Staff Careers

We are seeking a Space Weather & Satellite R2O Scientist in the area of space weather and satellite remote sensing with research-to-operations (R2O) expertise to support NASA, NOAA, and Department of War programs. Direct experience leading space weather and satellite research-to-operations and involvement in research-to-operations testbeds (e.g., NASA SPoRT, NOAA HWT, SWPT, SPG, AWT, etc.) are critical for this position. Knowledge of satellite retrievals, algorithms, and the assimilation of remote sensing products in models and products is required. The candidate should have a broad knowledge of atmospheric and radiative transfer processes as well as atmospheric and satellite-based datasets for integration into merged products and machine learning applications. They will be expected to serve as a liaison between NASA missions/science teams and research-to-operations testbeds to facilitate integration of new algorithms and products for O2R/A2R testing and feedback. The candidate will lead the development and/or evaluation of satellite-based products, provide statistical evaluation of machine learning model output, and engage with the broader scientific and operational community to assess their use within the space weather, weather/climate, and energy communities. In addition, they will be expected to engage with missions and science teams to facilitate O2R/A2R feedback for development of capabilities within SPoRT and through external collaborators. The position will be located at the National Space Science & Technology Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and will support the scientific development and application of machine learning and satellite remote sensing products.

SPoRT is a NASA project to transition unique observations and research capabilities to the operational weather community to improve short-term forecasts on a regional scale. Based at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, SPoRT is collaborating with the University of Alabama in Huntsville to provide direct science support along with science and technical coordination in the areas of weather, climate, air quality, natural disasters, satellite remote sensing, and data science and applications.

Duties / Responsibilities

​• Lead space weather R2O2R efforts by integrating new algorithms and products into R2O testbeds for operational testing and feedback.
​• Provide Space Weather and satellite research-to-operations subject matter expertise to UAH and the NASA Earth Science team, including the operational deployment of new software/products to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed, and DoW/Air Force partners.
​• Provide scientific expertise to facilitate applied science studies in satellite remote sensing as applied to machine learning for satellite and boundary layer applications.
​• Develop user-based assessments for software, algorithms, and products for the NASA SPoRT project and support the deployment of new software/products to NASA, NOAA, and DoW partners through site visits and training workshops.
​• Lead the development of new products/applications, proposals, and scientific papers on space weather, satellite remote sensing, and machine learning.

​• PhD in Atmospheric Science, Earth Science, Physics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a closely related discipline; (a Bachelor's degree and experience in a specialized area may be substituted for a degree).
​• 3.5 plus years of verifiable full-time work experience.
​• Direct experience in space weather and satellite research-to-operations and involvement in research-to-operations testbeds.
​• Ability to perform satellite and geophysical data processing, analysis, and visualization.
​• Willingness to assist in the development of novel machine/deep learning models and the use of large language models.
​• Strong programming background in Python and/or other programming languages.
​• Understanding of remote sensing theory and satellite data applications.
​• Hands-on experience developing and evaluating satellite algorithms and datasets
​• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
​• Willingness to work closely with others in a team environment.
​• Desire to participate in science workshops and conferences, as well as in publishing results.

$144,506-$151,631