AURA Chief Technology Officer and Director for Software Tucson, Arizona Apply Now
NSF’s NOIRLab is the preeminent US national center for ground-based, nighttime optical and infrared astronomy. NOIRLab is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) which operates as a matrix organization, providing services across a range of programs: Gemini, Rubin, MSO (CTIO and KPNO), and CSDC; with facilities in three geographic locations: Arizona, Chile and Hawai’i. The mission of NOIRLab is to enable breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics by developing and operating state-of-the-art ground-based observatories and providing data products and services for a diverse and inclusive community.
The Chief Technology Officer and Director for Software (CTO-DS) provides senior technical leadership, management, and strategy for NOIRLab’s activities in software engineering, scientific computing and information technology (IT), and scientific data management systems. A member of the NOIRLab Leadership Team (LT), the CTO-DS will serve as the head of a new Data Management and Software (DMS) division at NOIRLab. DMS will be a Level 1 component of NOIRLab, responsible for delivering coordinated solutions to the software and data management needs of NOIRLab’s programs, services, directorate, and cross-cutting initiatives.
Essential Functions:
As the leader of the design and implementation of DMS, the CTO-DS will:
- Work as a member of the NOIRLab LT to ensure that the design and implementation of DMS is responsive to the scientific and programmatic goals of NSF, NOIRLab and its constituent programs and services, the astronomical user community, and other key stakeholders.
- Formulate an organizational structure to provide functional and technical management of software engineering staff, either directly or through their technical team leaders.
- Develop a plan for potential reorganization of NOIRLab IT to ensure appropriate support for modern scientific software, computing, and data-management systems and methodologies (e.g. DevOps, CI/CD, SRE) while continuing to deliver essential business IT support and effective cybersecurity.
- Work with the LT and with AURA and NOIRLab financial and administrative staff to design and implement a cost model for DMS within NOIRLab.
- Manage the transition of software engineering staff from NOIRLab Engineering and scientist-programmers from Research Science Services to DMS.
- Ensure a successful transition of Rubin Data Management staff into the NOIRLab DMS organization.
Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:
- Bachelor’s degree in a computer science or related field.
- 10+ years of progressively responsible experience leading software projects, teams, and/or organizations, including experience with personnel management, mentoring, and professional development.
- Substantial generalist knowledge of methods and practices across multiple areas of software engineering, computing, and data management.
- Strong ability to present and communicate ideas effectively in the English language, both written and verbal, to a wide range of audiences.
- Ability to gain respect of technical professionals, to lead teams of diverse backgrounds and cultures, and to foster diversity in the workforce.
- Ability to develop and administer effective business and operations plans, including prior budget responsibility.
Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:
- Enthusiasm for the scientific research- and service-oriented mission of NOIRLab as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center.
- Experience leading organizational change.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish, or willingness to learn Spanish.
Other Functions:
- Other duties as assigned.
The position will remain open until it is filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by July 19, 2024.
If you would like to apply for this opportunity, please submit your CV or resume along with a Cover Letter in English (PDF files). Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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