Instrument Design & Engineering for the Airborne Meteorological Measurement System

ORAU; California (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent federal research program is seeking a postdoctoral assistant in California. This role involves engaging with advanced meteorological instrumentation to support NASA’s projects. Candidates will have opportunities to collaborate on developing software for instrumentation, participate in flight campaigns, and contribute to scientific data analysis focused on atmospheric processes. A PhD in a relevant field and experience in analytical instrumentation are required. This position supports vital research in earth science and atmospheric dynamics.

Qualifications

• PhD in electrical engineering or a closely related field.
• Previous laboratory and or field experience.
• Experience developing analytical instrumentation for meteorological measurements.
• Ability to work as a team member on various projects.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Willing to travel for field campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Join the Atmospheric Science Branch to work with meteorological instrumentation.
• Modernize legacy MMS instrument with software development.
• Participate in NASA-sponsored flight campaigns and scientific data analysis.
• Encourage collaborations with researchers at NASA Ames.

Skills

Team collaboration

Good written and verbal communication skills

Laboratory and field experience

Analytical instrumentation

Meteorological measurements

Software development (C, Python, Fortran)

Willingness to travel

Education

PhD in electrical engineering or closely related field

Tools

C

Python

Fortran

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0148-NPP-NOV26-ARC-EarthSci

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org). A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

Application Deadline

11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

The Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) is a state-of-the-art airborne instrument for measuring accurate, high resolution in situ state parameters such as pressure, temperature, and three-dimensional wind vectors. These key meteorological measurements enable our understanding of atmospheric dynamics, chemistry and microphysical processes. MMS measurements are critical for investigating a variety of atmospheric mesoscale (e.g., gravity waves) and microscale (e.g., turbulence) phenomena. The MMS group in the Atmospheric Sciences Branch of the Earth Science Division at NASA Ames Research Center (https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/mms) has a long history of providing research-quality, in situ meteorological measurements on multiple platforms as part of over 30 airborne missions since the 1980s.

We are looking for a postdoctoral assistant with research interests in meteorological instrumentation to join the Atmospheric Science Branch. This will involve working primarily with hardware, with possible opportunities to develop software (C, Python, Fortran) to modernize the legacy MMS instrument. This position will afford opportunities to participate in NASA-sponsored flight campaigns, and contribute to scientific data analysis. Development of secondary projects which foster collaborations with other researchers both at NASA Ames and externally is also encouraged.

Field of Science

Earth Science

Advisors

Kristen Okorn

[e-mail]

[phone]

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.

Eligibility

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Eligibility is currently open to:

• U.S. Citizens
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Qualifications

• PhD in electrical engineering or a closely related field.
• Previous laboratory and or field experience.
• Experience developing and working with analytical instrumentation, preferably for meteorological or atmospheric measurements.
• Ability to work as a member of a team on various projects.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for field campaigns.

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Questions about this opportunity? Please email [e-mail]