Head of the ALMA Department of Engineering

* Important: this is an International job opportunity, applications will only be considered through the following channels (please do not apply through this portal):

Applicants submitting their application to ESO are invited to apply online at 

Applicants submitting their application to AUI/NRAO are invited to apply online at 

Applicants submitting their application to NAOJ are invited to send the application and all documents to 

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The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is the world's preeminent facility for millimeter and submillimeter-wave astronomy with transformational capabilities to study the origin and evolution of galaxies, stars and planets. ALMA consists of 66 antennas located on the Chajnantor plateau, 5000 meters altitude in northern Chile, and equipped with receivers covering atmospheric windows between 30 and 950 GHz.

ALMA is a partnership of the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA is funded by ESO on behalf of its Member States, by NSF in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC) and by NINS in cooperation with the Academia Sinica (AS) in Taiwan and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).

ALMA continued development and operations are led by ESO on behalf of its Member States; by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), on behalf of North America; and by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on behalf of East Asia.

The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) provides the unified leadership and management of the continued development, commissioning and operation of ALMA.

The Joint ALMA Observatory invites applications for the position of: 

Head of the ALMA Department of Engineering (Head of ADE)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) is seeking a senior engineering manager to lead the ALMA Department of Engineering (ADE), which is responsible for leading a large, multidisciplinary engineering team at the Joint ALMA Observatory in Chile consisting of over a hundred staff. The Head of ADE also plays a key role in supporting the scientific mission of ALMA by ensuring engineering systems meet the observatory's high availability and precision requirements.

The department's primary mission is to ensure the reliable operation and long-term sustainability of ALMA's technical infrastructure, including the upkeep, oversight, and improvement of high-technology systems and infrastructure such as antennas, power systems, scientific instrumentation, and site facilities with a strong focus on sustainable operational performance and effective risk management and mitigation.

The position also entails proactive risk management in response to aging systems through implementation of sustainability-driven mitigation strategies in partnership with the ALMA Integrated Engineering Team (IET) to optimize maintenance plans, establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and continuous assessment of risks.

This role demands strategic leadership to guide the department through the next 5-10 years, a critical transition period for the observatory as a major upgrade, the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU), of the complete ALMA signal chain is installed and brought to full operation. This requires strong coordination across departments, particularly with Science Operations and Computing, to maintain operational continuity and to coordinate effective management through the transition to the fully operational WSU system.

The position also requires commitment to effective team leadership and staff management to build a high-performance team in a multi-cultural, multi-national environment at the observatory, and maintaining strong collaborations with ALMA's international partners.

Main Responsibilities

·      Provide strategic leadership to sustain, optimize, and enhance the long-term effectiveness of engineering operations at the JAO, with a primary focus on reliability and sustainability.

·      Lead the Engineering Department through the ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) transition, ensuring effective coordination of legacy and WSU systems and defining future engineering workflows.

·      Build and manage a high-performance team through best practices in people management, including training, certification, professional development, team empowerment and cross-team collaborations. 

·      Oversee departmental resources, including budgeting, staffing, and strategic personnel allocation for projects and operations.

·      Ensure delivery of engineering outcomes, including:

o  Integration and operational implementation of system upgrades;

o  Performance monitoring and characterization of engineering systems;

o  Identification and implementation of operational improvements;

o  Preventive and corrective maintenance of all systems and infrastructure;

o  Development and execution of comprehensive maintenance, risk management, and obsolescence management plans for all observatory systems, including antennas, scientific instrumentation. power systems, facilities, and site utilities.

·      Monitor engineering performance, analyze trends, oversee fault reporting and resolution processes, and manage system configuration and health tracking.

·      Coordinate and monitor array reconfiguration and related antenna transport logistics.

·      Enforce compliance with safety standards and policies and promote a strong safety culture within the ADE.

·      Collaborate with the ALMA Integrated Engineering Team (IET) on obsolescence mitigation, KPI monitoring, and optimization of maintenance strategies.

·      Participate in the JAO Operations Team (JOT) to align operational planning, coordinate parallel operations during the WSU transition, and implementing and maturing the future WSU operations.

·      Contribute to observatory-wide strategic planning as a member of the Core Management Team (CMT).

·      Represent ADE in interactions with ALMA Executive organizations and external partners related to infrastructure, procurement, or engineering development.

·      Contribute to long-term technology strategy by identifying emerging technologies or practices that can improve observatory operations or sustainability.

