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Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Tech Stack

Observatory operator managing NSF and NASA astronomical research facilities

Research Services Washington, District of Columbia 1,001–5,000 employees Founded 1957 Nonprofit

AURA operates three major research centers—NOIRLab, NSO, and STScI—on behalf of the NSF and NASA, managing telescopes and instruments across optical, infrared, solar, and space-based astronomy. The stack reveals dual engineering tracks: control systems (Rockwell Automation, Beckhoff TwinCAT, HMI) for telescope operations alongside modern data infrastructure (Python, PostgreSQL, Django, InfluxDB, Grafana) for archival and analysis. Active hiring is concentrated in engineering roles with senior-level seniority mix, while pain points around legacy document management and network modernization suggest ongoing infrastructure maturation.

Tech Stack 37 technologies

Core StackLinux SolidWorks Confluence Python Jira C++ Grafana InfluxDB Redis PostgreSQL Django Bootstrap JavaScript Ruby Go Rockwell Automation Beckhoff TwinCAT Microsoft Project Microsoft 365 HMI macOS Windows Google Drive Dropbox Vista JWST CMMS Microsoft Office Zemax C+7 more

What Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Is Building

◆Challenges

Transition from design to construction
System efficiency improvement
Compliance with government award terms
Balancing cost and schedule
Modernizing global network
Maintaining scientific data integrity
Performance bottlenecks
Managing legacy documents
Inefficient information access
Seeking external funding

▲Active Projects

Nggong design phase
Design and implementation of it systems
Dark sky discovery program
Telescope control middleware and backend services
Service desk platform support
Dark energy spectroscopic instrument survey
Neid radial velocity follow up
Archiving legacy documents
Optimizing information platforms
Analysis of desi data to decipher evolutionary trends of active galactic nuclei

Hiring Activity

Accelerating30 roles · 15 in 30d

Department

Engineering

13

Ops

5

Research

3

Support

3

Communications

1

Data

1

Education

1

HR

1

Seniority

Senior

13

Mid

9

Junior

4

Intern

1

Lead

1

Notable leadership hires: Automation & Electronics Lead, Associate Director

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About Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

AURA is a nonprofit consortium of 47 US institutions and 3 international partners that designs, builds, and operates world-class astronomical observatories. The organization manages three operational centers: the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), the National Solar Observatory (NSO), and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). Revenue and mission funding derive from NSF and NASA grants. Current portfolio spans telescope control systems, data processing pipelines (DESI spectroscopic survey, NEID radial velocity instruments), archive platforms, and public outreach programs. The organization spans 1,001–5,000 employees across the United States and Chile.

HeadquartersWashington, District of Columbia

Company Size1,001–5,000 employees

Founded1957

Hiring MarketsUnited States, Chile

Frequently Asked Questions

What tech stack does AURA use for telescope operations?

Telescope control relies on Rockwell Automation and Beckhoff TwinCAT HMI systems. Data pipelines and archival infrastructure use Python, PostgreSQL, Django, InfluxDB, and Grafana. Supporting tools include SolidWorks (instrument design), Zemax (optical modeling), and Jira (project tracking).

What observatories does AURA operate?

AURA operates three centers for the NSF and NASA: NOIRLab (optical-infrared), NSO (solar), and STScI (space telescope science). Current projects include the DESI dark energy spectroscopic survey and NEID radial velocity follow-up observations.