Ocean Model Project Scientist I

Job Description Summary:The CGD Laboratory at NSF’s National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is seeking a Project Scientist I to join our Oceanography Section. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge Earth system science and help guide the development of the Community Earth System Model (CESM), with a focus on its ocean component, the Modular Ocean Model version 6 (MOM6).

In this role, you will combine scientific research with community coordination, serving as the science liaison for the CESM Ocean Model Working Group (OMWG). You'll collaborate closely with scientists across NSF NCAR and the broader university community to advance CESM’s ocean modeling capabilities and ensure effective integration with other CESM components.

We’re looking for a scientist who is passionate about improving ocean models and fostering the scientific community. You’ll have the opportunity to:

- Lead and contribute to research that enhances the CESM ocean model;
- Coordinate OMWG activities and foster collaboration across working groups;
- Support broader CESM ocean-related projects that inform Earth system science at NSF NCAR, and beyond.

If you're eager to make a scientific impact while engaging with a vibrant community of Earth system modelers, we encourage you to apply.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Regular

Compensation Range:

Salary Range $94,406 - $118,006*

*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 MT on Friday, June 20, 2025.

Required application materials: (preferably in PDF Format)

• 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) ALSO please describe what your research would focus on for the next 5 years if funding was not an issue.

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. All employees are required to work a minimum of 3 days/week at our Boulder location(s).

What You Will Do

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

• Serves as the CESM OMWG science liaison, involving a broad range of activities specifically aimed at assisting the activities of scientists in the wider OMWG community, both internal and external to NSF NCAR. Fully participates in numerical experimentation into the nature of ocean processes influencing the global climate system by assisting in the experimental design, overseeing and performing integrations, managing relevant input, output, and comparative data sets, and facilitating the dissemination of results. Maintains existing post-processing tools and develops new ones as needed. Documents the setup of CESM-MOM6 configurations, including experimental procedures and diagnostics. Develops and manages a detailed database of simulation outputs and analysis.

• Conducts independent and collaborative research under general guidance in support of CESM OMWG and other projects. Engages the university community to improve parameterizations and numerical methods in MOM6.

• Interacts with the greater CESM and university communities by promoting and facilitating access to the CESM model codes, diagnostics tools, and results. Contributes to the coordination of OMWG's experimental strategy and resource requirements assessments.

• Leads and participates in writing scientific journal articles and formal reports. Presents results at relevant meetings.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

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

Education and Experience

REQUIRED:

Ph.D. in oceanic, atmospheric, or related Earth sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

DESIRED, but not REQUIRED:

2 years of relevant experience in oceanic, atmospheric or related earth sciences outside of a PhD program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work on a team of NSF NCAR and non-NSF-NCAR scientists and software engineers.

• Demonstrated understanding, through published or academic work, of modeling complex geophysical processes.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the physical and mathematical basis of oceanic general circulation models.

• Demonstrated experience with running coupled climate models, particularly CESM.

• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing reliable Fortran modules for complex geophysical systems, particularly the ocean model.

• Familiarity with the CESM ocean component or comparable global ocean general circulation models, e.g., Modular Ocean Model version 6 (MOM6), Parallel Ocean Program version 2 (POP2), Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM), MITgcm, etc.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the UNIX operating system and its variants, including skill in writing shell scripts.

• Proven experience with open-source workflows, including version control systems like Git/GitHub, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and issue tracking systems.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Python and Python-based tools for analysis of geophysical models (Dask, Xarray, Jupyter notebooks, etc) in distributed computing environments.

• Knowledge of data analysis methodologies for regional and global climate models.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to assess priorities, plan development work, and meet deliverable deadlines.

• Ability and willingness to work non-standard hours/days when needed to maintain constant production throughput rates.

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.