Job Description Summary: We invite you to join our team of software engineers supporting advanced Earth science modeling and furthering the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research’s (NSF NCAR’s) mission of providing the community with world-class modeling capabilities in the increasingly important fields of climate, weather, and atmospheric composition prediction.

Your work will contribute to the development of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) and the Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM-Chem) as part of NSF NCAR–Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling (ACOM) Laboratory’s Multi-Scale Infrastructure for Chemistry Modeling (MUSICA) activities.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type Term:

Full time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Compensation Range:

Salary Range: $63,822 - 79,778

Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Notes

Job Location: Boulder, CO

Job Type: REMOTE option available for this position if desired ( UCAR requires ALL positions including REMOTE ones, to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.)

Position Type Term: Full-time, 1-year Term

Work Authorization: Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position

Relocation Assistance: NOT available for this position

Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 29th

Required application materials:

Resume/CVBackground Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more .

What You Will Do

Here is a brief summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

NSF NCAR, managed by UCAR and a world leader in weather and climate modeling, is seeking one junior software engineer to join the ACOM software team that works on our world-class atmosphere models alongside scientists. You will support NCAR’s vision of accelerating progress toward a thriving and sustainable society by developing software for WACCM, which is for Whole Atmosphere research spanning the range of altitude from the Earth's surface to the thermosphere and CAM-Chem, which is used to study topics ranging from surface air quality to stratospheric ozone. Your work will address various parts of the modeling systems but specifically will facilitate the inclusion of advanced scientific treatments of aerosols, a critical component of the atmospheric system.

We are looking for a proactive individual who enjoys finding solutions to complex software design problems who has a desire to apply software engineering principles to numerical modeling. We plan to hire one qualified software engineer at level 1.

You will work on a dynamic team of in-person, hybrid, and/or fully remote software engineers from across NCAR. Our team collaborates with scientists to sustain and enhance WACCM and CAM-Chem development and deliver state-of-the-art modeling solutions to the global atmospheric research community.

NCAR encourages employees to have a strong work-life balance and offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth. You can grow your professional skills through our mentorship program or learn and sharpen your technical skills through events like our company-sponsored hackathons with industry partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Software Engineering

Participates in the full-cycle development of software systems to meet the project milestones and requirements

Contributes as part of a team to implement system design

Collaborates with team members, end users, and project stakeholders to implement solutions to complex problems

Develops, tests, and delivers software components

Applies and contributes to design standards and development processes as part of an integrated team of software developers

Conveys technical information to the team lead or a small working group/team

Deployment and Operations

Executes a variety of tasks in support of operating in-development and production-level systems. Tasks include: application configuration, application deployment to on-site environments, and management of system configuration and resources

Participates in running, debugging, and monitoring software processes and systems

Participates in code and design reviews

User Support

Interacts with technical experts, and end users to identify software requirements, priorities, and technical direction based on user feedback

Supports technical and non-technical staff in the use of systems and services

Interacts with users to solve problems, augment system functionality, and improve user experience

Participates in writing software documentation and training material for both internal and external audiences. Contribute to user-focused meetings and workshops

Develops materials for project workshops and new user tutorials

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education and Experience (Required):

Bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience (e.g. Associate’s degree and four years of experience)Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities REQUIRED:

Ability to work productively within a team on dynamic projects

Ability to write clean, well-documented, basic testable code

Ability to gather and refine software requirements

Experience in at least one modern compiled language such as C++11, Fortran 2003, etc.

Experience with Python or other scripting languages (e.g., Perl, Bash, Lua, etc.)

Experience using version control and continuous integration tools such as GitHub, GitLab, GitHub Actions, Travis, Jenkins, etc.

Skill in debugging and analyzing existing code

Excellent written and oral communication skills on an individual and team level with an emphasis on technical concepts

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Desired but Not Required:

Knowledge of common software design patterns

Familiarity with Agile project management

Familiarity with parallel or asynchronous programming such as with MPI, OpenMP, GPUs, message queues, etc.

Familiarity with common build systems such as CMake, GNU Make, Ninja, etc.

Familiarity with dev-ops technology such as containers or clouds

Experience with the Community Earth System Models (or similar)

Experience in scientific computing

Experience plotting geographic data

Benefits Overview

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

10 days of sick leave each year

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

Commitment to Diversity, Equity Inclusion

Our organization is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome and supported. To learn more about these efforts, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity Inclusion Strategic Plan and our Diversity Inclusion: A Welcoming Workplace site.

Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a position if they do not meet almost 100% of the desired skills and experience . Please note this is not necessary! If you meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We can provide on-the-job training for the rest!

Some Final Considerations

At UCAR|NCAR|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, fully-remote and/or flexible work schedules.

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 work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.

At NCAR - the National Center for Atmospheric Research - we study weather, water, climate, air quality, and space weather to help protect lives and livelihoods, grow the economy, and enhance our nation’s security and well-being. We collaborate with research partners to advance the science that makes predictions better and with end users to develop applications for forecasters, farmers, resource managers, retailers, the military, and many other stakeholders.

UCAR - the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research - manages NCAR on behalf of the National Science Foundation. We are a nonprofit consortium of more than 115 colleges and universities with research and training programs in Earth system science. We bring together the academic community and provide the operational management that are both essential to NCAR's success. UCAR’s community programs, from educational resources to data delivery and other services, extend the reach and impact of NCAR’s world-class research to the community and society.

We seek talented people with diverse backgrounds, training, and skills to join us in our mission of science in service to society. Want to learn more? Visit ucar.edu.