Data Manager

The Data Manager plays a critical role in ensuring that Next-Generation Global Observing Network Group's (ngGONG) scientific ambition can be fully realized through a robust, scalable, and well-integrated data management architecture. As the lead data management systems engineer for the ngGONG design project, this role translates high-level scientific and operational requirements into a coherent end-to-end Data Management System that enables reliable data capture, processing, archiving, and distribution across all ngGONG instruments.

This position supports the National Solar Observatory’s Next-Generation Global Observing Network Group (ngGONG), a major international initiative currently in the design phase. ngGONG will modernize NSO’s global network of solar observatories, enabling continuous, high-quality observations that advance solar physics research and improve our understanding of space weather.

By leading the definition and design of the ngGONG Data Management System, the Data Manager ensures that data flows—from acquisition at observatory sites through calibration, quality control, long-term preservation, and user access—are technically sound, interoperable, and aligned with program requirements, schedules, and cost constraints. This role serves as a key integrator across science leadership, instrument and telescope teams, software engineers, system architects, and external partners, helping align diverse technical inputs into a unified system design.

Close coordination with the NSO/DKIST Data Center further ensures that ngGONG’s data systems leverage existing capabilities, avoid unnecessary duplication, and support long-term operational efficiency. Focused on design readiness rather than day-to-day operations, the Data Manager’s work directly shapes the feasibility, sustainability, and scientific impact of the ngGONG observatory for decades to come.

The ngGONG project is currently funded for a three-year design phase, with the potential for additional funding contingent upon selection to advance into construction.

This position is based in Boulder, Colorado, on the University of Colorado campus.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the definition and management of ngGONG Data Management System requirements derived from scientific, operational, and user needs, with emphasis on end‑to‑end data flow from instrument to end user.
• Serve as the accountable lead for the scientific data lifecycle for ngGONG—from instrument data capture and on‑site buffering through transfer, pipeline processing, archival, and distribution to external users—ensuring that performance, reliability, and usability requirements are met.
• Manage the design of data archiving systems, including long‑term preservation, access, distribution, data lifecycle management concepts, and metadata/provenance standards.
• Oversee design planning for science data reduction pipeline infrastructure, including calibration and quality‑control workflows, processing stages, compute requirements, and scalability considerations.
• Interface with the Data Center leadership to define computing platform architectures, including storage, compute, virtualization, and potential cloud or hybrid strategies appropriate for ngGONG data volumes and performance needs.
• Coordinate network architecture design to support timely, reliable data transfer between ngGONG sites, partner institutions, and the external user community, accounting for bandwidth, latency, and resiliency requirements.
• Provide leadership for the design of user‑facing software concepts, tools, and interfaces (e.g., web portals, APIs, catalog services) that support data discovery, access, and science use cases.
• Develop system architecture documents, requirements specifications, interface definitions, data models, and design documentation for the ngGONG Data Management System and associated data systems.
• Generate statements of work and technical specifications to support external design activities and vendor engagements related to data systems, networking, and compute/storage infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, cost estimates, and risk assessments for data center and data system design activities,…