Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development

American Meteorological Society; College Park (MD); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personalized career growth plan

Job summary

Lynker Technologies is seeking a Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development in the DC/MD area. The role supports RWPS development to align with NWS goals, tackling coastal processes, AI/ML enhancements, and interagency collaboration.

Hybrid work is available, with two days in the College Park office and three remote days. Ideal candidates bring 7+ years in weather/ocean science, expertise in WAVEWATCH III, HPC tooling, and strong programming skills (FORTRAN90, Python, C++).

Qualifications

• MS in meteorology, physical oceanography, coastal engineering, or related field with 7+ years in weather/ocean science.
• Knowledge of spectral wave models (WAVEWATCH III) for real-time apps.
• Experience running numerical models on HPC with MPI, OpenMP, Slurm, LSF, etc.
• Familiar with modern software development and version control.
• Advanced programming skills in FORTRAN90, Python, and C++.
• Unix environment experience with shell scripting; running complex jobs.
• Proficient using GitHub to manage repositories and code versions.
• Ability to maintain, visualize, and disseminate marine modeling output and web products.

Responsibilities

• Support development, optimization, maintenance, and integration of wave modeling within RWPS.
• Advance coastal processes formulations for runup, water level, and rip current forecasts.
• Collaborate on AI/ML techniques to improve forecast accuracy and efficiency.
• Partner across federal/private sectors to transition research to operations.
• Design and run numerical model experiments with verification and data fusion.
• Maintain and visualize modeling output and related web-based products.

Skills

Programming skills

HPC experience

UNIX shell scripting

GitHub usage

Education

M.S. in meteorology or physical oceanography or coastal engineering

Tools

WAVEWATCH III

MPI

OpenMP

Slurm

LSF

FORTRAN90

Python

C++

Job description

Lynker Technologies

Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development

US-MD-College Park

Job ID: 2026-1697
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 2
College Park, MD

Overview

Lynker is seeking a sharp Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development to accelerate and enhance operational marine modeling capabilities within the National Weather Service (NWS) Regional Wave Prediction System (RWPS)—the next-generation framework built to align with NWS transformation goals. With roughly 40% of the U.S. population residing in coastal counties and rip currents remaining a leading cause of weather-related fatalities, this role advances foundational guidance for Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) to protect life and property. Working alongside a team, the specialist will support the development, testing, and implementation of physics-based and machine learning wave frameworks, integrate coastal processes, and assist in transitioning cutting-edge capabilities into high-reliability NWS operations. The Ideal Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development, will be local to the DC Metro area, and be able to work a hybrid schedule, working 2 days per week in office out of the College Park, MD location, and working from home the remaining 3 days of the week.

Responsibilities

The candidate will perform the job duties in an independent, collaborative, and initiative-driven way, assisting in developing and applying innovative methods for the primary work areas described below.

Duties of the Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development will include the following:

• Operational Modeling & System Integration: Work with the team to support the development, optimization, maintenance, and integration of wave modeling capabilities within the RWPS architecture, ensuring alignment with NWS operational standards.
• Coastal Processes & Hazard Prediction: Contribute to advancing numerical and statistical formulations for key coastal phenomena, including wave runup, coastal impact prediction, total water level, and rip current forecasting.
• AI & Next-Gen Techniques: Collaborate on exploring, evaluating, and integrating artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) techniques to improve wave modeling efficiency, parameterizations, or forecast accuracy.
• Interagency & Sector Collaboration: Partner across multidisciplinary federal and private sectors (e.g., USGS, NOS, academic institutions, and private industry) to evaluate external models and accelerate the transition of research to operations (R2O).
• Model Experimentation & Validation: Assist in designing and executing numerical model experiments, applying advanced verification, validation, and observational data-fusion techniques across regional and nearshore domains.
• System Support & Web Services: Help maintain, visualize, and disseminate marine modeling output and related web-based products for internal operational and public use.

Qualifications

The Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development selected should have the following:

• An M.S. (or equivalent experience) in meteorology, physical oceanography, coastal engineering or a related field, with 7+ years in weather forecasting, physical oceanography, or coastal ocean science.
• Knowledge of spectral wave models (like WAVEWATCH III), in particular for real-time applications.
• Experience in running numerical models on High Performing Computer (HPC) platforms using MPI, OpenMP, Slurm, LSF, etc.
• Is familiar with modern software development practices, particularly version control software.
• Advanced skills and knowledge of modern programming languages and object-oriented languages, such as FORTRAN90, Python, and C++.
• Experience working in a UNIX environment with advanced shell scripting languages and familiar with running complex jobs.
• Demonstrated proficiency using GitHub to manage software repositories, code versions, and projects.
• Ability to maintain, visualize, and disseminate marine modeling output and web-based products.

The Ideal Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development will have the following:

• Demonstrated experience in operational system integration, and software development for real-time applications within regional and nearshore domains.
• Direct experience advancing formulations for coastal processes, including wave runup, total water level, coastal impact prediction, and rip current forecasting.
• Familiarity with applying artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) techniques to enhance wave parameterizations, model efficiency, or forecast accuracy.
• Strong team-player mindset with a proven ability to collaborate across interagency and private sectors.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.

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