Data Systems Architect

What You’ll Do

• Lead the definition and management of ngGONG Data Management System requirements derived from scientific, operational, and user needs, with emphasis on end‑to‑end data flow from instrument to end user.
• Serve as the accountable lead for the scientific data lifecycle for ngGONG—from instrument data capture and on‑site buffering through transfer, pipeline processing, archival, and distribution to external users—ensuring that performance, reliability, and usability requirements are met.
• Manage the design of data archiving systems, including long‑term preservation, access, distribution, data lifecycle management concepts, and metadata/provenance standards.
• Oversee design planning for science data reduction pipeline infrastructure, including calibration and quality‑control workflows, processing stages, compute requirements, and scalability considerations.
• Interface with the Data Center leadership to define computing platform architectures, including storage, compute, virtualization, and potential cloud or hybrid strategies appropriate for ngGONG data volumes and performance needs.
• Coordinate network architecture design to support timely, reliable data transfer between ngGONG sites, partner institutions, and the external user community, accounting for bandwidth, latency, and resiliency requirements.
• Provide leadership for the design of user‑facing software concepts, tools, and interfaces (, web portals, APIs, catalog services) that support data discovery, access, and science use cases.
• Develop system architecture documents, requirements specifications, interface definitions, data models, and design documentation for the ngGONG Data Management System and associated data systems.
• Generate statements of work and technical specifications to support external design activities and vendor engagements related to data systems, networking, and compute/storage infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, cost estimates, and risk assessments for data system design activities, and provide inputs to major project design reviews.
• Coordinate closely with ngGONG science teams, instrument and telescope teams, software engineers, systems engineers, the NSO Data Center, operations staff, and external collaborators to ensure alignment with overall project architecture and long‑term operational concepts.
• Ensure DMS designs consider integration with existing or legacy data systems where appropriate, including strategies for data migration, interoperability, and coexistence, while remaining focused on ngGONG requirements.
• Participate in formal project design reviews and provide clear recommendations to ngGONG project leadership on data system architectures, design trades, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Support ngGONG leadership in broader data management planning and strategy development, including policies for data access, retention, curation, and compliance with relevant agency or community guidelines.

At the National Solar Observatory, you’ll join a mission-driven community working at the frontier of solar science. Our teams are dedicated to understanding the Sun in ways that protect technology, enhance scientific discovery, and inspire global audiences. NSO offers a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where curiosity is encouraged, varied perspectives are valued, and employees can make a tangible impact on science and society.

Here, you will have the opportunity to grow your career, lead innovative outreach programs, and help shape the national conversation around solar physics and space weather.

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, computer science, data science, astronomy, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience; formal project management training or certification is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and deliver outcomes for medium‑ to large‑scale software or data‑intensive infrastructure projects (data centers, data pipelines, archives, or cyber‑infrastructure).
• Experience working within systems‑engineering‑based project environments, including requirements flow‑down, interface control, and participation in formal design reviews.
• Demonstrated…