Research Associate II/III
@ CIRA/CSU

The individual in this position will develop and provide leadership of various evaluations within the OPG, with a particular emphasis on AI/ML, cloud frameworks, data science and analytics, and satellite science. In addition, the individual in this position will be expected to work extensively with the OPG’s partner groups, including Emergency managers, FEMA, state officials, and others. They will be expected to actively pursue the testing of new products and decision aids, and apply new technologies and analysis on data to identify trends and develop methods to enhance IDSS content and partner interaction within the WFOs.

The individual in this position will be an employee of CIRA/CSU and will report to the CIRA Kansas City Program Manager at the Aviation Weather Center (AWC). Their federal advisor will be the Director of the OPG. This position may be fully remote, though the individual will be required to travel to the OPG in Kansas City, MO, for all in-person evaluations that take place.

This position is a limited, 1-year appointment with extension possible, contingent upon funding and satisfactory performance. This position requires a NOAA Common Access Card (CAC) ID badge for computer access and therefore is open ONLY to citizens of the United States and lawful permanent residents in possession of a physical USCIS “Green Card.” This position is located in a federal facility in Kansas City, MO and requires the ability to pass a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) federal background check for building access. This position will be classified Research Associate II or III according to the credentials of the finalist selected for hire as follows:

• For position title Research Associate II: Bachelor’s degree in Data Science/Mathematics/ Computer Science/Meteorology or related scientific field plus 3 years of experience in scientific programming in Python, or Master’s Degree.

• For position title Research Associate III: Bachelor’s degree in Data Science/Mathematics/ Computer Science/Meteorology or related scientific field plus 5 years of experience in scientific programming in Python, or Master’s Degree plus 2 years of experience, or a PhD.

Required Job Qualifications

In your cover letter, please specifically address EACH required qualification as it relates to your experience. A cover letter that fails to address the required qualifications for this position may not be considered further after review by the search committee.

• Must be a citizen of the United States or lawful permanent resident in possession of a physical USCIS “Green Card.”

• Must be able to pass a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) federal background check and receive a NOAA Common Access Card (CAC) ID badge.

• For position title Research Associate II: Bachelor’s degree in Data Science/Mathematics/Computer Science/Meteorology or related scientific field plus 3 years of experience in scientific programming in Python or Master’s Degree;

• For position title Research Associate III: Bachelor’s degree in Data Science/Mathematics/Computer Science/Meteorology or related scientific field plus 5 years of experience in scientific programming in Python, or Master’s Degree plus 2 years of experience, or a PhD;

• Demonstrated experience leading, conducting, collaborating on, and publishing scientific research;

• At least 1 year of experience working on Linux or Unix operating systems;

• Good oral and written communication skills and ability to work in a team environment;

• Experience in reading, writing, and quantitatively manipulating large geophysical datasets;

• Travel to the OPG in Kansas City, MO, for all in-person evaluations is required.

Preferred Job Qualifications

In your cover letter, please specifically address the applicable preferred qualifications for this position. A cover letter that fails to address the preferred qualifications for this position may not be considered further after review by the search committee.

• At least 2 years of experience working with meteorological satellite data observations and products as they relate to operational forecasting applications;

• Familiarity and experience with meteorological satellite observing systems;

• Experience with AI/ML;

• Experience with cloud frameworks (AWS, Azure, etc.)