Airborne Scientific Data Support Specialist

Science Systems and Applications, Inc.; Lanham (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Science Systems and Applications, Inc. seeks an Airborne Scientific Data Support Specialist to assist with airborne measurement campaigns, data processing, and data management workflows for NASA Earth science projects focusing on wildfires.

The role requires strong data processing skills, experience with Python/IDL/MATLAB, and the ability to deliver high-quality data products to researchers and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 6+ years in related fields or equivalent experience.
• Experience managing scientific data workflows including ingest, QC, and delivery pipelines.
• Proficiency in Python/IDL/MATLAB for data processing and analysis.
• Experience developing data visualizations for researchers and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with airborne remote sensing instruments or multi-sensor data integration.
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency required.

Responsibilities

• Process and quality-check low-level airborne science data.
• Integrate data from multiple airborne sensors.
• Generate science data products for researchers and user community.
• Calibrate, validate, and format airborne sensor data.
• Develop and maintain data processing workflows.
• Troubleshoot data processing and quality issues.
• Automate data processing using scripts and tools.
• Document processing procedures and metadata.
• Archive and distribute science datasets following standards.
• Support scientists with data analysis and product delivery.

Skills

Data workflow management

Data visualization

Airborne data handling

Scientific programming experience

Education

Master's degree in Atmospheric Science / Earth Science / Computer Science

Bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science / Earth science / computer science or related

Tools

Python

IDL

MATLAB

Job description

Overview

Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) is seeking an Airborne Scientific Data Support Specialist to assist with airborne measurement campaigns, data processing, and data management workflows in support of NASA Earth science related to wildfires.

Key Responsibilities

• Process and quality-check low-level airborne science data.
• Integrate data from multiple airborne sensors.
• Generate science data products for researchers and the user community.
• Calibrate, validate, and format airborne sensor data.
• Develop and maintain data processing workflows.
• Troubleshoot data processing and quality issues.
• Automate data processing using scripts and tools.
• Document processing procedures and metadata.
• Archive and distribute science datasets following set standards.
• Support scientists with data analysis and product delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree (M.S.) in Atmospheric Science, Earth Science, Computer Science or other related discipline and a minimum of 6 years in the field or in a related area, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing scientific data workflows, including data ingest, quality control, and delivery pipelines.
• Proficiency in scientific programming languages such as Python, IDL, MATLAB, or similar tools is required for data processing and analysis tasks.
• Experience developing data visualizations to communicate campaign results to scientific and stakeholder audiences.
• Familiarity with airborne remote sensing instruments, field campaign data, or multi-sensor data integration is required.
• The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science, Earth science, computer science, or a related discipline.
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency required.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with NASA airborne science campaigns is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with cloud-based data management platforms or NASA data archives is a plus.

Note: The actual salary offered will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications, and other job-related criteria deemed relevant to the position.

EEO/AA Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear and occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.