Scientific Programmer/Analyst -Coupled NWM-WW3 Models
Overview
I.M. Systems Group, Inc. (IMSG), a federal government contractor, is seeking a candidate to transfer scientific advances in the areas of hydrology, hydrometeorology, and hydraulics from the research arena into operational applications at the National Water Center (NWC) using a variety of software and data engineering tools and techniques as detailed in the sections below. The successful candidate will be working with existing operational coastal models (in this case WaveWatch III), and focused on coupling Wave Watch III with the National Water Model (NWM). The successful candidate selected for this position will be physically located at the NWC office at 205 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
Responsibilities
Candidate will work with scientists at NWC, Environmental Modeling Center (EMC), and National Ocean Service (NOS) to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate multiple methodologies to improve predictions of total water level and coastal flood inundation forecasts, and to optimize runtime efficiency. Such a solution will include fully coupling the NWM with existing operational coastal models (WaveWatchIII and ADCIRC/ESTOFS), ultimately developing a methodology for operational implementation of this coupled system.
The work will primarily include the following responsibilities:
- Successfully interact with NWC domain scientists and engineers, NWS/NCEP/EMC domain scientists and engineers and NOS domain scientists
- Translate complex scientific algorithms into robust software elements
- Develop accurate, effective, and efficient computational strategies for solutions to physics and numerical analysis problems
- Develop new computational software elements
- Work within community model frameworks (e.g., ESMF, WRF-Hydro, CEMS) to implement components into High Performance Computing environments Modify and/or enhance existing computational software elements
- Troubleshoot and fix errors occurring in existing and newly developed software elements
- Prepare and deliver software development reviews
- Prepare software and sometimes user documentation
- Adhere to DOC/NOAA/NWS Information Technology policies and procedures
- Adhere to project-specific software development guidelines and practices (i.e., NWC Project Management)
- Assure that software development projects are complete and accurate
- Complete software projects in a timely fashion according to internal and external schedules
- Actively contribute review and ideas at status/technical meetings
- Contribute to a monthly task status report
The candidate will perform the job duties in a high-quality, independent, and collaborative way, assisting in managing projects, and developing and applying innovative methods for the primary work areas described below. The candidate will work with NWC scientists and external collaborators (at EMC and NOS) to set up comprehensive tests of coupled NWM-coastal models, and evaluate the results using objective verification metrics and model diagnostics. The position will involve more than the usual amount of travel between Tuscaloosa, AL and College Park, MD.
Qualifications
The candidate should have a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences or meteorology, oceanic, mathematics, or a related physical science with at least five (5) years of experience in the area of Hydrology, Hydrometeorology, Coastal Ocean and/or Wave modeling.
Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in at least five of the following areas:
- Knowledge of the physical and mathematical basis of geophysical/coastal modeling and experience running advanced numerical models
- Experience in high-resolution model development in various infrastructures like NEMS and ESMF
- Experience working in a UNIX environment with advanced scripting languages (e.g., Perl, ksh, Python, Ruby, etc.)
- Extensive practical application of computing languages such as FORTRAN and C, working with geophysical data formats (NetCDF, GRIB etc.), and graphical display programs such as GRADS, GEMPAK, MATLAB, IDL, etc
- Software requirements analysis and design
- Packaging of the scientific core of complete software elements (i.e., objects, library modules, occasional complete applications)
- Demonstrated skill in communicating effectively with scientists of diverse backgrounds on technical details of the work plan and present results accurately and clearly in both oral and written form
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment on complex problems
- Demonstrated skill in performing tasks requiring organization and an attention to detail
Candidates must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder to qualify (please indicate in your cover letter).
Desired skills:
- Familiarity with advanced Hydrological, Hydrometeorological, Coastal Ocean or Wave modeling at high resolutions.
- Familiarity with the NWM and/or ADCIRC and/or WWIII models, or their equivalents.
- Experience developing and testing numerical environmental prediction codes in a high-performance computing environment
- Familiarity with operational NWP and/or an operational forecasting environment.
IMSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Veteran Friendly.
Job Type: Full-time.