Satellite Product Modeler

New River Community College; Santa Cruz (CA); Remote; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution is seeking a Satellite Product Modeler to support research in ocean ecosystems. This role involves providing programming support for cloud-based workflows and contributing to environmental data management. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree and programming skills in Python or similar languages. The position is fully remote with a competitive salary range of $95,250.00 to $105,000.00 per year.

Benefits

Full benefits

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Knowledge of programming languages used in research, such as Python, BASH-shell scripting, R.
• Demonstrated understanding of cloud platforms and experience with data server applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide programming support for a team developing cloud-based workflows.
• Manage the migration of environmental data, applications, and software to the cloud.
• Use team-developed tools to support cloud-based workflows for environmental data.

Skills

Python

BASH-shell scripting

R

Data management

Version control

Cloud platforms

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in related area

Tools

GitHub

AWS

GCP

ERDDAP

THREDDS

Job description

Satellite Product Modeler

Location: Remote

Job ID: 80980

JOB POSTING

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Applications cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

IRD for this job: 09-22-2025

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It is known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) is an organized research unit whose mission is to increase knowledge of the world's oceans and inhabitants to better understand their economic importance and the impact people have on them. IMS maintains the responsibility to encourage, develop, and support marine research and education and does this by providing research opportunities, resources, facilities, and support for scientists within the institute and with other marine research institutions.

IMS launched the Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP) to foster research collaborations between NOAA scientists, UCSC faculty, IMS researchers, and students. The FCP conducts field and laboratory experiments, modeling, and computational studies involving marine and freshwater species and habitats. The program supports resource managers and the broader resource science community.

More information: https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

Working in the Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP) at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the Satellite Product Modeler addresses challenges in integrative research on ocean ecosystems off the US West Coast. The FCP is a community of UC and NOAA fisheries researchers focused on providing science to support monitoring and management of marine resources, with a diverse research portfolio spanning multiple ecosystems and scales. The Satellite Product Modeler works under the general direction of an FCP Research Team Lead and in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries and the NOAA CoastWatch Program. The incumbent provides computer programming and data management expertise to support a workgroup of researchers using satellite algorithm-based models to track environmental conditions, generate habitat distribution maps, and produce forecasts for environmental anomalies like harmful algal blooms. The incumbent contributes to developing reproducible workflows for satellite-based products, migrating them to a cloud environment, and ensuring cloud-based distribution. This role requires a strong aptitude for programming.

Specific duties and responsibilities include: 1) Provide programming support for a team developing cloud-based workflows for satellite environmental data products; 2) Manage the migration of environmental data, applications, and software to the cloud to provide data access for data server applications such as ERDDAP and THREDDS; 3) Use team-developed tools to support cloud-based workflows for environmental data, emphasizing reproducible approaches. Programming support includes generating code to integrate scientific models in languages such as Python, Shell scripting, and R to streamline workflows and couple models. The incumbent will provide guidance for data systems management, document workflows, and demonstrate familiarity with large datasets, version control, and cloud computing, under the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reproducible) guiding principles. After piloting the migration, workflows will be adapted to larger migration projects within FCP, NOAA, and CoastWatch. This position offers opportunities to develop novel workflows and communicate with senior scientists to codify best practices. The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $95,250.00/year - $105,000.00/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience. Under California law, the University is required to post a reasonable estimate of compensation. The salary shown is the budgeted amount and should not be exceeded.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Monday to Friday, with occasional evenings or weekends
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: Remote

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 007300 (APPLICATIONS PROGR 3) - Grade 22

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

35% - Project Development

• Plans, designs, develops, modifies, debugs, and deploys programming for model integration workflow and data systems organization.
• Analyzes existing workflow to formulate logic for new complex systems and devises complex algorithms using reproducible methods.
• Performs complex data analysis and tests / debugs complex programming.
• Analyzes the design and use of complex data sources.
• Applies moderately complex programming security practices, and commits to the FAIR guiding principles.

30% - Coding and Workflow Implementation

• Negotiates, develops and executes moderately complex programming for model integration workflows and data systems organization plans.
• Trains users in the use of new workflow and data management systems using reproducible notebook methods (Jupyter, R notebooks, etc).
• Performs complex data modeling, performance, and integration testing and builds workflow for a variety of internal and external constituents.
• Monitors and employs source code control techniques and configuration management on GitHub.

25% - Documentation

• Gathers, analyzes, prepares, and summarizes recommendations for programming and data systems documentation.
• Recommends and implements changes in development, maintenance, and system standards.
• Works with scientific modelers and stakeholders on creating model integration systems.
• Ensures project reports and documentation are current.

10% - Distribution and Technology Transfer

• Understands and applies industry practices, community standards, and department policies relating to work assignments.
• Interacts with ecologists, scientific modelers, principal investigators, and supervisory scientists.
• Serves as the technical lead for developing a project integrating scientific modeling into user-friendly workflows and programs.
• Trains users of new work plans.
• Negotiates project plans with scientific modelers and stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Knowledge of programming languages used in research, such as Python (preferred), BASH-shell scripting (preferred), R or similar.
• Willingness and ability to learn a new programming language if necessary. Thorough experience with identification and use of code libraries and open-source forums, and commitment to FAIR practices and reproducible science.
• Basic knowledge of version control and code management (e.g., GitHub).
• Demonstrated understanding of cloud platforms (preferably AWS or GCP) and experience with data server applications such as ERDDAP and THREDDS.
• Basic knowledge of data management practices.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information with both technical and non-technical personnel.
• Demonstrated broad problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to meet deadlines while working independently and as part of a team.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced skills in software design, modification, implementation and deployment, including object-oriented programming concepts.
• Ability to understand functional needs and how systems can support those needs; experience developing conversion and system implementation plans.
• Ability to interface with management regularly.
• Ability to contribute technical narrative to grant proposals.
• Experience with deployment planning and feedback mechanisms.
• Software repository skills and testing/test planning skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Security clearance may be required; candidate must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to meet NOAA security requirements.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Exercise discretion with sensitive information and comply with data protection and privacy policies.
• Fully remote position; must comply with UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.
• Complete required training within established timeframes, including UC compliance training.
• The University has a Vaccination Policy; employees are required to comply where applicable.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

Final candidates must disclose any misconduct findings within the last seven years and related proceedings.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must follow job safety procedures, attend required training, promote safety, and report accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online and in paper on request. See the notice for details.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to protected categories and other guidelines. UC supports affirmative action and diversity.

APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE UCSC ON-LINE PROCESS

View full job description and access online application at the UCSC Careers site. To ensure review of materials by the hiring unit, submit by the IRD via the Staff Employment Opportunities site. For disability accommodations, contact the UCSC Human Resources Office.

UC Santa Cruz is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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