CISL Scientist III (Ocean Data Assimilation)

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Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Job Location:

Position Type & Term:

Job Location:Boulder, Colorado

Job Type:Hybrid, 3 days/week minimum requirement in Boulder office

Position Type & Term:Full-Time, Regular, Term (Duration: 2 years; Possibility of renewal based on performance and funding)

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59 PM MT on Sunday, December 21, 2025.

Required application materials: (preferably uploaded as a PDF):

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter - Please address how your skills and experience meet the needs of this position (for more information, please refer to the Key Responsibilities and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities sections of this job posting).

Visa Sponsorship: Available to eligible candidate

*Please note: UCAR can sponsor individuals for H-1B status only if they are already in the U.S. in H-1B status or another visa status that allows them to change to H-1B status within the U.S. UCAR is unable to sponsor new H-1B visas for individuals who are outside the U.S. and need to obtain H-1B status through Consular Processing.

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.
Work Location: Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

The Project Scientist will join the Data Assimilation Research Section (DAReS) in the Computational and Information Systems Laboratory (CISL); a dynamic, collaborative team advancing the science and technology of data assimilation (DA) for Earth system research. CISL provides high-performance computing, data services, and software engineering to support the atmospheric and related sciences community. DAReS develops and maintains the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART), an open-source,
community software framework for ensemble DA. Our mission is to enable scientists to easily integrate observations with numerical models to improve prediction.

This role will focus on:

• Developing, enhancing and supporting DA activities using DART
• Exploring AI tools for enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and diagnostics of the DA framework
• Leading and contributing to proposals, peer-reviewed publications, and community engagement
• Building strong collaborations within NSF NCAR and with national/international partners

Conduct quality collaborative research on scientific topics such as:

• Support ocean DA activities across many models such as MOM6, ROMS, MITgcm, etc
• Integrating new observation types (e.g., satellite remote sensing, in-situ networks) into DART
• Implementation and evaluation of newly developed algorithms in DART
• Enhanced diagnostic tools for DA research

Develop and evaluate AI/ML approaches for DA, such as:

• ML-based observation operators, bias correction, or model error estimation
• Surrogate modeling to reduce DA computational costs
• Advanced diagnostics using pattern recognition or anomaly detection

Lead and contribute to funding proposals. Serve and PI or co-PI on funded projects. Mentor students and early-career scientists in DA and AI-related applications.
Support activities of the DAReS team by guiding software development and documentation. Share research outcomes via publications, presentations, workshops, and training sessions.

Designs and executes scientific analyses; develops, and adapts, and/or tests hypotheses, models and/or tools. Contributes to papers, reports, technical documentation, data sets, findings, and/or proposals. Mentors less experienced colleagues, collaborates across disciplines, and supports proposal development to advance scientific goals through high-quality, methodologically sound work. Engages in mission-aligned activities both within the organization and throughout the broader scientific community. Contributes through a combination of scientific expertise, professional service, and education and outreach efforts.

• Designing and executing scientific investigations or analyses using established and/or emerging methods to address defined research, operational, or applied science questions.

• Developing or adapting tools, models, or methods to support data collection, processing, analysis, system evaluation, or experimental workflows.

• Performing detailed analysis and interpretation of observational, experimental, or model-generated data, contributing to new insights or improvements in scientific understanding.

• Leading or contributing to components of a larger project or small project teams through coordination of activities, deliverables, and technical direction across collaborators.

• Authoring or co-authoring peer-reviewed publications, technical documentation, data sets, findings, project reports, and/or proposals, and presenting findings in internal, sponsor, or scientific community settings.

• Collaborating across disciplines and institutions, contributing technical expertise to team-based projects and enhancing interdisciplinary research or operational outcomes.

• Supporting proposal development and project planning activities by contributing to scoping, technical writing, and alignment with programmatic objectives.

• Providing technical guidance to less experienced staff/students, mentoring on methods, tools, and best practices while engaging in and modeling inclusive team participation.

• Developing products, tools, instruments and/or technologies for projects and programs.

Education

Ph.D. in atmospheric science, oceanography, hydrology, applied mathematics, computer science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge

• Has solid knowledge in a relevant scientific field, with an ability to apply theories, methods, or frameworks to complex or interdisciplinary problems.

• Is familiar with project planning and proposal development, including scoping technical work, aligning with program goals, and supporting deliverable management.

Skills and Abilities

• Is skilled in developing or refining scientific tools, workflows, or models, including quality assurance and integration with broader project efforts.

• Is skilled in using data analysis tools used for data preparation, visualization, or workflow automation.

• Is committed to mentoring with the ability to guide less experienced colleagues on methods, tools, and collaborative practices.

• Is capable of contributing to peer-reviewed publications, sponsor reports, or presentations, with clear and accurate scientific communication tailored to varied audiences.

• Collaborates effectively within multidisciplinary teams, integrating diverse inputs and fostering productive working relationships.

• Demonstrates the ability to design and carry out analyses or investigative tasks independently using established methods, adapting approaches as needed.

Specific to this particular Scientist III role:

Required:

• Demonstrated experience with ensemble/variational DA and its application to Earth system models
• Experience developing and applying AI/ML techniques in scientific modeling or data analysis
• Strong record or peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
• Proficiency in scientific programming (Fortran, Python, and scripting languages)
• Effective communication skills for technical and diverse audiences
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively and work in multidisciplinary, culturally diverse teams

Desired:

• Experience with DART and NSF NCAR community models (CESM, MOM6, WRF-Hydro, MPAS)
• Knowledge of software engineering best practices (Git/GitHub workflows, documentation)
• Experience integrating new observation types into DA systems
• Track record in proposal development and project leadership

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits. In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance, UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

• Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities.

• UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one.

• Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions).

• 10 paid holidays.

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

• Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary.

• EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost.

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

At NSF NCAR| UCAR | UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun's core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy.Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations and work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

AI Software

ChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing theway society receives, processes, and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications, we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.