Scientist III

Visa Sponsored Job:

Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type:

Part time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Job Description Summary

We seek a motivated scientist to support the development and testing of the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) coupled with GOCART-2G aerosol chemistry and interfaced with the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) system. This position will contribute to enhancing satellite data assimilation and conducting experiments using the end-to-end cycling workflow for our next-generation, online-coupled community analysis and forecasting system within the NSF NCAR’s Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology (MMM) laboratory.

The scientist will contribute to ongoing activities that support operational research needs and ensure robust, efficient, and reproducible data assimilation (DA) cycling capabilities. As part of team efforts, development and maintenance activities may include integrating numerical modeling, data processing, observation operators, advanced DA algorithms, post-processing tools, and cycling infrastructure with workflow scripts, as needed. The scientist will work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research
environment and will analyze results with sound scientific interpretation to improve the use of satellite information in atmospheric composition and weather forecasting applications, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Job Description

Job Location: Boulder, Colorado

Job Type: Hybrid, approximately 50% schedule minimum requirement in Boulder office

Position Type & Term: 0.6 FTE (24 hours/week), Regular, Term (Duration: 1 year; Possibility of renewal based on performance and funding)
 

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59 PM MT on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Required application materials: (preferably uploaded as a PDF):

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter - Please address how your skills and experience meet the needs of this position (for more information, please refer to the Key Responsibilities and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities sections of this job posting).

Visa Sponsorship: Available to eligible candidate

*Please note: UCAR can sponsor individuals for H-1B status only if they are already in the U.S. in H-1B status or another visa status that allows them to change to H-1B status within the U.S. UCAR is unable to sponsor new H-1B visas for individuals who are outside the U.S. and need to obtain H-1B status through Consular Processing.

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.
Work Location: Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on the assimilation of remote sensing products. This may include developing, evaluating, and refining algorithms for data processing, quality control, bias correction, and error characterization of all-sky radiances and aerosol remote sensing datasets, contributing to enhancements of the MPAS-GOCART2G-JEDI system.

• Design and perform cycling experiments to assess the impact of satellite data assimilation and analyze the results with scientific interpretation.

• Prepare research findings for presentation at conferences and for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Assist with the preparation of project reports or progress summaries as needed.

• Designs and executes scientific analyses; develops, and adapts, and/or tests hypotheses, models and/or tools.

• Contributes to papers, reports, technical documentation, data sets, findings, and/or proposals.

• Mentors less experienced colleagues, collaborates across disciplines, and supports proposal development to advance scientific goals through high-quality, methodologically sound work.

• Engages in mission-aligned activities both within the organization and throughout the broader scientific community.

• Contributes through a combination of scientific expertise, professional service, and education and outreach efforts.

Responsibilities

• Designing and executing scientific investigations or analyses using established and/or emerging methods to address defined research, operational, or applied science questions.

• Developing or adapting tools, models, or methods to support data collection, processing, analysis, system evaluation, or experimental workflows.

• Performing detailed analysis and interpretation of observational, experimental, or model-generated data, contributing to new insights or improvements in scientific understanding.

• Leading or contributing to components of a larger project or small project teams through coordination of activities, deliverables, and technical direction across collaborators.

• Authoring or co-authoring peer-reviewed publications, technical documentation, data sets, findings, project reports, and/or proposals, and presenting findings in internal, sponsor, or scientific community settings.

• Collaborating across disciplines and institutions, contributing technical expertise to team-based projects and enhancing interdisciplinary research or operational outcomes.

• Supporting proposal development and project planning activities by contributing to scoping, technical writing, and alignment with programmatic objectives.

• Providing technical guidance to less experienced staff/students, mentoring on methods, tools, and best practices while engaging in and modeling inclusive team participation.

• Developing products, tools, instruments and/or technologies for projects and programs.

Requirements

Education

Ph.D. degree within the last 5 years or expected within the next 6 months in atmospheric science, computer science, statistics, or a
related area.

Knowledge

• Has solid knowledge in a relevant scientific field, with an ability to apply theories, methods, or frameworks to complex or interdisciplinary problems.

• Is familiar with project planning and proposal development, including scoping technical work, aligning with program goals, and supporting deliverable management.

Skills and Abilities

• Is skilled in developing or refining scientific tools, workflows, or models, including quality assurance and integration with broader project efforts.

• Is skilled in using data analysis tools used for data preparation, visualization, or workflow automation.

• Is committed to mentoring with the ability to guide less experienced colleagues on methods, tools, and collaborative practices.

• Is capable of contributing to peer-reviewed publications, sponsor reports, or presentations, with clear and accurate scientific communication tailored to varied audiences.

• Collaborates effectively within multidisciplinary teams, integrating diverse inputs and fostering productive working relationships.

• Demonstrates the ability to design and carry out analyses or investigative tasks independently using established methods, adapting approaches as needed.

Specific to this particular Scientist III role:

REQUIRED

• Advanced understanding of numerical weather or chemistry modeling.

• Experience with WRF-Chem, MPAS, or other community modeling systems.

• Demonstrated skill in scripting languages (e.g., python/shell), especially related to tests on supercomputers.

• Familiarity with satellite data assimilation or coupled atmosphere-chemistry modeling

• Experience with workflow automation tools or shell scripting for high-performance computing systems

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a research team.

• Excellent time management and organization skills.

• Demonstrated and effective written and oral communication skills.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Demonstrated knowledge of assimilating remote sensing data.

• Knowledge of emissions inventories for chemical modeling.

• Experience with WRFDA, GSI, JEDI, or other community data assimilation systems

• Experience with remote sensing products.

Benefits Overview 

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits. In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance,  UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

• Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities.

• UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one.

• Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions).

• 10 paid holidays.

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

• Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary.

• EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost.

Commitment to Job Application Fairness

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

Some Final Considerations

At NSF NCAR| UCAR | UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science  problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations and work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

AI Software

ChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing the way society receives, processes, and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications, we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.