Postdoctoral Fellow I

Job Description Summary:NSF | NCAR is excited to announce a job opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow I role. This position is focused on the evolution of high-performance computing (HPC) scientific codebases. The incumbent works on developing techniques to accelerate the transition of existing legacy applications to utilize modern language-based approaches based on C++ or Python. This applied research is focused on an alternative to a directive-based approach to GPU enablement and may include leveraging C++ productivity frameworks, Domain-Specific Languages, and other alternative programming languages. The developed solutions must provide a performance portable solution across an array of both CPU and GPU architectures. This position, which is funded under the Community Software Facility project with pre-defined research goals, is directed by an NSF NCAR staff member and will involve collaboration with the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre (EPCC).

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

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

Compensation Range:

Salary Annual Rate: $80,480

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

Application Notes

Application Deadline:

• This position will be posted until 11:59 PM MDT, Friday, May 9, 2025.

Required application materials: (preferably in PDF Format)

• Resume
• 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). Please also describe a recent important project you have been working on.

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.

Please note that this position is intended as HYBRID, w/ a minimum requirement of 3 days/week onsite in Boulder, CO.

What You Will Do

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

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement methodologies that ensure software solutions can deliver optimal performance across a variety of hardware and software environments.

• Transition and optimize legacy CPU-based Fortran code to modern GPU-enabled architectures.

• Collaborate with researchers using LLM to explore the use of automated techniques for code transformation, optimization, and parallelization.

• Presents results at project meetings and conferences; publishes results in the peer-reviewed scientific literature and reviews scientific manuscripts.

• Contribute to team meetings and discussions, general coordination with the research team.

• Mentors students, interns, and visitors in collaboration with other NSF NCAR team members.

Decision-making and problem solving

• Prioritize research and show independence in problem-solving once a project is underway.

• Seek help from other research team members when individual progress is hindered. 

• Initiate meetings with mentors and other members of the research team when appropriate. 

• Leads distillation and organization of results for presentation and publication in scientific journals.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

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

Education & Experience

• Ph.D. in computer science, atmospheric science, physics, engineering, or other relevant science.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Required/Desired)

REQUIRED

• Skilled in high-performance parallel computing on both CPU and GPU architectures.

• Proficiency in applying modern computational frameworks written in  C++ or Python to support efficient execution on both CPU and GPU architectures.

• Experience with the use of small-scale scientific mini-apps to evaluate program language approaches.

• Strong oral and written communication skills with demonstrated success publishing in peer-reviewed journals and/or computer science conferences. 

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a larger interdisciplinary team.

• Skill in planning and managing project goals, objectives, and priorities to meet goals promptly and on time.

• Demonstrated ability with creative scientific insight.

DESIRED

• Knowledge of large-scale scientific applications.

• An interest or knowledge A passion for advancing scientific computing through innovations in both CPU and GPU performance optimizations.

• Familiarity with AI/ML techniques for code transformation and optimization.

• Proficiency in the use of Fortran for high-performance scientific computing.

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 Job Application Fairness

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.

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 (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 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.

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 the way 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.