26-121 Numerical Weather Prediction Analyst

csusystem; United States; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University seeks a full-time research associate to lead design and evaluation of output from real-time and retrospective numerical weather and Earth system prediction experiments. The work focuses on MPAS-based models, regional and global forecast systems, and collaboration with GSL and EPAD teams in Boulder, CO.

Ideal candidates collaborate with model developers, interpret results, and translate findings into

Qualifications

• NOTE: In the body of your resume, please specifically address all required qualifications when describing your work experience. A resume that fails to specifically address the qualification

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with model developers, designs, conducts, and evaluates hypothesis-driven experiments to quantify forecast errors in regional and global, deterministic and ensemble, physics-based and data-driven weather forecast systems and/or test and evaluate improvements proposed to reduce those errors.
• Contributes to leading the planning, maintenance, and execution of real-time and retrospective regional and global deterministic and ensemble forecast systems.
• Provides scientific feedback to inform current and future development activities.
• Serves as a subject-matter expert on routine and field-campaign observations from in situ and remotely sensed platforms to inform model development and verification.
• Contributes to formulating, executing, and tracking priorities for physics and model development for regional and global deterministic and ensemble forecast systems.
• Prepares briefing materials and presentations for branch management, internal meetings, conferences, and workshops, and regularly publishes scientific content.

Job description

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University (CSU) seeks to fill a full-time research associate position designed to conduct collaborative research and development with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) located at the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) in Boulder, CO.

The individual in this position will work in the NOAA/OAR/GSL Earth Prediction Advancement Division (EPAD) Physics Branch.

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University is a multi-million-dollar research organization located on CSU's Foothills Campus in Fort Collins, Colorado.

CIRA is a cooperative institute that is also a research department within CSU's College of Engineering, in partnership with the Department of Atmospheric Science.

Its vision is to conduct interdisciplinary research in the atmospheric sciences by entraining skills beyond the meteorological disciplines, exploiting advances in engineering and computer science, facilitating transitional activity between pure and applied research, leveraging both national and international resources and partnerships, and assisting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CSU, the State of Colorado, and the Nation through the application of our research to areas of societal benefit.

NOAA's Global Systems Laboratory is a federal science and research laboratory under NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

GSL provides the National Weather Service (NWS) and the nation with environmental observation, prediction, computer, visualization, and information systems.

These systems deliver data, forecasts, and predictions of weather, including severe weather events, within the next few minutes to weeks away.

GSL is a leader in the applied research, directed development, and technology transfer of environmental data, models, products, and services that enhance environmental understanding with the outcome of supporting commerce, protecting life and property, and promoting a scientifically literate public.

Position Summary:

The individual in this position will lead the design and evaluation of output from real-time and retrospective, hypothesis-driven numerical weather and Earth system prediction model experiments. The outcomes of these experiments will be used to inform developments necessary to improve the forecast skill and physical fidelity of the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS)-based numerical weather and Earth system prediction models developed by GSL, including regional forecast systems such as NOAA's Rapid Refresh Forecast System and future global forecast systems. The individual in this position will work closely with model developers on designing appropriate experiments, interpreting results, and translating results into scientific feedback to inform model development priorities. This position will report to the Ensemble Prediction Scientist.

Full Consideration Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 11:59pm (MT).

Essential Job Duties:

• In collaboration with model developers, designs, conducts, and evaluates hypothesis-driven experiments to quantify forecast errors in regional and global, deterministic and ensemble, physics-based and data-driven weather forecast systems and/or test and evaluate improvements proposed to reduce those errors.
• Contributes to leading the planning, maintenance, and execution of real-time and retrospective regional and global deterministic and ensemble forecast systems.
• Provides scientific feedback to inform current and future development activities.
• Serves as a subject-matter expert on routine and field-campaign observations from in situ and remotely sensed platforms to inform model development and verification.
• Contributes to formulating, executing, and tracking priorities for physics and model development for regional and global deterministic and ensemble forecast systems.
• Prepares briefing materials and presentations for branch management, internal meetings, conferences, and workshops, and regularly publishes scientific content.

Conditions of Employment:

• While an onsite presence at GSL in Boulder, CO, is preferred, remote work options will be considered. If onsite, if project circumstances allow and with satisfactory performance, up to 2 days per week of telework may be allowed.
• This full-time position requires a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI), tier 1 federal background check and a NOAA Common Access Card (CAC) ID badge for systems access. Therefore, only US citizens and lawful permanent residents with a physical USCIS "Green Card" are eligible.

Supervision:

The individual in this position may eventually supervise up to two employees, as the project expands and funding is maintained.

Required Qualifications:

NOTE: In the body of your resume, please specifically address all required qualifications when describing your work experience. A resume that fails to specifically address the qualification