Oceanographic Technology Specialist II - Coastal Modeler

Ocean Associates, Inc.; Silver Spring (MD); Remote; USD 54,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking a full-time Oceanographic Technology Specialist II Coastal Modeler to support NOAA CO-OPS in Silver Spring, MD. This role focuses on modernizing NOS-workflow in a YAML-driven Python framework and integrating coastal models with UFS-Coastal.

The position requires 3+ years in numerical ocean modeling, HPC workflow development, and strong communication skills. Remote work within the United States is possible, with compensation $39.00–$44.00 per hour and full

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a related field with 3+ years in numerical ocean modeling and HPC workflow development
• Experience with HPC systems
• Proficiency with Windows and Linux
• Experience in oceanographic data analysis and validation using statistics
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• US work eligibility (Green Card, permanent residency or citizenship)

Responsibilities

• Lead the NOS-workflow framework design, development and config mgmt
• Ensure NOAA operational standards compliance and directory structures
• Develop and integrate ESFM/NUOPC coupled components (UFS-Coastal)
• Establish CI/CD pipelines and automated testing on NOAA RDHPCS platforms
• Build and support containerized environments (Docker/Apptainer/Singularity)
• Conduct coastal modeling research to operations and validation

Skills

HPC workflows

Python

YAML

Coastal modeling

CI/CD pipelines

Docker / Apptainer / Singularity

Team collaboration

Strong communication

Education

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

Tools

ESMF/NUOPC

UFS-Coastal

WaveWatchIII

Schism / ADCIRC / ROMS / FVCOM

NOAA RDHPCS environments

GitHub Actions

Docker / Apptainer / Singularity

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Oceanographic Technology Specialist II - Coastal Modeler

Remote-United States

5 days ago Requisition ID: 1774

Salary Range: $39.00 To $44.00 Hourly

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact Ocean Associates at 703-388-9548 to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

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 NOAA’s 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 & 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 & Operations: Implement and maintain workflow suites conforming strictly to NOAA operational standards and directory structures on NOAA operational supercomputing infrastructure.
• UFS-Coastal & 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 & 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

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

Requirements

• Master’s 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 master’s degree and eight years of experience.
• Must understand oceanographic principles, theories, and practices, as well as oceanographic, atmospheric, riverine, and/or hydrologic models.
• Experience with High Performance Computing systems
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems, Microsoft Office applications, and Google’s 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.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check. OAI does not discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law.

OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to self-identify their veteran status. OAI is required to use the information it collects as part of its future affirmative action efforts in hiring. The information is collected anonymously by computer and is not connected to your application. You will see a place to check a box in OAI's online application. Even though the information is anonymous, self-identification is voluntary. You can always check the box that says you decline to self-identify.

Note: If you are not selected, your materials may be retained for present or future opportunities. We may use your resume in bidding on a project and if we are awarded the work, we will contact you before seeking further applicants. If you do not wish us to retain or use your resume to seek work for you, please let us know in the "Notes" section on the second page of the online application.