Physical Scientist – All-sky and All-surface Radiance Satellite Data Assimilation

Lynker

. Support the Office of Modeling and Development (OMD) of the National Weather Service (NWS) in research, development, and operational transition work related to satellite data assimilation for operational applications of the Unified Forecast System (UFS) .

Posted 9/29/2026full-timeCollege Park • Maryland • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $75,000 - $120,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in data assimilation techniques for satellite data, particularly in the context of numerical weather prediction. Proficient in utilizing advanced programming languages and high-performance computing platforms to enhance operational applications of the Unified Forecast System.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Data AssimilationRadiative Transfer ModelingObject-Oriented FORTRANPython ProgrammingHigh Performance Computing (HPC)

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data AssimilationRadiative Transfer ModelingObject-Oriented FORTRANPython ProgrammingC++ ProgrammingUNIX EnvironmentAdvanced Scripting LanguagesNumerical Weather Prediction ModelsVariational Data Assimilation TechniquesCoupled Earth System Models

Soft Skills

Good Oral CommunicationGood Written Communication

Tools & Technologies

Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM)Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration (JEDI)High Performance Computing (HPC) PlatformsMPIOpenMPSlurmLSF

Industry Keywords

Numerical Weather PredictionSatellite Data AssimilationGeophysical ModelingAll-Sky/All-Surface Satellite RadiancesImpact Assessments

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSPythonUnixC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support the Office of Modeling and Development (OMD) of the National Weather Service (NWS) in research, development, and operational transition work related to satellite data assimilation for operational applications of the Unified Forecast System (UFS)
Develop, execute, test, and evaluate innovative techniques to enhance direct assimilation of all-sky/all-surface satellite radiances
Work collaboratively with OMD scientists and external collaborators
Develop innovative all-sky/all-surface satellite radiance data assimilation capabilities for UFS applications, emphasizing global medium-range numerical weather prediction
Utilize the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM)
Leverage and contribute to the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation, including the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) project
Develop or enhance techniques for assimilating microwave radiance data from prototype and operational low Earth orbit satellites, including the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS), in all-sky and heterogeneous surface conditions
Improve quality control, bias correction, and/or observation error specification, including through AI/ML techniques
Design, set up, and execute impact assessments and pre-implementation testing to facilitate transition to operations
Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Knowledge of data assimilation with focus on the assimilation of satellite data for numerical weather prediction
Knowledge of the physical and mathematical basis of geophysical modeling (atmospheric and/or environmental) and experience running advanced numerical weather prediction models
Advanced knowledge of radiative transfer and experience with radiative transfer modeling for data assimilation, such as the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) or Radiative Transfer for TOVS (RTTOV)
Knowledge and experience of modern programming languages such as object-oriented FORTRAN, Python, and/or C++
Experience working in a UNIX environment with advanced scripting languages
Good oral and written communication skills in English
Experience in running numerical models on High Performing Computer (HPC) platforms using MPI, OpenMP, Slurm, LSF, etc.
Familiarity with variational data assimilation techniques
Familiarity with the assimilation of satellite radiances impacted by clouds and precipitation
Experience with coupled earth system models
Knowledge of modern software engineering practices (requirements gathering, design, prototyping, version control, integration, testing, and documentation)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
Flexible spending accounts
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Life and accident insurance
Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
Employee Referral Program
Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
Personalized career growth plans for every employee