Chief Technology Officer and Director for Software

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. The CTO-DS will lead the organizational design and implementation of the DMS division, working closely with senior NOIRLab leadership and with the current leaders of the software- and data-focused technical teams across NOIRLab and Rubin Observatory Construction.

The goals for DMS are to:

• Establish an integrated organizational framework for the development, deployment, maintenance, and evolution of software engineering and data-management competencies at NOIRLab, capitalizing on the opportunity of the Lab’s overall scale to create a global center of excellence in this area.
• Deliver high-quality software and data management solutions to NOIRLab’s scientific programs and matrix services, leveraging investments and experience from individual programs and services for the benefit of others.
• Enable progress towards a more integrated, standardized, and scientifically empowering set of data management services and platforms for the global astronomy user community.
• Provide unified technical leadership, strategy, and technology selection to ensure standardization and interoperability of software systems and professionals across NOIRLab.
• Coordinate NOIRLab’s activities of research and development into emerging software, computing, and data-management technologies.
• Support the recruitment, retention, and long-term professional development of software engineering staff across NOIRLab.
• Provide a unified framework for coordination and collaboration with peer centers and institutions on topics of data management and software.
• Ensure that NOIRLab’s core IT systems and processes are modern, well-coordinated, and aligned with the Lab’s scientific, technical, business-process, and cybersecurity needs.

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.
• Maintain initial continuity of established software and data management teams across the transition into the new DMS organization, while identifying and pursuing opportunities to evolve these teams over time into more cross-cutting capacities.
• Ensure a successful transition of Rubin Data Management staff into the NOIRLab DMS organization, fully realizing the benefits of Rubin’s software culture and competencies for the broader NOIRLab software and data mission.

As the head of NOIRLab DMS once it is implemented, the CTO-DS will:

• Serve as the overall technical leader and manager of software engineering, data management, and scientific computing systems staff and scope-of-work across NOIRLab, delegating as appropriate to next-level managers within DMS.
• Serve as NOIRLab’s senior technical leader for software, data management, and scientific computing, maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the needs in these areas across the NOIRLab portfolio, and escalating important operational and strategic issues to the LT as needed.
• Work with NOIRLab’s program and service directors to ensure that their groups’ software and data-management development and operational needs are met, in the context of long-range planning, annual planning, and in-year adjustment of priorities and efforts.
• In collaboration with the LT and the NOIRLab Portfolio Management Office, implement and oversee a system for prioritization, project definition, effort estimation, work breakdown, budgeting, tracking, and reporting of NOIRLab’s software and data-management activities, using both agile and traditional project-management approaches as appropriate within the context of NOIRLab’s annual planning and operations cycle.
• Ensure accountability of DMS software teams to deliver results for NOIRLab as a whole, including through the effective delegation of responsibility and authority within DMS.
• Establish and promulgate uniform best practices for software development and software systems operation within NOIRLab.
• Plan and manage the evolution of NOIRLab’s software teams and DMS internal structure over time to meet the evolving needs of the NOIRLab portfolio.
• In collaboration with Human Resources, lead the recruitment, retention, and professional development of data-management and software engineering staff at NOIRLab, taking a strategic approach to the development of the workforce as a whole.
• Formulate Lab-wide strategy and standards for software development and technology selection, taking into account the Lab’s programmatic needs and long-range scientific strategy, as well as the evolving landscape of software and computing. Promote directed R&D and technology maturation activities as appropriate.
• Promote and model a culture of respect, inclusion, diversity, excellence, and continuous improvement within DMS.
• Serve as the principal point-of-contact for all technical matters related to NOIRLab software and data management in interactions with NSF, oversight and governance bodies, partner organizations, and leaders at peer institutions.

Other Functions:

• Other duties as assigned.

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.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately
• Travel will be necessary in or outside the contiguous United States.

For US based position, the salary range is: $234,600 – $265,000. The final salary will depend on skills, qualifications, experience and job location.

Salaries for positions hired in Chile meet Chile national market rates and internal scales for AURA.

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at https://hr.aura-astronomy.org/employee-benefits-guide/ 

If you would like to apply for this opportunity, please submit your CV or resume along with a Cover Letter in English (PDF files). Also, kindly provide contact information of 3 professional references in your application, as references will be contacted later in the recruiting process. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname.Docname. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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. 

• Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname. 
• Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to employment@aura-astronomy.org. 
• Please enter 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process). 

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at employment@aura-astronomy.org 

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 49 US institutions and 3 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation and NASA. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to diversity throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce. AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities. 

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The statements below as well as the requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential.