ngVLA Systems Engineer

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) seeks a ngVLA Systems Engineer to help design and deliver the next-generation Very Large Array, a world-leading radio observatory advancing astronomy and telecommunications science. In this role, you will lead systems engineering activities across antennas, receivers, signal processing, and data transport, translating scientific goals into robust technical requirements and system architectures. Working in a collaborative, mission-driven, and research-focused culture, you will coordinate with scientists, engineers, and software teams worldwide, manage integration and test, and ensure system performance, reliability, and scalability. This position offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology, contribute to groundbreaking discoveries in astrophysics, and grow professionally through continuous learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering for the next-generation Very Large Array (ng
• VLA) project
• Define, analyze, and allocate technical requirements across complex radio telescope subsystems
• Coordinate design, integration, and test activities with multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Collaborate with scientists to translate scientific objectives into technical system specifications
• Develop and maintain system architecture, interfaces, and performance models
• Oversee verification, validation, and system-level testing to ensure performance and reliability
• Prepare technical documentation, reviews, and reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Support risk management, configuration control, and continuous improvement processes

Required Skills

• Systems engineering
• Radio frequency (RF) engineering
• Signal processing
• Systems architecture design
• Requirements analysis and management
• Systems integration and testing
• Network and data transport engineering
• Scientific or technical documentation
• Configuration and risk management
• Collaborative engineering tools (e.g., Model-based systems engineering)