All-sky/All-surface Radiance Satellite Data Assimilation Physical Scientist

Axiom Consultants; College Park (MD); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/life insurance

401(k) matching

Job summary

Axiom invites applications for a hybrid role focused on research, development, and operational transition of satellite data assimilation for the Unified Forecast System (UFS). The candidate will develop and evaluate all-sky/all-surface radiance techniques and work with OMD scientists and collaborators to enable operational use.

Responsibilities include implementing CRTM-based methods, enhancing QC and error modelling with AI/ML where appropriate, and conducting pre-ops testing to facilitate

Qualifications

• Knowledge of satellite data assimilation for numerical weather prediction.
• Radiative transfer knowledge and modeling experience (CRTM/RTTOV).
• Programming in Python/C++/FORTRAN and UNIX environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop all-sky/all-surface satellite radiance data assimilation methods for UFS.
• Collaborate with OMD scientists and external partners on operational transition.
• Design tests to assess impact and support pre-implementation to operations.

Skills

Data assimilation

Radiative transfer

Python

C++

FORTRAN

UNIX scripting

Tools

CRTM

RTTOV

MPI

OpenMP

Slurm

LSF

Job description

Overview

Axiom is looking for a candidate to support the Office of Modeling and Development (OMD) of the National Weather Service (NWS) in carrying out research, development, and operational transition work related to satellite data assimilation for operational applications of the Unified Forecast System (UFS). The candidate's work will involve the development, execution, testing, and evaluation of innovative techniques to enhance the direct assimilation of "all-sky/all-surface" satellite radiances for use in operational environmental prediction capabilities at OMD.THIS IS A HYBRID ROLE.

Responsibilities

The candidate will perform the job duties in a collaborative environment, assisting developing and applying innovative methods for the primary work areas described below. The candidate will work with OMD scientists and external collaborators to develop innovative all-sky/all-surface satellite radiance data assimilation capabilities for use in applications of the UFS, with emphasis on global medium range numerical weather prediction. In particular, the candidate will utilize the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM). The work will leverage and contribute to the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation, including the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) project.

The successful candidate will work in the following areas:

• Develop new or enhance existing techniques for the assimilation of microwave radiance data made by prototype and operational low Earth orbit satellites such as the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) in all sky conditions and over heterogeneous surface conditions.
• Improve upon quality control, bias correction, and/or observation error specification, including through the use of AI/ML techniques, to enhance the assimilation of all-sky/all-surface satellite radiance data and AMVs.
• Design, setup, and execute impact assessment and pre-implementation testing to facilitate transition to operations.

Qualifications

Demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:

Required:

• 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.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder to and must live in US for 3-5 years prior to application

Desired

• 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).

Axiom offers competitive compensation packages including comprehensive medical/dental/life insurance and matching 401(k) contribution.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)