·      Perform other duties as assigned by the ALMA Deputy Director of Operations.

Professional Requirements/Qualifications

Applicants for this position should fulfill the following requirements: 

Minimum requirements (must have):

·      University degree in Engineering or a related discipline.

·      At least 10 years of relevant engineering experience in complex operational environments, ideally involving high-technology systems or scientific infrastructure.

·      Experience leading teams in multicultural, international environments.

·      A minimum of 5 years in leadership/ managerial roles, with demonstrated responsibility for engineering operations, team leadership, and resource planning.

·      Proven experience in sustaining and optimizing engineering systems, including preventive and corrective maintenance, and long-term infrastructure and asset management.

·      Strong communication skills in English (minimum B level).

Desirable Requirements (an asset if present):

·      Professional engineering certification.

·      Experience working in an observatory or a similar scientific research facility or infrastructure.

·      Experience in international or multi-cultural work environments, managing remote or distributed teams, and working across time zones.

·      Experience in change management.

·      Familiarity with managing within matrix organizations.

·      Familiarity with radio-frequency systems and technologies, ideally for the millimeter/submillimeter wavelength range.

·      Advanced English proficiency (C level) and intermediate proficiency (B level) in Spanish.

Competencies:

·      Demonstrated strategic leadership, with the ability to drive operational transformation and lead organizational transitions.

·      Strong people leadership and management skills, with a focus on staff development, team empowerment, and inclusive leadership.

·      Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities; capable of leading and engaging large, diverse, and multi-cultural teams across departments and locations.

·      Cultural awareness and the ability to adapt leadership and communication styles to a diverse, multinational environment.

·      Proven experience in planning, budgeting, and resource management within complex technical environments.

·      Familiarity with performance frameworks such as OKRs and KPIs to align objectives, track progress, and ensure accountability.

·      Ability to foster collaboration across departments and with internal and external stakeholders.

·      Skilled in risk-management, continuous improvement, and long-term sustainability of engineering operations.

·      Resilience and sound judgment in dynamic or evolving environments, balancing multiple responsibilities effectively while maintaining focus on quality and priorities.

Due to travel requirements and work at high altitudes, a successful high-altitude medical check is a necessary condition of employment for this position.

Duty Station / Location of Position

The position must spend a considerable portion of time in the Operations Support Facility (OSF) at 2900 m and the Array Operations Site (AOS) located on the nearby Llano de Chajnantor at 5000 m altitude, and some portion in the Santiago Central Office (SCO) in Vitacura. Occasional international travel will be required.

Starting Date

As soon as possible.

Contract 

Actual contractual terms will be defined by the selected employer (ESO, AUI/NRAO or NAOJ). 

Remuneration 

ALMA International Staff will be recruited as employees of ESO, AUI/NRAO or NAOJ. Each of these employers offer competitive remuneration packages including a competitive salary as well as comprehensive social benefits, and provide financial support in relocating families. Furthermore, if applicable, an expatriation allowance as well as some other allowances will be added.

Application process & contracts

ALMA International Staff Members will be engaged to work at the JAO through one of the Executives: ESO, AUI/NRAO, or NAOJ. Candidates should apply through the Recruitment Portal of any ALMA Executive (ESO, AUI/NRAO, NAOJ). Once the selection process is completed, each ALMA Executive will send a contract offer to the successful candidate, who needs to confirm which offer will decide to take.

Each application should be written in English and must include a motivational cover letter, and a Curriculum Vitae. The candidate also must send the names and contact details of a minimum of three references, considering at least one from each of a supervisor, a peer, and a direct report.

Applicants submitting their application to ESO are invited to apply online at

Applicants submitting their application to AUI/NRAO are invited to apply online at

Applicants submitting their application to NAOJ are invited to send their application and reference letters to  

Deadline for receipt of applications to be considered is Friday, November 28th, pm Chile time).

For further information please consult ), as well as the ESO ), NRAO ), and/or NAOJ ) Home Pages.

ESO, NRAO, and NAOJ are Equal Opportunity Employers. The post is equally open to suitably qualified female and male applicants.

ALMA Values

An important element in any successful employment relationship is harmony in values between an organization and its people.

The ALMA Values are:

Excellence

Respect and Diversity

Collaboration

Care

Applicants to any ALMA role are asked to reflect on their affinity with these values and advised that they may be asked about them if called for an interview.

Equal opportunity

ALMA is committed to providing an equal opportunity environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce, irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.