Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development

Lynker; College Park (MD); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

401(k) with company match

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Paid holidays

PTO

Learning & development

Job summary

Lynker is seeking a sharp Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development to accelerate and enhance RWPS capabilities for the National Weather Service. The role emphasizes hybrid work with 2 days in the College Park, MD office and 3 days remote, contributing to physics-based and ML wave frameworks and cross-agency collaboration.

The ideal candidate will have an MS in a related field and 7+ years in weather forecasting or coastal ocean science, plus strong programming in FORTRAN90,

Qualifications

• MS in meteorology, physical oceanography, coastal engineering or related field with 7+ years in weather forecasting or coastal ocean science.
• Knowledge of spectral wave models (e.g., WAVEWATCH III) for real-time applications.
• Experience running numerical models on HPC systems using MPI, OpenMP, Slurm, LSF.
• Familiarity with modern software development practices and version control.
• Proficiency in FORTRAN90, Python and C++.
• Experience in UNIX environments with shell scripting and running complex jobs.
• Proficiency using GitHub to manage repositories and projects.
• Ability to maintain, visualize, and disseminate marine modeling output and web-based products.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply methods for operational wave modeling within RWPS.
• Support integration of wave modeling capabilities and ensure alignment with standards.
• Advance coastal processes formulations for runup, total water level, and rip current forecasting.
• Collaborate to apply AI/ML techniques to improve forecasts and efficiency.
• Work across interagency and private sectors to transition research to operations.
• Design and run numerical experiments with verification and data-fusion techniques.
• Maintain, visualize, and disseminate marine modeling output and web-based products for operations and public use.

Skills

Meteorology

Physical Oceanography

Coastal Engineering

WAVEWATCH III

MPI

OpenMP

Slurm

LSF

FORTRAN90

Python

C++

UNIX/Linux

GitHub

Education

MS in meteorology, physical oceanography, coastal engineering or related field

Tools

GitHub

MPI

OpenMP

Slurm

LSF

FORTRAN90

Python

C++

UNIX shell

Shell scripting

Job description

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:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• 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.