CPAESS Scientist V

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) • Princeton, NJ

6d • $111,790 - $145,350 • Hybrid

About The Position

UCAR is hiring a CPAESS Scientist V to work with NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), strengthening, modernizing, and managing ocean and biogeochemical modeling and prediction codes, configurations, and workflows associated with NOAA’s Changing Ecosystems and Fisheries Initiative (CEFI) and National Ecosystem Assessment Program (NEAP). The program includes prediction systems for the Northwest Atlantic, Northeast Pacific, Arctic Ocean, Hawaiian Islands, and Great Lakes. It uses GFDL’s Modular Ocean Model 6 (MOM6) and Carbon, Ocean Biogeochemistry and Lower Trophics (COBALT) models and follows open-development practices. The systems generate regional retrospective simulations and seasonal to multi-decadal outlooks to support NOAA coastal resource mandates, industries, and communities.

The position leads scientific and innovation initiatives, develops models and tools, directs project teams, sets priorities, and works with senior leadership, sponsors, and partner organizations. It also involves mentoring staff, producing scientific and technical outputs, disseminating findings, representing the organization in external engagements, and developing complex products and technologies.

Role-specific work includes unifying regional ocean and biogeochemical configurations in a modern GitHub repository; improving testing infrastructure and pull-request management; unifying retrospective and seasonal forecasting workflows, scripts, data ingestion, and diagnostics; documenting work and contributing to reports and manuscripts; participating in MOM6 and COBALT development communities; and briefing senior GFDL scientists and providing quarterly progress reports.

The work may take place in office, laboratory, industrial, or research environments. Depending on assignments, it may include travel and field or laboratory activities in variable or severe weather, remote locations, uneven terrain, elevated platforms, vehicles, or aircraft. Work may involve specialized scientific equipment and hazardous processes or materials. Safety training and, depending on the assignment, personal protective equipment are required. The role is open to in-person or hybrid work, with hybrid staff expected to work onsite approximately three days per week. Work must be performed within the United States, excluding U.S. territories. The start date will be confirmed after successful federal screening.

Requirements

• Typically, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in science and 15 years of related experience, a master’s degree and 11 years of experience, a Ph.D. in a scientific discipline and 7 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expert knowledge of scientific or technical theories, methods, or modeling techniques in a specialized field, with broad understanding of related domains.
• Ability to mentor and build teams, support technical development, promote collaboration, and align work across projects.
• Strong communication skills for engaging senior stakeholders, supporting program development, and translating scientific insights into strategies or products.
• Leadership, mentoring, and team-development skills, with a focus on collaborative, high-performing environments.
• Excellent analytical and strategic-planning capabilities to set priorities, navigate trade-offs, and define impactful scientific or technological directions.
• Ability to develop innovative hypotheses, methods, tools, models, or frameworks addressing complex scientific, operational, or applied challenges.
• Proven ability to deliver publications, presentations, or externally recognized outputs reflecting meaningful contributions to the field.
• Recognition as an emerging leader in scientific communities through service, collaborative influence, or participation in national initiatives.
• Ability to perform the mental and physical requirements of the position and project assignments, with or without reasonable accommodation, and comply with applicable safety policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Expert knowledge of code management, ocean and biogeochemical modeling, and running ocean and biogeochemical models on modern high-performance computing architectures.
• Expert knowledge and application of GitHub.
• Deep expertise in development and testing of MOM6 and COBALT modeling operational systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate within a development team and oversee code-management execution across a project team.
• Demonstrated skill with the MOM6 ocean and COBALT biogeochemical models.

Responsibilities

• Lead, design, and execute scientific and innovation initiatives, including theoretical advances, methodological development, and practical applications.
• Develop and refine models, tools, instrumentation, and analytical approaches, integrating insights across disciplines.
• Direct project teams and manage project scope, risks, resources, and coordination across contributors, sponsors, and partner organizations.
• Use independent judgment and subject-matter expertise to define objectives, prioritize activities, and identify opportunities for research, innovation, or application.
• Engage with senior leadership and sponsors to shape scientific strategies, align goals with broader priorities, and guide proposals and program planning.
• Mentor scientists and technical staff, support their professional development, and foster collaboration and strong team performance.
• Contribute to or lead papers, reports, technical documentation, datasets, findings, and proposals.
• Disseminate outcomes through peer-reviewed publications, technical tools, invited talks, stakeholder briefings, and thought leadership.
• Represent the organization in external engagements, advisory roles, national panels, and collaborative initiatives.
• Lead development of complex products, tools, instruments, and technologies for projects and programs.
• Consolidate and manage regional ocean and biogeochemical configurations in a unified modern GitHub repository.
• Strengthen, execute, and expand testing infrastructure, including Arctic, Great Lakes, and Pacific Islands test cases, and manage pull requests.
• Unify retrospective and seasonal forecasting workflows, execution scripts, data ingestion, and scientific diagnostics across regions.
• Author technical documentation and task findings and contribute to scientific reports and manuscripts.
• Participate in MOM6 and COBALT development communities and report quarterly on code, configuration, and testing advances.
• Engage with senior scientists at GFDL and across NOAA Research to modernize the open-development modeling system underpinning CEFI/NEAP ocean predictions.
• Brief senior GFDL scientists on development progress and submit quarterly reports.

Benefits

• Health insurance, including medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Retirement plan, with UCAR contributing 10% of base salary.
• Time-off plans, including a minimum of 20 days of annual PTO and 10 paid holidays.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• FAMLI leave.
• Tuition assistance program.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)-eligible employer.
• Employee assistance programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior