CDL - Central Devel Lab - CO-OP Student

Posted Friday, August 28, 2026 at 4:00 AM | Expires Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 3:59 AM Position Description: Position Summary The Central Development Laboratory (CDL) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is the largest engineering team in the US dedicated to the development of radio astronomy technology. The CDL is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, and has the mission to develop state-of-the-art technology for use in radio telescopes used by the international scientific community The Central Development Laboratory (CDL) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) seeks undergraduate and graduate electrical engineering and computer science co-op students and interns to work in our design and research teams to develop instrumentation technology for the next generation of radio telescope. Our technology is used on the ALMA millimeter/sub-millimeter wave telescope in Chile, the Jansky Very Large Array in New Mexico, and in observatories around the world to study exoplanet formation, black holes, stellar and galaxy formation and evolution, and to search for chemical precursors for life in the universe. The selected co-op student(s) will, depending on skills and interest, work with and learn from experts on our digital design team, our millimeter/sub-millimeter receivers team, our ALMA front end support team, our antennas and electromagnetics team, and our spectrum measurement team.. The CDL is the world leader in the application of many technologies used in radio astronomy. Learning objectives for our co-ops and interns are to: Learn industry best practices for engineering design and testing, Learn to work on a professional multi-disciplinary team, Learn how engineering supports scientific exploration. Individual assignments will depend on knowledge, experience, and interest, and could include: Digital circuit design, implementation and testing. FPGA programming (Verilog) and testing. RF circuit design, implementation and testing. Antenna/RF design and analysis, and testing. Signal processing algorithm development. Software development and testing. Test and evaluation of millimeter-wave receivers, antennas, and electromagnetic structures. Mechanical design Work Environment Assignment will take place in an indoor lab setting with some outdoor work possible testing equipment. Must be able to work at a computer with detailed and complex textual and numerical information. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Who You Are: You are enrolled in a four-year accredited university and are majoring in electrical engineering or computer science and can participate in an on-site co-op program. You have completed at least one year of undergraduate studies, two years preferred. You must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Total Rewards: Compensation The starting hourly rate of this position is between $17 - $22. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. **Housing assistance or stipends are not available for this position. Travel reimbursements up to $900 are available for qualifying relocation expenses. For more information about the Charlottesville area, please visit https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/ Application Instructions: Select the “Apply” button. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit https://public.nrao.edu/careers/ . If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to resumes@nrao.edu .