Research Program Manager

*Department:*Physics and Astronomy-319000
*Career Area :*Research Professionals
*Posting Open Date:*09/18/2025
*Application Deadline:*10/07/2025
*Open Until Filled:*No
*Position Type:*Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)
*Working Title:*Research Program Manager
*Appointment Type:*EHRA Non-Faculty
*Position Number:*20073081
*Vacancy ID:*NF0009297
*Full Time/Part Time:*Full-Time Permanent
*FTE:*1
*Hours per week:*40
*Position Location:*North Carolina, US
*Hiring Range:*76,300-110,000
*Proposed Start Date:*10/07/2025
*Be a Tar Heel!:*A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]( consistently ranks as [one of the nation's top public universities]( Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of [professional training opportunities]( for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy [exclusive perks]( for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a [comprehensive benefits package]( paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.
*Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:*Our primary mission is providing instruction of the highest quality in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-CH. Training in physics is fundamental among the natural sciences because it provides understanding of the forces governing the structure of matter, from subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe.

Our departmental instructional mission spans all segments of the student community. Over 60% of all college graduates from UNC-CH have taken a course in our department. Among them: undergraduate liberal arts majors who should master the power of quantitative reasoning; undergraduates seeking a degree in another of the natural sciences, who need physics as a foundation for their advanced scientific training; the small number of undergraduates who major in physics, to whom we provide broad and rigorous training. Our graduate education and research advances frontiers of knowledge at the two extremes of space and time, from the very small) the realm of particle physics) to the very large (the realm of astronomy, while expanding the boundaries of knowledge in the many subfields spanning length scales between. Forefront physics and astronomy research requires access to well-equipped laboratories and extensive computing capabilities; it also must be supported by comprehensive and accessible library collections. Again, in research at this advanced level, the bridging aspect of
physics provides basic interdisciplinary insight for many other sciences.

A strong managerial, administrative, and technical staff supports this instructional mission. Duties of these employees range from budget planning and management for the numerous research grants held by faculty in the department to maintaining course and student records. These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule.
*Position Summary:*The Argus Array will be the largest optical telescope array ever assembled, with a collecting area comparable to the largest monolithic telescopes in the world. The Array will push our observations of the universe into a new regime, scanning the sky 100,000x faster than current nightly-cadence sky surveys. Argus will capture a continuous multi-color, 55-gigapixel movie of the night sky, shared with the entire astronomical community in real-time through public transient alerts, images, and light curves with millions of epochs for hundreds of millions of stars.

The Argus Array Program Manager serves as the technical and operational lead for this project, managing the critical transition from developmental phase to construction and commissioning. This position combines high-level program management with hands-on technical leadership across all aspects of the 900-telescope array system.

The Program Manager is responsible for the integration and coordination of technical subsystems, ensuring that optomechanical, facilities, and infrastructure components work together to meet the Array's performance requirements. This role requires deep technical involvement in hardware prototyping, system design validation, and production implementation, while simultaneously managing program-level strategic planning, risk assessment, and resource allocation in collaboration with the Argus Array Director and management team.

The Program Manager interfaces across all project teams from graduate students to external contractors. Key responsibilities include overseeing vendor relationships for critical components (optical calibration systems, camera production, telescope engineering), managing construction and site development activities, and ensuring technical compliance across all subsystem designs. The position requires expertise in bridging the gap between astronomical instrumentation requirements and practical engineering implementation, with particular focus on optomechanical systems integration, facility infrastructure design, and the transition of research prototypes to production-ready systems.

Our project management philosophy emphasizes a small, highly collaborative local team where the Program Manager contributes directly to technical development while maintaining strategic oversight of the project. The position requires both the ability to dive deep into specific engineering challenges and to maintain a systems-level perspective on project integration, risk management, and long-term strategic planning.
*Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:*Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.
*Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:*
* PhD in Physics, Astronomy, Engineering, or related field
* Professional Certificate in Advanced Project Management or equivalent certification (PMP, CAPM, or similar)
* Demonstrated experience in technical project or program management for complex scientific instrumentation
* Strong background in astronomical instrumentation, optomechanical systems, or systems engineering
* Experience with vendor management and external contractor coordination
* Demonstrated ability to transition research prototypes to production systems
* Strong technical writing and documentation skills for both internal coordination and external reporting
* Experience with risk assessment and mitigation strategies for complex technical projects
* Ability to interface effectively with diverse stakeholders from graduate students to senior contractors
*Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:*
* Prior experience with astronomical instrumentation projects or telescope facilities
* Experience developing real-time analysis pipelines and instrument control systems
* Knowledge of optical system design, testing, and calibration methodologies
* Familiarity with construction project oversight and site development processes
* Experience with modular system integration and industrial facility requirements
* Machine shop experience or hands-on fabrication skills (3D printing, machining, soldering)
* Programming proficiency in Python, C/C++, and database systems (SQL, PostgreSQL)
* CAD software experience (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Fusion360)
* Experience with budgeting and resource allocation for midscale technical projects
* Knowledge of observatory operations and logistics
* Strong problem-solving skills for novel engineering challenges without established precedents
* Track record of successful delivery of complex scientific instruments from concept to operation
*Special Physical/Mental Requirements:*Travel to the Argus Array construction and deployment site will be required as well as the ability to work effectively at high altitude locations. Position will require extended periods at remote construction sites during critical integration phases. Ability to maintain effectiveness across multiple time zones when coordinating with international partners and vendors.
*Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:*Not Applicable.