National Radio Astronomy Observatory
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 also supports the project management work for our sister observatory, the Green Bank Observatory.
NRAO is looking to welcome an experienced Project Manager/Systems Engineer to our team in Green Bank, WV. The Project Manager will take a leadership role in projects primarily at the Green Bank Observatory, but will also contribute to other projects across the observatory, as needed. Project Managers at NRAO and Green Bank Observatory work in tandem with Project Directors, Engineers, and Senior Management. Responsibilities will encompass several key areas including concept and prototype design, proposal development, risk identification/mitigation, and reporting while ensuring projects follow project management best practices. Project managers in our team typically also serve as the lead for systems engineering maturing engineering concepts into reality. The selected candidate will effectively manage relationships with internal and external project stakeholders and be an advisor to the Director of Green Bank Observatory.
Job Duties Summary
The selected candidate will manage projects throughout the project lifecycle from formalizing concept designs, engineering development, construction, building/tracking/maintaining schedules and budgets, risk analysis/mitigation/tracking, and ensuring required reports are written and submitted on time. The PM will 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 PM best practices, the candidate will fully implement observatory-defined standards, processes, tools, and techniques.
Work Environment
Work is typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment. The position will be based at the GBO site in Green Bank, WV. The position will require occasional travel primarily to Charlottesville, VA. Some telework options may be considered after 6 months of embedded work in Green Bank, WV.
Position Requirements
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, applied physical science, systems engineering, or related field.
Preferred Education
Advanced degree in electrical engineering, applied physical science, systems engineering, or related field.
Minimum Experience
Requires at least five 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 and 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 (Microsoft Project, or P6, 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
- Experience working effectively with geographically distributed 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 resumes@nrao.edu.
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