that need streamlining or modernization and develop plans for implementation

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment. The position will be based at the NRAO Headquarters in Charlottesville, VA. The position may require occasional travel.

Position Requirements

Minimum Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, applied physical science, or a related field.

 Preferred Education

Advanced degree in electrical engineering, applied physical science, or related field.

 Minimum Experience

Requires at least three years of experience actively leading technology development projects, specifically RF or digital electronics systems. Demonstrated experience leading projects spanning both hardware and associated software.

 Demonstrated experience with core program management responsibilities: risk management, scheduling, process engineering, testing, quality and product assurance principles and applications.

 Preferred Experience

Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in two or more of the following areas is preferred: Radio telescopes; RF, microwave, or millimeter wave systems; High-speed digital electronics; Electromagnetic spectrum management; Thermal and cryogenic engineering; Electrical engineering; Systems engineering

 Competency Summary

• Competency in standard program management software packages is required (P6 or Microsoft Project, for example)
• Strong technical writing skills
• Working knowledge of collaboration tools such as SharePoint, Confluence, and Jira
• Attention to detail is critical along with strong organization skills
• Excellent verbal, written, and virtual communication skills as well as demonstrated success leading diverse teams

Additional Requirements

Candidates must currently be eligible to work in the United States.

PMI PMP certification and INCOSE ASEP (or higher) certification or equivalent university degree are preferred. Candidate must be willing to obtain PMP certification within six months of hire, if it is not already held.

The Observatory has determined that all employees who intend to be physically present in the facilities and employees who work in safety sensitive positions are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with our AUI vaccine policy and provide proof of full vaccination prior to your start date. If you will require medical or religious accommodations, please contact the site HR department.

Application Instructions

Select the “Apply” button. Please be prepared to upload your current resume and a letter of application describing interest and suitability for the position.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

AUI is an equal opportunity employer. Women, Minorities, Vietnam-Era Veterans, Disabled Veterans, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. To view our complete statement, please visit http://jobs.jobvite.com/nrao/jobs. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email to [email protected].

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