Software Engineer II - WRF

ucar; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

UCAR is seeking a skilled engineer to maintain and modernize an existing meteorological decision support codebase. The role focuses on driving WRF workflows, post-processing, and HPC-enabled operations in a hybrid on-site environment in Boulder, CO.

The candidate will migrate Python scripts, upgrade initialization data, and benchmark performance on HPC clusters while enhancing software reliability and documentation for end users and forecasters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a computer-related field with 4–8 years of relevant experience.
• Proficient in Python and Shell scripting.
• Experience with Git and software development practices.
• Experience with real-time operational systems and HPC.
• Experience with Linux/Unix-based systems.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work across projects.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Python migration to modern tooling for research and operational use.
• Upgrade initialization data and benchmark on HPC clusters.
• Optimize code across post-processing workflows.
• Periodically upgrade the WRF model for research and operations.
• Troubleshoot model issues as they arise.
• Establish systematic versioning on GitHub for software versions.
• Provide insights on memory, compute, and workflow bottlenecks for future HPC needs.
• Maintain high-level architecture docs for the WRF ensemble and pipelines.

Skills

Python

Shell scripting

Git

Real-time systems

High-Performance Computing

Linux/Unix

Time management

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a computer-related field

Tools

Git

WPS

Job description

Position Type

Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Visa Sponsored Job

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible

No

Hiring Range

83,299.00 USD - 104,127.00 USD *Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Closes at 12:00am MST on

2026-09-24

About the Role

As a member of the Environmental Resilience Applications Program (ERAP) within NCAR's Research Applications Laboratory (RAL), the incumbent will be primarily responsible for maintaining, updating, and modernizing an existing code base to support multiple meteorological decision support workflows for operational and research-based use. Specifically, this system drives the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model using differing initialization data to produce forecasts and NCAR Command Language (NCL) and Python driven postprocessing to aid end users with accurate information to make informed decisions. This workflow is deployed across a High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster, running both nearly constantly in forecast operations and in an offline research mode. This requires that the incumbent is comfortable in various broad categories of engineering, from hardening code made by scientists to designing/implementing/troubleshooting system architecture on HPC's.

Job Description

Application Deadline: September 24, 2026 at 11.59 pm MT

Job Location

Boulder, CO

Position Requirement

Hybrid ( minimum of 3 days a week is required to be on-site )

Position Type & Term

Full-time, 1-Term. (Possibility of extension depending on funding availability)

What You Will Do

System Modernization & Code Refactoring

• Python Migration: Replace legacy plotting scripts with optimized, modern alternatives to support research-based and operational forecasting tools.


• Initialization Upgrades: Participate in transitioning initialization data for the WRF model, benchmarking performance and integrating workflow changes onto high-performance cluster environments.


• Code Optimization: Evaluate performance impacts across data post-processing workflows.

Model Workflows & Upgrades

• Periodically upgrade the WRF model used in both research and operations


• Troubleshoot model issues as they arise


• Establish systematic versioning on GitHub to organize the different software versions


• Provide insights on memory, compute, and workflow bottlenecks to inform future HPC hardware specifications.

System Monitoring & Reliability Tools

• Maintain and update an automated notification system to alert sysadmins and forecasters to operational model delays or failures.


• Maintain and update intuitive, web-based status dashboards enabling real-time product tracking for forecasters.


• Monitor real-time systems, ensure continuous pipeline reliability, and interface with university and private sector partners.

Technical Documentation

• Maintain/update clear, high-level architecture documentation for the WRF ensemble and custom post-processing pipelines as they are modernized.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education and Experience (Required)

Bachelor's degree in computer-related field and progressive relevant experience, which is typically gained by four to eight years of experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Required)

• Demonstrated skill in Python and/or other scripting languages.


• Demonstrated skill in Shell scripting languages.


• Demonstrated skill in GIT and/or other code management practices and software.


• Skill in real-time operational systems and software development.


• Skill in High-Performance Computing systems.


• Working knowledge of LINUX/UNIX-based operating systems.


• Demonstrated ability to manage time effectively, working across multiple tasks and projects


• Demonstrated ability to overcome problems by applying new knowledge, creativity, and determination.


• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a diverse team.


• Demonstrated ability to communicate well, orally and in writing.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities ( Desired, but not required)

• Exposure to NCL and Perl


• Familiarity with Fortran


• Knowledge of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) concepts, GRIB and netCDF files, or running/compiling WRF and WRF Preprocessing System (WPS).


• Web development basics for simple status dashboards.

Preferred Qualifications

Annual Salary Range : $83,299 - $104,127 *Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.