Scientific Data Software Engineer/Analyst (Python/Linux)

Science Systems and Applications, Inc (SSAI); Lanham (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) seeks a Scientific Data Software Engineer to develop and maintain Python-based data ingestion pipelines, metadata parsing, and archival workflows on Linux servers.

You will work with geodesy scientists, archive engineers, and data managers to ensure data integrity and reliable distribution of geodetic datasets. The role emphasizes robust automation, system-level scripting, and collaboration across teams to support a high-volume data center and strict

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Earth/Geophysical Sciences, GIS, or related technical discipline.
• 2+ years of Python experience for automated data pipelines, file I/O, text parsing, and system interaction.
• Fluency in Linux/Unix, shell scripting (Bash) and command-line proficiency.
• Experience with Git for version control, branching, and PRs on GitHub or GitLab.
• Strong problem-solving to debug data anomalies and trace runtime errors.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and maintain modular Python applications to automate data ingestion, metadata parsing, format standardization, and archival workflows.
• Develop automated validation routines to catch data corruption and format anomalies prior to archiving.
• Triage runtime pipeline failures, diagnose I/O bottlenecks, and resolve operational issues.
• Collaborate with geodesy scientists, archive engineers, and data providers to ensure compliance with standards and metadata schemas.

Skills

Python

Linux/Unix

Git

Education

B.S. in CS or related field

Tools

Pandas

Bash

Pathlib/Subprocess

SQL

Job description

Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) is seeking a Scientific Data Software Engineer to support the automated ingestion, validation, cataloging, and archiving of pipelines that power this mission-critical data center. In this role, you will develop and maintain robust Python software, shell scripts, and system-level automations running on Linux servers handling continuous, high-volume streams of scientific data. You will work closely with domain scientists, systems administrators, and data managers to ensure geodetic datasets are processed accurately, metadata is reliably extracted, and all files meet stringent archive integrity standards for global scientific distribution.

Responsibilities

• Pipeline Development & Maintenance: Design, implement, test, and maintain modular Python applications to automate end-to-end data ingestion, metadata parsing, format standardization, and archival storage workflows.
• Data Validation & Quality Assurance: Author automated validation routines and sanity checks to catch data corruption, file truncation, and format anomalies prior to long-term archiving.
• Incident Troubleshooting: Triage runtime pipeline failures, diagnose I/O bottlenecks, and resolve operational issues impacting data availability.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Interface with geodesy scientists, archive engineers, and external data providers to align pipeline capabilities with community standards and data specifications.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s (B.S.) degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Earth/Geophysical Sciences, GIS, or a related technical discipline.
• Python Proficiency: 2+ years of professional or research software engineering experience using Python for automated data pipelines, file I/O operations, text parsing, and system interaction (os, sys, pathlib, subprocess,pandas).
• Linux/Unix Fluency: Strong everyday comfort in a Linux command-line environment, including file permission management, process monitoring, and shell scripting (Bash).
• Version Control: Demonstrated experience managing codebase repositories, branching, and pull requests via Git (GitHub or GitLab).
• Problem-Solving: Proven ability to debug data anomalies and trace runtime errors.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with space geodesy or Earth science file formats (e.g., RINEX, SINEX, HDF5, or NetCDF).
• Experience with relational databases and writing queries in SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite).
• Exposure to RESTful APIs, AWS/cloud object storage (S3), or containerization tools (Docker).
• Familiarity with NASA ESDIS standards, Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) protocols, or scientific metadata schemas.
• Experience with other programming languages such as Java, C, etc.

Note: The actual salary offered will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications, and other job-related criteria deemed relevant to the position.

EEO/AA Veterans And Individuals With Disabilities

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear and occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.