Lead Ensemble Weather Prediction Scientist

Colorado State University; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) seeks a full-time Research Scientist to lead development of next-generation ensemble numerical weather prediction systems in collaboration with NOAA GSL EPAD. The role focuses on scientific leadership, method development, and hypothesis-driven experiments to improve probabilistic forecasts.

The position reports to the CIRA Associate Director and supports high-resolution regional/global ensembles with

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science or related field.
• 7+ years developing, executing, and evaluating forecasts from numerical weather prediction systems.
• 3+ years experience in Fortran and/or C++, Python, HPC, and Linux computing environments.
• 3+ years formulating scientific priorities as it relates to numerical weather prediction.
• Experience communicating scientific results through conferences, seminars, technical reports or publications.
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a Green Card and eligible for background checks.

Responsibilities

• Serve as scientific lead for high‑resolution ensemble weather prediction system development.
• Lead implementation and refinement of current-generation ensemble prediction methods.
• Contribute to development of novel high‑resolution ensemble methods including mixed physics-based and data-driven ensembles.
• Design, conduct, and evaluate hypothesis-driven experiments to test innovations for improving probabilistic skill.
• Lead verification of ensemble systems using state-of-the-art methods and develop new ones.
• Prepare briefing materials and publish scientific content.

Skills

Fortran

C++

Python

HPC

Linux

Scientific communication

Education

Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science or related field

Tools

NOAA Unified Forecast System (UFS)

WRF model

MPAS

Job description

Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) seeks a full-time Research Scientist to lead development of next-generation ensemble numerical weather prediction systems in collaboration with NOAA GSL EPAD. The role focuses on scientific leadership, method development, and hypothesis-driven experiments to improve probabilistic forecasts.

The position reports to the CIRA Associate Director and supports high-resolution regional/global ensembles with