Radar Meteorologist

Rainmaker Technology; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Lunch provided

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Rainmaker Technology in El Segundo is hiring a Radar Meteorologist to turn weather radar observations into a clearer understanding of clouds and precipitation and to assess seeding operations. You will develop methods for radar quality control, precipitation estimation, and analysis of seeded and natural precipitation.

Your work spans storm case studies and repeatable workflows, collaborating with radar scientists, engineers, and field teams to make methods applicable across Rainmaker’s programs.

Qualifications

• A degree in meteorology or atmospheric science, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience using weather radar observations to answer meteorological questions in research or operations.
• Strong understanding of radar measurement principles, Doppler and polarimetric variables, sampling geometry, and common sources of error.
• Knowledge of cloud microphysics and precipitation processes, including interpretation of observations in mixed phase and winter weather.
• Proficiency in Python for scientific data processing, analysis, and visualization.
• Experience evaluating scientific methods against independent observations, diagnosing bias, and quantifying uncertainty.
• Ability to translate open scientific questions into reproducible analyses with clear documentation.

Responsibilities

• Analyze scanning and vertically pointing radar observations to characterize cloud structure and precipitation.
• Develop and improve radar quality control, including treatment of clutter, interference, attenuation, calibration bias, and terrain blockage.
• Develop and evaluate quantitative precipitation estimates for rain and snow with consideration of sampling limitations and retrieval uncertainty.
• Combine radar data with seeding release records, winds, soundings, satellite observations, and in situ measurements to assess operations.
• Design analyses that distinguish seeding responses from natural variability and state what observations can support.
• Help design radar siting and scan strategies for field campaigns and operational targeting.
• Build reproducible Python workflows for processing, visualization, and analysis; collaborate with software engineers to automate methods across programs.
• Support field campaigns and radar troubleshooting in partnership with field teams, including travel to deployment sites as needed.
• Communicate findings through clear figures, technical reports, and reviews that inform operational decisions and future experiments.

Skills

Python for data processing

Data analysis

Clear communication

Education

MS or PhD in radar meteorology

Tools

Py-ART

xradar

NEXRAD/MRMS data

Job description

Make it rain. Make Snow. Make Earth Habitable.

Rainmaker builds and deploys audacious technologies that work with nature to create an abundant, habitable planet. We are modernizing proven cloud-seeding science with weather-resistant UAS, radar and satellite observations, numerical weather prediction, novel sensing and validation systems, and sustainable seeding technologies. We are building an integrated system to make more freshwater available to farms, ecosystems, and communities.

Our ambition is bold, but we pursue it with humility. We take on difficult problems in the real world with technical rigor, grit, integrity, and an openness to learning and course-correcting. We are hiring individuals with evidence of exceptional ability. If you want to build systems that endure, restore, and deliver the future we were promised, we want to hear from you.

Our Atmospheric Intelligence team develops the observations, models, and experiments that guide cloud seeding and measure its effects. We work with software, hardware, and field operations teams to turn atmospheric science into better targeting decisions and credible estimates of additional precipitation.

About the Role

We are hiring a Radar Meteorologist in El Segundo to turn weather radar observations into a clearer understanding of clouds, precipitation, and the effects of our seeding operations. You will develop and apply methods for radar quality control, precipitation estimation, and the analysis of seeded and natural precipitation. Your work will span detailed storm case studies, repeatable analysis workflows, and the design of radar observations for field campaigns. You will work closely with our radar scientists, meteorologists, software engineers, and field teams to make these methods useful across Rainmaker’s programs.

What You'll Do

• Analyze scanning and vertically pointing radar observations to characterize cloud structure, precipitation processes, and the evolution of potential seeding signatures.
• Develop and improve radar quality control, including the treatment of clutter, interference, attenuation, calibration bias, and terrain blockage.
• Develop and evaluate quantitative precipitation estimates for rain and snow, with explicit treatment of sampling limitations and retrieval uncertainty.
• Combine radar data with seeding release records, winds, soundings, satellite observations, and in situ measurements to assess individual operations.
• Design analyses that distinguish potential seeding responses from natural variability, test alternative explanations, and state what the observations can support.
• Help design radar siting and scan strategies that capture the cloud volumes and precipitation relevant to operational targeting and validation.
• Build reproducible Python workflows for processing, visualization, and analysis; partner with software engineers to automate methods across programs.
• Support field campaigns and radar troubleshooting in partnership with field teams, including travel to deployment sites as needed.
• Communicate findings through clear figures, technical reports, and reviews that inform operational decisions and future experiments.

What We're Looking For

• A degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, physics, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience using weather radar observations to answer meteorological questions in research or operations.
• A strong understanding of radar measurement principles, Doppler and polarimetric variables, sampling geometry, and common sources of error.
• Knowledge of cloud microphysics and precipitation processes, including the interpretation of observations in mixed phase and winter weather.
• Proficiency in Python for scientific data processing, analysis, and visualization.
• Experience evaluating scientific methods against independent observations, diagnosing bias, and quantifying uncertainty.
• The ability to take an open scientific question through data analysis to a defensible conclusion, with reproducible code and clear documentation.
• Clear communication, constructive scientific collaboration, and willingness to work onsite in El Segundo and travel for field campaigns as needed.

What Will Set You Apart

• An MS or PhD with research focused on radar meteorology, precipitation estimation, or cloud microphysics.
• Experience with cloud seeding research, orographic precipitation, snowfall retrievals, or the attribution of small signals within natural variability.
• Hands-on experience deploying, calibrating, or operating research radars and designing scan strategies.
• Experience with tools such as Py-ART or xradar and data from research radars, NEXRAD, or MRMS.
• Experience integrating radar with disdrometers, precipitation gauges, aircraft or UAS measurements, or numerical weather prediction.

What Success Looks Like In the First 90 Days

Within your first 90 days, you will understand our radar systems, data workflows, and current validation methods by working through a representative seeding event with the team. You will deliver a reproducible case study that combines radar observations with operational records and clearly explains the evidence, uncertainty, and alternative interpretations. You will implement and evaluate one prioritized improvement to quality control, precipitation estimation, or event analysis against an agreed baseline. You will also propose the next set of analysis and observing improvements with clear measures of success.

$120,000 - $160,000 a year

Supporting the people behind the mission

Making Earth more habitable is ambitious work. We want the people doing it to feel supported—in the work we share and the lives they're building.

• A stake in what we build. Meaningful stock options and the opportunity to help shape Rainmaker as an early member of the team.
• Support for your health. Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• An investment in your future. A 401(k) with employer matching to help you build long-term savings.
• Time to recharge. Unlimited PTO for rest, exploration, and the people and pursuits that matter to you.
• Time for a growing family. Paid parental leave for both parents to welcome a child and spend time together.
• Lunch together. Daily lunch provided at our El Segundo headquarters—a chance to share a meal and connect with teammates.
• Help making the move. Relocation assistance for eligible roles to support your transition to Rainmaker.