Meteorologist

ERT; College Park (MD); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Rx, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401(k) retirement plan with company-matching

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Membership Reimbursement

Publication and Conference Presentation Awards

Job summary

A climate research organization is seeking a Meteorologist to support drought outlook projects at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. This role involves producing and evaluating drought forecasts, conducting research on flash drought predictability, and presenting findings. Candidates should have a Master's degree in atmospheric science or hydrology and strong programming skills in Python and MATLAB. The position requires 40% in-office presence in College Park, MD, with a competitive salary range of $46,000 - $221,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of major modes of climate variability.
• Ability to apply statistical postprocessing methods.
• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Responsibilities

• Post-process S2S dynamical model forecasts.
• Produce and evaluate S2S forecasts for drought.
• Perform research on flash drought predictability.
• Develop probabilistic flash drought forecasts.
• Present findings at conferences.
• Write technical reports and scientific papers.

Skills

Knowledge of S2S drought predictability

5+ years experience analyzing atmospheric data

Experience running land surface models

Strong programming capabilities in Python, Fortran, MATLAB, Unix

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Education

MS in atmospheric science, meteorology or hydrology

PhD preferred

Job description

Meteorologist • ERT

ERT is seeking a Meteorologist to support drought outlook tasks at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The position is an integral part of CPC projects on developing probabilistic Subseasonal-to-Seasonal (S2S) drought outlooks for the United States (U.S.), with a focus on flash drought on subseasonal timescale.

Duties

• Post-processing S2S dynamical model forecasts by applying existing bias‑correction and calibration methods
• Producing and evaluating S2S forecasts for various drought types (e.g., meteorological, agricultural, hydrological) as well as their integrated drought forecasts, with a focus on flash drought
• Performing research to investigate flash drought predictability and developing methods to improve flash drought prediction
• Developing objective flash drought blends and producing real‑time probabilistic flash drought forecasts
• Working with a diverse group of drought scientists, operational drought forecasters, external social scientists, stakeholders, and users, and incorporating their feedback in the development of probabilistic flash drought forecasts
• Presenting research findings and drought products at scientific conferences and user/stakeholder meetings
• Writing technical reports and scientific papers relevant to the project

Required Skills

• Knowledge of S2S drought predictability, prediction, and underlying climate processes, including major modes of climate variability
• At least 5 years of experience analyzing atmospheric, land, and oceanic phenomena in large observational and dynamical model forecast datasets
• Experience running land surface models, analyzing model outputs and interpreting model results
• Ability to understand and apply existing statistical postprocessing methods to enhance the skill of S2S dynamical model forecasts
• Strong programming capabilities in Python, Fortran, MATLAB, and Unix scripting
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and be able to pass a background investigation to obtain a security badge to enter the applicable government facility

Education

MS in atmospheric science, meteorology or hydrology; PhD preferred

Location

This position supports work at NOAA's College Park, MD facility with some telework permitted. 40% in‑office presence is required.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $46,000 - 221,000/year. This range is a good faith estimate based on similar roles across the organization. ERT considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including the location, scope, and associated responsibilities of the specific position, as well as a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

Benefits

All full‑time employees are eligible to participate in our flexible benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, Rx, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company‑matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short‑Term & Long‑Term Disability
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Professional Membership Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Competitive compensation plan
• Discretionary variable incentive bonuses based on factors such as individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance
• Publication and Conference Presentation Awards with bonuses

ERT is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and Equal Opportunity Employer - All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at ERT by 2x

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Science and Research

Industries: Research Services and Climate Data and Analytics