The Senior Civil Engineer for ngGONG plays a critical role in shaping the future of ground-based solar observations. This position supports the National Solar Observatoryâs Next-Generation Global Observing Network Group (ngGONG), a major international initiative currently in the design phase. The Senior Civil Engineer plays a foundational role in turning ngGONGâs scientific vision into buildable, real-world observatories.
Requirements
- Define SBF: Lead the definition, documentation, and maintenance of civil and architectural design requirements for site development, buildings/foundations, and Fit-out (SBF) at all ngGONG sites.
- Develop, evaluate, and down-select site and facility concepts through structured trade studies that balance performance, risk, cost, constructability, schedule, and code compliance across diverse international locations.
- Coordinate closely with Systems Engineering, Telescope Assembly, EHS, and science teams to ensure that civil and architectural requirements, interfaces, and layouts support instrument performance, operations, safety, environmental constraints, and future expansion.
- Serve as the primary technical and dayâtoâday administrative owner of the A&E contract for SBF, including developing scopes of work, participating in procurement, reviewing drawings/models/specifications/estimates, managing design iterations, and verifying alignment with ngGONG standards and NSF/federal requirements.
- Ensure that all site and building designs correctly implement applicable codes, standards, and regulations, and escalate issues, variances, and key decisions to project leadership as needed.
- Lead identification, mapping, and tracking of all permitting, approvals, and inspections for each site (planning, building, environmental, utility, heritage/historic, and related authorities), and coordinate timely preparation and submission of permit and approval packages with the A&E firm and NSO/AURA administrative teams.
- Manage and review supporting investigations and inputs for SBF, including surveys, geotechnical studies, environmental reviews, and site-specific constraints, and ensure that these are appropriately incorporated into concepts, requirements, and A&E deliverables.
- Serve as Control Account Manager (CAM) for the SBF work scope, and develop and maintain civil/SBF inputs to the Integrated Project Schedule and cost estimates, including design effort, permitting timelines, and constructionâphase planning assumptions to support downstream ngGONG build proposals and risk management.
- Support and present at internal and external design reviews (conceptual, preliminary), providing clear technical documentation, risk assessments, trade study results, and mitigation strategies for civil, structural, architectural, and infrastructure aspects of the network;
- Occasional international travel to all proposed construction sites for communications and coordination with local authorities and site representatives.
- All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position.
Benefits
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan contributions
