Radar Meteorologist

Rainmaker Technology Corporation • El Segundo, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Rainmaker is hiring a Radar Meteorologist in El Segundo for its Atmospheric Intelligence team, which develops observations, models, and experiments to guide cloud seeding and measure its effects. The role turns weather radar observations into a clearer understanding of clouds, precipitation, and the effects of seeding operations. The meteorologist will develop and apply methods for radar quality control, precipitation estimation, and analysis of seeded and natural precipitation, spanning storm case studies, repeatable workflows, and radar-observation design for field campaigns. The position collaborates with radar scientists, meteorologists, software engineers, and field teams to make these methods useful across Rainmaker’s programs.

The role includes analyzing radar observations, evaluating precipitation estimates and uncertainty, assessing seeding operations alongside other atmospheric data, and designing analyses that distinguish potential seeding responses from natural variability. It also supports radar siting and scan strategies, reproducible Python workflows, field campaigns and troubleshooting, and communication of findings through figures, technical reports, and reviews.

Within the first 90 days, the successful candidate is expected to learn Rainmaker’s radar systems, data workflows, and validation methods; produce a reproducible case study of a representative seeding event; implement and evaluate a prioritized improvement; and propose further analysis and observing improvements with clear measures of success. The role is based onsite in El Segundo, with travel to deployment sites as needed.

Requirements

• A degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, physics, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience using weather radar observations to answer meteorological questions in research or operations.
• Strong understanding of radar measurement principles, Doppler and polarimetric variables, sampling geometry, and common sources of error.
• Knowledge of cloud microphysics and precipitation processes, including interpretation of observations in mixed-phase conditions and winter weather.
• Proficiency in Python for scientific data processing, analysis, and visualization.
• Experience evaluating scientific methods against independent observations, diagnosing bias, and quantifying uncertainty.
• Ability to take an open scientific question through data analysis to a defensible conclusion, using reproducible code and clear documentation.
• Clear communication, constructive scientific collaboration, and willingness to work onsite in El Segundo and travel for field campaigns as needed.

Nice To Haves

• An MS or PhD with research focused on radar meteorology, precipitation estimation, or cloud microphysics.
• Experience with cloud seeding research, orographic precipitation, snowfall retrievals, or attribution of small signals within natural variability.
• Hands-on experience deploying, calibrating, or operating research radars and designing scan strategies.
• Experience with tools such as Py-ART or xradar and data from research radars, NEXRAD, or MRMS.
• Experience integrating radar with disdrometers, precipitation gauges, aircraft or UAS measurements, or numerical weather prediction.

Responsibilities

• Analyze scanning and vertically pointing radar observations to characterize cloud structure, precipitation processes, and the evolution of potential seeding signatures.
• Develop and improve radar quality control, addressing clutter, interference, attenuation, calibration bias, and terrain blockage.
• Develop and evaluate quantitative precipitation estimates for rain and snow, explicitly accounting for sampling limitations and retrieval uncertainty.
• Combine radar data with seeding release records, winds, soundings, satellite observations, and in situ measurements to assess individual operations.
• Design analyses that distinguish potential seeding responses from natural variability, test alternative explanations, and establish what observations support.
• Help design radar siting and scan strategies to capture cloud volumes and precipitation relevant to operational targeting and validation.
• Build reproducible Python workflows for processing, visualization, and analysis, and partner with software engineers to automate methods across programs.
• Support field campaigns and radar troubleshooting with field teams, including travel to deployment sites as needed.
• Communicate findings through clear figures, technical reports, and reviews that inform operational decisions and future experiments.
• Learn the radar systems, data workflows, and validation methods; deliver a reproducible case study; evaluate a prioritized methodological improvement; and propose further improvements with measures of success within the first 90 days.

Benefits

• Meaningful stock options and the opportunity to help shape Rainmaker as an early team member.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee and family.
• 401(k) with employer matching.
• Unlimited PTO and a generous paid holiday schedule.
• Paid parental leave for both parents.
• Daily lunch provided at the El Segundo headquarters.
• Relocation assistance for eligible roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed