scientific programmer Boulder, CO
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Job Summary
The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), a partnership of the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has a job opening for a Data Assimilation Scientific Programmer at the NOAA Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) located in Boulder Colorado.
The Data Assimilation Branch (DAB) within GSL’s Assimilation, Scientific Computing, and Evaluation Novel Division (ASCEND) develops operational model capabilities for multiple applications, including aviation, severe weather, renewable energy, and general forecasting. The Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) is a high-spatial and temporal resolution assimilation system that supports the National Weather Service and interested parties with analyses for nowcasting and situational awareness, and serves as an Analysis of Record for forecast verification, calibration/bias-correction, and accelerated Unified Forecast System (UFS) development. RTMA development will use the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration (JEDI) software. GSL collaboratively develops the RTMA with scientists and engineers at the Environmental Modeling Center (EMC). RTMA development is closely related to and overlaps with the development of the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) which aims to more faithfully represent atmospheric convection, clouds, fire weather conditions, and other weather hazards.
The Scientific Programmer will use and advance the JEDI software for RTMA and RRFS applications. In particular, work toward continuous assimilation approaches, analysis uncertainty estimation, and analysis of complex physical diagnostics will be prioritized. The development will take place in both NOAA High-Performance Computing environments and cloud computing environments. The candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to experimental and future operational RTMA prototypes including real-time experiments and the evaluation of RTMA by developers and interested parties. The candidate will work collaboratively with the GSL and EMC development teams, as well as the larger RRFS and UFS modeling community.
Who We Are
CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is a research institute within the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 800 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.
GSL is one of ten NOAA Research laboratories and is located in Boulder, Colorado. The GSL researchers develop innovative weather and air quality models, state-of-the-science decision support tools, and visualization systems, and use high-performance computing technology to support a Weather-Ready Nation. GSL strives to advance its workforce scientifically, technically, and professionally. We are also committed to increased diversity equity, inclusion, and accessibility as well as a strong foundation for career growth.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Responsibilities for all applicants
- Develop, test, and evaluate future operational RTMA prototypes.
- Implement techniques to estimate RTMA analysis uncertainty and/or provide analysis of complex physical diagnostics.
- Use and advance JEDI software for RTMA/RRFS applications.
- Work collaboratively via version control software, communication, and presentations with the team.
- Adopt novel data assimilation techniques to improve RTMA/RRFS applications.
- In addition to the duties identified above, within CIRES/NOAA GSL, a Research Scientist is also responsible for conducting original research and/or supporting research through work in the field of Atmospheric Sciences.
- Outreach, education, and service activities are also important components of a Research Scientist’s effort.
What You Should Know
- This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the David Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305, on a federal research campus.
- This position requires strong programming skills and a 1-or-more-page statement is required to detail current and past programming experience (please see “Special Instructions to Applicants” section).
- The selected finalist will be required to pass a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI, federal background investigation). Non-US citizens without green cards will have limited building access, and require an escort in the building.
- Due to project requirements, the targeted start date is on, or before, November 1, 2023.
What We Can Offer
- CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
- The annual hiring salary range for this position is $65,000-$140,000 for an Associate Scientist and $68,000-$140,000 for a Research Scientist. Salary is commensurate with education and years of experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
- This position may accommodate a hybrid or fully-remote work environment at the discretion of the supervisor.
- Relocation funds are available for this role following CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder’s rules and regulations for relocation reimbursement.
- Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues. Boulder was recently ranked as one of the top places to live in the U.S. by U.S. News.
- As an employee at CU Boulder, you receive a pass allowing free access to the regional public transit system, which is an outstanding network of buses and light rail systems that provide service within Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.
Benefits
Be Statements
What We Require
Requirements for all applicants:
- A B.S. degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, computer science, physics, mathematics, or another STEM field and at least 3 years of post-baccalaureate experience working on software development or data assimilation, OR
- An M.S. degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, computer science, physics, mathematics, or another STEM field and at least 1 year of experience working on software development or data assimilation.
- Finalists for this position will need to pass a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI, federal background check).
- Ph.D. in meteorology, atmospheric science, computer science, physics, mathematics, or another STEM field.
What You Will Need
- Strong programming skills in C++, or OOP Fortran, or a comparable modern OOP language (such as Java, Objective-C, etc).
- Ability to use a version control system (e.g. Git/GitHub).
- Ability to work within high-performance computing environments.
- Ability to thrive both independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to take initiative to complete analytical research projects.
Additional need for Research Scientist:
What We Would Like You to Have
Please note that while the position details both required and preferred skills and experience, we invite applicants to apply even if they do not have the preferred skills and experience outlined in this section. If you meet the requirements and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.
- Three or more years of experience with either C++ or OOP Fortran for candidates without atmospheric data assimilation knowledge.
- Experience with meteorological data assimilation (JEDI, GSI, or DART, etc).
- Experience with Python and/or Linux Shell scripting languages.
- Experience with one or more of the following software: scientific data formats (grib2, netCDF, BUFR), CMake, Slurm.
- Experience with NOAA's UFS short-range weather application.
- Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Resume or CV.
- A dedicated one-or-more-page "Programming Skill" section in your Resume or CV, outlining your current and previous programming experience, along with any notable demonstrations of strong programming proficiency.
- Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
- Contact information (name, title, affiliation, email) for 2 references familiar with your professional qualifications for the position. You don’t need to include letters of recommendation with your initial application. If you are identified as a finalist for this role, the search committee will request letters of recommendation at a later time.
If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.
This position will remain posted until finalists have been identified. Applications received by July 26th, 2023 will receive full consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
