Oceanographic Technology Specialist II - Coastal Modeler

Ocean Associates, Inc.; Arlington (VA); Remote; USD 54,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Associates, Inc. seeks a full-time Oceanographic Technical Specialist II Coastal Modeler to advance NOAA operational coastal forecast systems.

You will develop a modular, YAML-driven Python framework, integrate coastal models with WaveWatchIII and atmospheric forcing, and build containerized environments for reliable, open-source collaboration. Ideal candidates have 3+ years in numerical ocean modeling, HPC workflows, and strong programming skills, with a PhD/masters in a related field.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Coastal Engineering, Physical Oceanography, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or a related discipline; 3+ years in numerical ocean modeling and HPC workflow development.
• Extensive computing skills: Python, shell scripts, Fortran, MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and configuration management of the Python/YAML-based NOS-workflow framework.
• Implement and maintain workflow suites conforming to NOAA standards on NOAA HPC infrastructure.
• Develop and integrate UFS-Coastal coupled modeling components.
• Establish CI/CD pipelines and automated regression testing on NOAA RDHPCS platforms.
• Build and support containerized environments (Docker/Apptainer/Singularity).
• Conduct coastal ocean and wave model evaluations and performance optimization for storm surge and inundation forecasting.

Skills

Python

Fortran

MATLAB

Shell scripts

HPC

Education

Master's or PhD in Coastal Engineering/Physical Oceanography/Applied Mathematics/Computer Science

Tools

GitHub Actions

Docker

Apptainer/Singularity

SCHISM

ROMS

ADCIRC

FVCOM

UFS-Coastal

Job description

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking a full-time Oceanographic Technical Specialist II Coastal Modeler to support the NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) in Silver Spring, MD. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts.

Background

CO-OPS is the authoritative source for accurate, reliable, and timely tides, water levels, currents, and other coastal oceanographic and meteorological information. Offering services that support safe and efficient maritime commerce and transportation, help protect public health and safety, and promote robust, resilient coastal communities. CO-OPS maintains ocean observing infrastructure, including more than 200 permanent water level stations on the U.S. coasts and Great Lakes, an integrated system of real-time sensors concentrated in busy seaports, and temporary meters that collect observations for tidal current predictions. Through these systems, CO-OPS provides the nation with historic and real-time data, forecasts, predictions, and scientific analyses that protect life, the economy, and the environment on the coast.

This position serves as a technical and systems developer responsible for advancing, modernizing, and orchestrating NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) operational coastal ocean forecast systems. The incumbent drives the transition toward modern software infrastructure by developing and maintaining NOS-workflow as a unified, modular, YAML-driven Python framework and integrating coastal modeling capabilities into NOAAs Unified Forecast System (UFS-Coastal). The role bridges coastal ocean modeling, High-Performance Computing (HPC), coupled Earth system modeling, and NCEP Central Operations (NCO) standards for operational model implementation.

Tasks

• Workflow Framework and Orchestration: Lead the design, development, and configuration management of the Python/YAML-based NOS-workflow framework to standardize job execution, preprocessing, model execution, and post-processing across all NOS Operational Forecast Systems.
• NOAA Operational Model Compliance and Operations: Implement and maintain workflow suites conforming strictly to NOAA operational standards and directory structures on NOAA operational supercomputing infrastructure.
• UFS-Coastal and Model Coupling: Develop and integrate ESMF/NUOPC coupled modeling components (UFS-Coastal), enabling seamless coupling between coastal ocean hydrodynamics (SCHISM, ADCIRC, ROMS, FVCOM) and wave models (WaveWatchIII), atmospheric, and hydrologic forcing models (CDEPS/CMEPS).
• CI/CD and Automated Testing: Establish Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions) and automated regression testing suites on NOAA RDHPCS platforms (Hera, Orion, Hercules) to verify code reproducibility and numerical accuracy prior to operational deployment.
• Containerized Development Environments: Build and support containerized environments (Docker/Apptainer/Singularity) emulating operational stacks to facilitate open-source, community-driven development and onboarding.
• Coastal Modeling Research to Operations (R2O): Conduct coastal ocean and wave model evaluations, validation against observational baselines, and performance optimization for storm surge, inundation, and circulation forecasting.

Start Date: As soon as possible

Location: Silver Spring, MD (Telework Eligible)

Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time position with benefits. Salary, commensurate with experience, between $39.00 - $44.00 per hour.

Requirements

• Masters or Ph.D. degree in Coastal Engineering, Physical Oceanography, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related discipline, with 3+ years of experience in numerical ocean modeling and HPC workflow development. A PhD and four years of experience in one of the above fields may be substituted for the masters degree and eight years of experience.
• Must understand oceanographic principles, theories, and practices, as well as oceanographic, atmospheric, riverine, and/or hydrologic models.
• Extensive computing skills (e.g., Python, shell scripts, Fortran, MATLAB)
• Experience with High Performance Computing systems
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems, Microsoft Office applications, and Googles Collaboration Suite (e.g., Docs, Sheets, and Slides).
• Experience in oceanographic and model data analysis, validation, and assessment using statistical methods.
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of a team, are required.
• Must have strong organization skills, attention to detail, and a demonstrated ability to self-manage their workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively both individually and collaboratively in a team/group setting.
• Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement appropriate action.
• Applicants must have a Green Card, Permanent US Residency, or US Citizenship to gain access to Supercomputer capabilities required for CO-OPS Coastal Modeler positions.