Support Scientist HAFS Developer

I.M. Systems Group, Inc. (IMSG) is seeking a candidate to support the Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in carrying out research and development work related to future operational hurricane forecast systems. The candidate’s work will involve the development, execution, testing, and evaluation of several different components of the proposed FV3-based HAFS (Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System) that include hurricane dynamics, multi-level high-resolution movable nests, physics, data assimilation, vortex initialization, coupling to ocean, wave, land, storm surge and inundation models. The work location is at the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) in College Park, MD.

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 EMC scientists and external collaborators to set up comprehensive tests of new hurricane models, and evaluate the results using objective verification metrics and model diagnostics. The candidate will work on several tasks, including developing advanced nesting and coupling techniques for Hurricane modeling using next-generation Finite Volume Cubed-Sphere (FV3) model, and/or advanced hurricane physical parameterization techniques applicable at high resolutions, and/or advanced inner-core data assimilation methods for conventional and satellite data, determining areas of physics improvement needed to increase forecast skill and transitioning hurricane physics from existing operational models into the FV3-based hurricane models within the Unified Forecast System Common Community Physics Package (CCPP) framework. The candidate will work with advanced NOAA Environmental Modeling System (NEMS) infrastructure and multi-scale modeling framework, improving hurricane specific physics, data assimilation, dynamics, and high-resolution telescoping and moving nest techniques. This work will include:

●    Develop new or improving existing nesting and coupling schemes for multi-scale high-resolution hurricane models.

●    Implement and test advanced hurricane-specific physical parameterizations into the FV3-based CCPP framework.

●    Develop new or improved inner-core data assimilation algorithms for FV3.

●    Design, setup, and execute pre-implementation tests for annual experimental and operational hurricane model upgrades.

●    Develop advanced initialization methods for experimental and operational hurricane models.

●    Develop and implement generalized nesting techniques for global-to-local scale applications.

●    Develop advanced scripts for flexible end-to-end system integration and automation, and allow for additional functionalities.

A Master’s Degree or higher in atmospheric sciences or meteorology, oceanic, mathematics, or related physical science with at least 2 years of experience in the area of hurricane and tropical cyclone (TC) modeling. Candidates must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder to qualify (please indicate in your cover letter).

Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in at least five of the following areas:

●    Advanced knowledge of tropical meteorology and in particular TCs.

●    Knowledge of the physical and mathematical basis of geophysical modeling (atmospheric and/or oceanic) and experience running advanced numerical weather prediction (NWP) 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. 

●    Experience in model testing and evaluation and/or knowledge of objective verification principles.

●    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 attention to detail.

●    Familiarity with advanced TC physical parameterizations applicable at high (1-3 km) resolutions.

●    Familiarity with advanced TC data assimilation algorithms applicable at high (1-3 km) resolutions.

●    Familiarity with the POM and/or HYCOM ocean 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.

To Apply

Please apply online at through the external application link on Handshake. In your cover letter, please indicate the following information:

1) Timeline of availability

2) Citizenship Status

3) Salary requirements for considerations

NOTE: Provide three References