Electronics Engineer Group Lead
Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia, 22904, USA
Listed on 2026-02-16
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Engineering
Systems Engineer, Electrical Engineering
NRAO Central Development Lab, 1180 Boxwood Estate Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America
Job DescriptionPosted Friday, January 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM | Expires Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Position
Description:
Position Summary
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is an 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 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.
The Central Development Laboratory (CDL) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is the largest engineering team in the US dedicated to the development of radio astronomy technology. The CDL is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration and has the mission to develop state‑of‑the‑art technology for use in radio telescopes used by the international scientific community.
The CDL seeks an experienced Electronics Engineer to lead its Cold Cartridge Group, currently working on engineering and production of the next generation of the 209 – 281 GHz receivers for the ALMA telescope.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the personnel, programmatic, and technical management of a team of about five employees and coordinating with other engineering groups. This team is responsible for developing, and constructing hardware, firmware, and software used on radio telescopes or in the laboratories.
The location for the position will be in Charlottesville, VA. A remote work arrangement is not desirable for this position.
What You Will be Doing:- Advising staff on technical and operational matters, prioritization, and conducting performance evaluations.
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with NRAO and government safety policies and procedures.
- Responsible for development and analysis of system and subsystem architecture and requirements.
- Developing technical proposals, reports, other technical papers.
- Conducting tests and data recording and analysis for verification of performance and compliance with specifications.
- Responsible for oversight of the lifecycle of hardware, software, and firmware for group.
Work is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office/lab setting within a research or development environment. The selected candidate may be occasionally required to travel internationally, work outdoors and at high altitudes.
Who You Are:- You have a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or closely related field (required). An advanced degree in a closely related field is preferred.
- You are knowledgeable in the field of RF and microwave engineering theory and practice. Additionally, knowledge of radio astronomy theories and practice would be valuable, and experience in cryogenics practices is desirable.
- You have at least seven years of experience with design, construction, and/or maintenance of electronics hardware, software, and/or firmware, with at least three years of experience in leading a technical group.
- You have strong interpersonal and group communications skills, oral and written.
Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H‑1B visas for this position.
Total Rewards: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.
CompensationAUI 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 and level may include education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful…
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