Software Agile Specialist (120)

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.

We are seeking a Software Agile Specialist/Scrum Master to join the NRAO Software Division. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the next generation of significant software upgrades supporting the needs of the broader radio astronomy community. NRAO’s software teams are doing exciting work spanning scientific archive development and the design and development of a new data processing system to support the ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade and the future ngVLA telescope. The new Radio Astronomy Data Processing System (RAPDS) is currently in the early stages of prototyping and development.

This position will be located at one of the NRAO facilities in Charlottesville (VA), Socorro (NM), Albuquerque (NM), or Green Bank (WV). Partial or full telework may be considered for a highly qualified candidate.

What You Will be Doing:

You will use your Scrum expertise to guide the planning and implementation of Scrum frameworks and Agile principles at NRAO. You will coach teams, product owners, and stakeholders on how to use and improve Agile/Scrum concepts, values, practices, and your work will improve software team self-organization, collaboration, and transparency to deliver highly valued software products. You will facilitate discussions and decision-making with teams and assist in mediation and conflict resolution.

Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
• Ensuring teams adhere to Scrum theory, practices, and rules
• Helping teams to avoid or navigate roadblocks and interferences that may hinder project progress
• Facilitating discussions, decision making, and conflict resolution among the team members
• Working with Product Owners, especially on backlog grooming and maintaining the product backlog
• Monitoring project progress and performance, and reporting findings to stakeholders
• Assessing the Scrum maturity of teams and organization and coaching them to higher levels of performance
• Ensuring a conducive environment for the team, enabling members to work efficiently and effectively
• Serving as a Scrum Master for up to three Scrum teams


Work Environment
The successful candidate will join a team of professionals engaged in research and development in the fields of science, engineering, software development, and education. Work is typically performed in a research or development environment. Must be able to operate a personal computer. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Who You Are:

• You have a bachelor’s degree.
• While not required, you may have an advanced degree and background that includes Physics or Mathematics.
• You have a minimum of two years of experience as a practicing Scrum Master in a professional software development environment.
• You are currently an active Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
• You may have two or more years of experience supervising or mentoring staff.
• You have expertise in using Atlassian tools, including Jira and Confluence.
• Demonstrated experience as a software developer is preferred, and you will have at least an understanding of software technologies used to support scientific operations in radio astronomy or related fields, including Python, C++, Git.
• You are willing to travel on occasion to NRAO sites.
Competency Summary
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to establish and maintain working relationships with a wide range of people and personality types.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to communicate comfortably and effectively with software engineers, scientists, and senior managers.
• A passion for Agile and Scrum practices and a dedication to inspiring continuous improvement.
• Interpersonal coaching, coaching, and facilitation skills.
• Experience working with large, existing applications in a distributed team.

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 r