Cryogenics Technician -II

Posted Monday, February 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM | Expires Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 5:59 AM

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a vibrant, 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 Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) distributed across the United States and its territories, 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.

NRAO is recruiting a Technician to support operations and maintenance of cryogenics subsystems utilized on the VLA and VLBA. These subsystems enable the receivers on these telescopes to operate with extraordinary sensitivity.

The position is based at the VLA, 50 miles west of Socorro, NM.

• Operates under supervision and instruction: operates, troubleshoots, repairs, and performs preventive maintenance on cryogenic compressors, cryogenic refrigerators, vacuum pumps, and associated components
• Use of standard test equipment, such as digital multimeters or gauges, for inspection, adjustment, and/or replacement of defective system components
• Use of hand tools for mechanical work or repair.
• Performs routine tasks and records test data.
• Must be able to work from equipment manuals, blueprints or sketches.
• Gathers and maintain records of engineering data such as tests, drawings, etc.
• Proactive compliance with NRAO and regulatory safety policies and procedures
• Other duties as assigned, relevant to the scope of this role

The VLA site is located in a remote area 7,000 feet above sea level. This position may require occasional travel to various locations within the USA or its protectorates. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works both inside and outside, day or night, near moving mechanical parts. The employee generally works at ground level, but occasionally works at heights above 100 feet.

The employee must be able to climb ladders while carrying equipment and tools, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and operate a variety of tools and equipment. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee occasionally works in a confined or underground space and near electrical equipment. The employee will work with chemicals, such as petroleum ether and other cleaning chemicals agents.

The employee must be able to work with proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when needed. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color and depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

• You have a high school diploma or high school equivalency.
• Prior experience preferred but not required for the Technician I position

Candidate must be self-motivated, possess the ability to communicate with others, must be meticulous and able to perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time. The individual must be able to work safely with hand and power tools. Candidate must possess a valid driver's license and must be able to operate a motorized vehicle in a safe manner. The ability to read and interpret policy and safety manuals is required as is the ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

The candidate must be able to do simple mathematical calculations

The selected candidate must successfully pass a post-offer, pre-employment/pre-placement drug screen. Failure to pass the screen will disqualify the candidate from employment consideration for a period of six months from the date of the results.

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

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.

AUI strives to attract and retain dedicated, highly qualified, competent, and motivated employees by offering competitive compensation and recognition for performance.

Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions.

AUI’s 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…