Scientifics Applications Programmer/Physical Scientist for UFS In-core Data Assimilation

Axiom Consultants; Rockville (MD); Sur place; USD 110 000 - 150 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Medical insurance

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Résumé du poste

Axiom Consultants seeks a Scientifics Applications Programmer/Physical Scientist to advance the UFS Weather Model and in-core data assimilation capabilities. You will work with a team of software engineers and scientists to enhance state management, regression testing, and coupling using NUOPC/ESMF on HPC platforms.

Qualifications include strong Fortran/C/Python, MPI, Git, and experience with JEDI or data-assimilation workflows. U.S. citizenship or GC required; competitive benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Background in CS, software engineering, meteorology/NWP, or related field with numerical modeling experience.
• Proficiency in Linux, shell scripting/automation.
• Experience with Git, CI, code testing, and documentation.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted code development or willingness to learn.
• Experience with HPC, MPI, and schedulers (SLURM, PBS).
• Familiarity with CMake/CTest.
• Ability to work in a diverse, customer-focused team; self-starter.
• Experience with Earth system modeling frameworks (ESMF/NUOPC).
• Proficiency in Fortran and/or C, and Python; C++ a plus (JEDI).
• Experience with data assimilation systems (JEDI) and IAU.
• Experience in Agile/Scrum; good English communication.
• U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder required.

Responsabilités

• Lead development of UFS Weather Model infrastructure features like in-core DA and high-res nests.
• Implement robust state management and rewind capabilities; ensure no numerical drift.
• Leverage ESMF/NUOPC to extend coupling support.
• Design automated tests for state management and rewind robustness.
• Collaborate with DA teams to enable UFS/JEDI builds with in-core DA.
• Explore Incremental Analysis Updates (IAU) after rewind steps.
• Adopt modern software practices: Git, CI, Agile/DevOps.
• Debug complex model infrastructure and integration issues.
• Document coding standards to support NWS developers.

Connaissances

Fortran

Python

C

C++

MPI

Git

HPC

NUOPC

ESMF

JEDI

Shell scripting

CI/CD

Formation

CS/Engineering degree

Outils

CMake

CTest

SLURM

PBS

GitHub

Jenkins

MPAS

Description du poste

Axiom is seeking candidates for the role of Scientifics Applications Programmer/Physical Scientist for UFS In-core Data Assimilation.

The Office of Modeling and Development (OMD) is part of the National Weather Service (NWS) and is responsible for developing complex Earth system models together with its research partners. These numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are deployed on the NWS operational supercomputers to provide weather and seasonal forecast guidance at different timescales from hours to days to months. The NWP models range from global atmospheric models, limited-area (regional) high-resolution convective-scale atmospheric models, hurricane models, global ocean circulation models, cryospheric models, wave models, and land surface models. OMD is involved in all phases of scientific and engineering model development including data ingest, data assimilation, model integration, post-processing, product generation, and validation and verification.

What you will do

OMD's Unified Forecast System (UFS) Weather Model relies on highly integrated, robust infrastructure to support advanced Earth system prediction. This position is responsible for developing and advancing the core architecture necessary to enable next-generation forecasting capabilities, such as in-core data assimilation, that will support the NWS moonshot goal of a kilometer-scale global model based on the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) dynamical core. The developer will work with a team of software engineers, physical scientists, and data assimilation specialists to implement dynamic mid-run state management and rewind functionality. The developer will extend existing coupling capabilities to support intra-component (atmosphere-to-atmosphere) exchanges, implement automated regression testing, and leverage modern development practices to ensure the stability, reproducibility, and modernization of the next-generation modeling system.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of new UFS Weather Model infrastructure features that enable critical next-generation forecasting capabilities, such as in-core data assimilation (DA) and high-resolution moving nests.


• Incorporate robust state management, including saving and advertising states to the NUOPC coupler, and rewind capabilities, allowing restarts from prior states with no numerical drift.


• Leverage the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF) to extend coupling support.


• Design and implement automated tests to ensure that new state management and rewind capabilities remain stable and robust as other changes are incorporated into the UFS Weather Model.


• Work with the DA teams to enable UFS and JEDI builds with in-core DA capabilities.


• Explore and develop the incorporation of incremental analysis updates (IAU) following the rewind step.


• Leverage modern software engineering tools, including AI-assisted coding technologies, to accelerate the development of high-quality infrastructure and comprehensive testing strategies.


• Incorporate modern software development and management practices like Git-based code management, unit testing, continuous integration, and other Agile/DevOps development techniques.


• Rapidly debug complex model infrastructure and integration issues (build failures, runtime errors, coupled system bugs) as they arise.


• Adhere to standards of clear, high-quality documentation to support NWS developers.

Qualifications

• Background in computer science, software engineering, meteorology/NWP, applied mathematics, or a closely related field with demonstrated numerical modeling and scientific computing experience.


• Proficiency in developing and debugging software in a Linux or similar environment, including shell scripting/automation.


• Demonstrated working knowledge of modern software engineering practices: collaborative version control with Git, continuous integration, code testing, and documentation.


• Familiarity with AI-assisted code development of high-quality, performant code, or strong willingness to learn.


• Demonstrated experience developing and running Earth system models on high-performance computing (HPC) platforms, including distributed-memory (MPI) parallelization and job schedulers (SLURM, PBS).


• Familiarity with cross-platform package management, build, and test systems, especially CMake and CTest.


• Ability to work effectively and professionally as part of a diverse, customer-focused team and collaborate with software engineers and scientists across different agencies. The ideal candidate is a self-starter accustomed to independently identifying, prioritizing, and executing development needs.


• Demonstrated experience with Earth system coupled modeling frameworks and infrastructure. Expertise with the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF) and National Unified Operational Prediction Capability (NUOPC) is strongly preferred. Familiarity with UFS Weather Model and the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) is highly beneficial.


• Expertise and demonstrated proficiency in modern Fortran and/or C, as well as Python. Experience with C++ is a strong plus, particularly as it relates to Data Assimilation frameworks such as the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI).


• Experience with data assimilation systems (especially JEDI) and initialization techniques such as Incremental Analysis Updates (IAU) is strongly preferred.


• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments is preferred.


• Good verbal and written communication skills in English.


• Candidates must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder to qualify

Axiom offers competitive compensation packages including comprehensive medical/dental/life insurance and matching 401(k) contribution.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)