Overview

National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryTitle: Software Engineer II-IIILocation: 1011 Lopezville Rd, Socorro, NM 87801, USA• 5651 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USA• 155 Observatory Rd, Green Bank, WV 24944, USARequisition Number: 289Job Family: Software EngineerPay Type: SalaryRequired Education: CPP 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. NRAO is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to join the Monitor and Control (M&C) Software Group. The M&C system forms the basis of the real-time observing software of our telescopes, including the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia, the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) spread across the US and its territories. This software is responsible for: interfacing with and configuring hardware, RF/IF electronics, and digital signal processing instruments (such as VEGAS for the GBT, WIDAR for VLA, and DiFX for the VLBA); coordinating a distributed system with hundreds or thousands of devices and applying commands with precise timing; and monitoring system health and displaying detailed information to our operations team. When an observation runs, this software is what makes it happen. This position will be based in Albuquerque, NM, Socorro, NM, Charlottesville, VA or Green Bank, WV. For well-qualified candidates, a remote work arrangement may be considered. This position will be a one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal subject to observatory needs, budget and mutual agreement. What You Will be Doing Designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining components of the monitor and control software that configure and control the VLA, VLBA, and GBT in real time. Develop and extend the interface layer that communicates with hardware and electronics: IF-chain configurations, antenna motion commands, and digital signal processing configurations for instruments like VEGAS, WIDAR, and DiFX. Model the antennas and associated hardware and electronics in software - frequency setups, subband and baseband layouts, polarization products, timing and integration structure - and implement the rules, constraints, and legality checks that determine which configurations are achievable on each component. Work from interface control documents and hardware specifications, in close collaboration with the engineers and scientists who own the underlying subsystems, to ensure the commands, alerts, and data the M&C system emits are correct and complete. Diagnose and resolve issues that span the layers between a scientist's observing specification and the command stream sent to the telescope, often in collaboration with telescope operators, engineers, and scientific staff. Support the evolution of the monitor and control system to meet new observing paradigms and instrumentation, including work that informs and feeds into the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). Write and maintain critical documentation, including requirements, software design documents, interface control documents, and user documentation. Participate in code review, testing, and release processes for software that runs mission-critical, 24/7 scientific facilities. Additional duties of Monitor and Control Software Group members include both the maintenance and necessary upgrades of existing software, as well as developing new products to meet the challenges posed by the new observin