Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development
Lynker Corporation•College Park, MD
•$75,000 - $120,000•Hybrid
About The Position
Lynker is seeking a Support Scientist for Operational Wave Modeling Development to enhance operational marine modeling capabilities within the National Weather Service (NWS) Regional Wave Prediction System (RWPS). This role is crucial for advancing foundational guidance for Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) to protect life and property. The specialist will support the development, testing, and implementation of physics-based and machine learning wave frameworks, integrate coastal processes, and assist in transitioning capabilities into NWS operations. The ideal candidate will be local to the DC Metro area and work a hybrid schedule, spending 2 days per week in the College Park, MD office and 3 days remotely.
Requirements
- An M.S. (or equivalent experience) in meteorology, physical oceanography, coastal engineering or a related field, with 7+ years in weather forecasting, physical oceanography, or coastal ocean science.
- Knowledge of spectral wave models (like WAVEWATCH III), in particular for real-time applications.
- Experience in running numerical models on High Performing Computer (HPC) platforms using MPI, OpenMP, Slurm, LSF, etc.
- Familiarity with modern software development practices, particularly version control software.
- Advanced skills and knowledge of modern programming languages and object-oriented languages, such as FORTRAN90 and Python.
- Experience working in a UNIX environment with advanced shell scripting languages and familiar with running complex jobs.
- Demonstrated proficiency using GitHub to manage software repositories, code versions, and projects.
- Ability to maintain, visualize, and disseminate marine modeling output and web-based products.
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated experience in operational system integration, and software development for real-time applications within regional and nearshore domains.
- Direct experience advancing formulations for coastal processes, including wave runup, total water level, coastal impact prediction, and rip current forecasting.
- Familiarity with applying artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) techniques to enhance wave parameterizations, model efficiency, or forecast accuracy.
- Strong team-player mindset with a proven ability to collaborate across interagency and private sectors.
Responsibilities
- Support the development, optimization, maintenance, and integration of wave modeling capabilities within the RWPS architecture, ensuring alignment with NWS operational standards.
- Advance numerical and statistical formulations for key coastal phenomena, including wave runup, coastal impact prediction, total water level, and rip current forecasting.
- Explore, evaluate, and integrate artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) techniques to improve wave modeling efficiency, parameterizations, or forecast accuracy.
- Partner across multidisciplinary federal and private sectors to evaluate external models and accelerate the transition of research to operations (R2O).
- Design and execute numerical model experiments, applying advanced verification, validation, and observational data-fusion techniques across regional and nearshore domains.
- Maintain, visualize, and disseminate marine modeling output and related web-based products for internal operational and public use.
Benefits
- Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
- Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
- Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
- Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
- 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Life and accident insurance
- Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
- Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
- Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
- Employee Referral Program
- Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
- Personalized career growth plans for every employee
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
