Electronics Engineer Group Lead/Technical Manager

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 Central Development Laboratory (CDL) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is the largest engineering team in the US dedicated to the development of radio astronomy technology. The CDL is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration and has the mission to develop state-of-the-art technology for use in radio telescopes used by the international scientific community.

The CDL seeks an experienced Technical Manager with electrical engineering/radio frequency knowledge to manage its Cold Cartridge Group, currently working on engineering and production of the next generation of the 209 281 GHz receivers for the ALMA telescope.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the personnel, programmatic, and technical management of a team of about five employees and coordinating with other engineering groups. This team is responsible for developing, and constructing hardware, firmware, and software used on radio telescopes or in the laboratories.

The location for the position will be in Charlottesville, VA. A remote work arrangement is not desirable for this position.

What You Will be Doing:

• Advising staff on programmatic, technical, and operational matters, prioritization, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Manage construction and testing of millimeter wave, cryogenically cooled radio astronomy receivers for the ALMA project.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures.
• Developing technical proposals, reports, and other technical papers.
• Conducting tests and data recording and analysis for verification of performance and compliance with specifications.
• Responsible for development and analysis of system and subsystem architecture and requirements.
• Responsible for oversight of the lifecycle of hardware, software, and firmware for group.

Work Environment

Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office/lab setting within a research or development environment. The selected candidate may be occasionally required to travel internationally, work outdoors and at high altitudes.

Who You Are:

• You have a Bachelors degree in electrical engineering or closely related field (required). An advanced degree in a closely related field is preferred.
• You have at least seven years of experience with design, construction, and/or maintenance of electronics hardware, software, and/or firmware, with at least three years of experience in managing a technical group.
• You are knowledgeable in the field of RF and microwave engineering theory and practice. Additionally, knowledge of radio astronomy theories and practice would be valuable, and experience in cryogenics practices is desirable.
• You have strong interpersonal and group communications skills, oral and written.

Additional Requirement

Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B visas for this position.

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. This is an open rank position, for a level III or IV Engineering position.

Benefits:

AUIs 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. AUIs retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participants 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 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 If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to View email address on click.appcast.io. PM20

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