Chief Atmospheric Scientist & Strategy Lead — Equity

Socket.dev; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Significant equity

Job summary

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Atmospheric Research for a startup-building rainfall enhancement technology. You will lead atmospheric science, connect validation with deployment, and guide modeling, data assimilation, and validation activities across teams.

The role offers substantial equity, expects 50–60 hour weeks at times, and involves frequent travel with weekends worked. Based in the SF Bay Area or New Mexico, with a flexible in-person/remote balance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in atmospheric science, meteorology, physics, CS, data science, or related field.
• Extensive experience with WRF, WRFDA, DART, or similar data assimilation systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python, Fortran, or C++.
• Experience with Linux, HPC, and cloud computing environments.
• Proven track record leading technical teams in fast-paced startup settings.

Responsibilities

• Set scientific strategy for evaluating atmospheric conditions and deployment windows.
• Integrate forecasts, observations, and field data into clear assessments.
• Lead WRF modeling program for deployment planning and scenario analysis.
• Architect data assimilation workflows using WRFDA, DART, or similar tools.
• Build operational modeling chain for high-resolution WRF simulations.
• Evaluate AI weather models and provide decision-support insights.
• Lead scientific direction, recruit and mentor staff, and collaborate with partners.

Skills

Atmospheric science

Meteorology

Python

Fortran

C++

Technical leadership

Data science

Machine learning

Education

Bachelor's degree in atmospheric science or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

WRF

WRFDA

DART

Linux

Cloud computing

High performance computing

Job description

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Atmospheric Research for a startup-building rainfall enhancement technology. You will lead atmospheric science, connect validation with deployment, and guide modeling, data assimilation, and validation activities across teams.

The role offers substantial equity, expects 50–60 hour weeks at times, and involves frequent travel with weekends worked. Based in the SF Bay Area or New Mexico, with a flexible in-person/remote balance.