Physical Oceanographer II

IBSS Corp; Silver Spring (MD); Remote; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

IBSS Corp. seeks a Physical Oceanographer II to support NOAA CO-OPS from Silver Spring, MD, focusing on coastal resilience products derived from physical ocean data. Responsibilities include data analysis, prototype development, API services, and data automation.

The role emphasizes collaboration with NOS scientists, transitioning external research into operational environments, and building visualization tools with MATLAB, Python, and GIS capabilities. Remote-friendly within the DMV area.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field with four years of experience; PhD may substitute.
• Proficient in oceanographic data analysis and interpretation.
• Strong MATLAB and Python programming with data visualization.
• Experience with Git/GitHub, API development, and PostgreSQL.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Generate operational products from physical oceanographic data for coastal resilience.
• Review long-term water level databases monthly/annually for accuracy.
• Develop prototypes and visualizations using MATLAB and Python; publish notebooks.
• Analyze data and support automation and R&D for a national gridded product.
• Transition CORA data into CO-OPS; develop gridded APIs for coastal datasets.
• Develop APIs for gridded water level data and sea level projections.
• Support NOS scientists with interagency R&D and visualization of VLM data.
• Assist with QA/QC for data displays and decision-support products.
• Provide GIS and coding support to visualize sea level rise trends with VLM.

Skills

Data analysis

Statistical analysis

Technical writing

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in oceanography

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Jupyter/Colab

Git/GitHub

API development

PostgreSQL

Job description

Job Title: Physical Oceanographer II

Location: Remote, DMV area preferred

Clearance Required: Public Trust Clearance

Pay Range: $75,000-$80,000

Application Deadline: November 30, 2026

Job Description

IBSS is seeking a full-time Physical Oceanographer II to support the NOAA Ocean Service Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) in Silver Spring, MD. A well-qualified candidate will primarily support CO-OPS in researching needs and opportunities for new products, enhancing existing products, and generating operational products derived from physical oceanographic data that inform coastal resilience associated with climate and coastal hazards. If you are looking to be an instrumental part of a growing, employee and customer-focused company working on exciting issues in environmental science and marine/coastal resources, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

• Apply oceanographic knowledge to generate operational products derived from physical oceanographic data that inform coastal resilience associated with climate and coastal hazards.
• Conduct periodic reviews of long-term or historical water level databases (e.g., via GIPSLE and pgAdmin) to assess accuracy and completeness for public dissemination. This includes Sea Level Trends, Exceedance Probability, High Tide Flooding (historical and annual outlook), Regional Frequency Analyses, Extreme Water Level products, and Coastal Water Temperature products on a routine monthly and annual basis, as well as after high-water events.
• Develop prototype products and visualizations of water level statistics and predictions using MATLAB and Python programming languages, publishing them using code notebooks (e.g., Google Colab, Jupyter) and managing them via GitHub.
• Conduct data analyses and statistical investigations to evaluate and ensure the reliability and integrity of CO-OPS data. Support product automation, innovation, and R&D into a national gridded operational product. (Experience with AI/Machine Learning models, such as XGBoost for sensor drift detection, is a plus).
• Support the transition of external research of modeled water levels (via a 40-year Coastal Ocean Reanalysis, or CORA) along the entire US ocean coastline into CO-OPS' operational environment through GitHub and Cloud services. Develop API/data services of gridded water level data to integrate gridded datasets with point-based data, filling gaps between NOAA water level stations approximately every 500 meters along the coast.
• Develop API/data services of gridded water level data—including sea level projections, water level extremes, high tide flooding probabilities, and vertical land motion (VLM)—from a sea level rise technical report to be integrated into the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
• Support NOS scientists with interagency R&D to process, assemble, and analyze NOAA's VLM datasets (tide gauge, GPS, and repeat surveying data). Support the transition of datasets produced from a Bayesian hierarchical model and support their visualization in operational products.
• Support data requirements development and gridded API data services to assist in developing the Sea Level Calculator 2. Test and perform QA/QC of data display and computation outputs for interactive decision-support products.
• Provide computation, scientific coding, and GIS support to build improved hazard visualization products, integrating legacy products like sea level rise trends with VLM data to produce modified sea level trends and water temperature climatologies.
• Aid in developing QA/QC procedures for nearshore wave observation data to support marine navigation, hydrodynamic modeling, coastal change forecasts, and coastal hazard prediction (e.g., rip currents, storm surge). Conduct comparative analyses of microwave water level technology versus other in situ sensors.
• Identify and resolve deficiencies in water level datasets/metadata required for oceanographic products. Assist with revising SOPs and developing presentations, technical reports, memos, and peer-reviewed publications.

Required Qualifications/Skills

• Master's degree in oceanography, meteorology, hydrology, physics, physical science, geophysics, civil engineering, or a closely related discipline and four (4) years of relevant experience. A Ph.D. in an aforementioned field may substitute for the Master's degree and experience.
• Knowledge of oceanographic principles, theories, and practices sufficient to review and analyze data is required.
• Extensive working knowledge of MATLAB, Python, code notebooks (Jupyter/Colab), Git/GitHub, API development, and general database querying (e.g., PostgreSQL).
• Must be proficient in using the Microsoft Windows operating system, Microsoft Office applications, and Google's Collaboration Suite (e.g., Docs, Sheets, and Slides) for analyzing data and developing and editing documents and presentations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of a team, are required.

About IBSS Corp.

Since 1992, IBSS, a woman-owned small business, has provided transformational consulting services to the Federal defense, civilian, and commercial sectors. Our services include cybersecurity and enterprise information technology, environmental science and engineering (including oceans, coasts, climate, and weather), and professional management services.

Our approach is to serve our employees by investing in their growth and development. As a result, our employees bring greater capabilities and provide exceptional service to our clients. In addition to creating career development opportunities for our employees, IBSS is passionate about giving back to the community and serving the environment. We strive to leave something better behind for the next generation.

We measure our success by the positive impact we have on our employees, clients, partners, and the communities we serve. Our tagline, Powered by Excellence, is a recognition of the employees that make up IBSS and ensures we deliver results with quality, applying industry best practices and certifications.

IBSS offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage with a company-paid deductible, paid time off, federal holidays, a matching 401K plan, tuition/professional development reimbursement, and Flex-Spending (FSA)/Dependent Care Account (DCA) options.

IBSS is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Click https://www.eeoc.gov/poster to see that the EEO is the law. Please direct any inquiries to the HR Department email at [e-mail].

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to the Talent Acquisition department at [e-mail]