CIRES/NOAA Global Systems Laboratory, Satellite Data Assimilation Scientist

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
(CIRES), a partnership of the University of Colorado Boulder and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has a job
opening for a Satellite Data Assimilation Scientist at the
NOAA Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) located in Boulder
Colorado.

The Data Assimilation Branch (DAB) within GSL’s Assimilation and
Verification Innovation Division (AVID) develops and advances data
assimilation capabilities for operational numerical weather
prediction systems supporting a wide range of applications,
including aviation, severe weather, renewable energy, and general
weather forecasting. The Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) is
NOAA’s convection-allowing data assimilation and forecast system
designed to provide rapidly updated, high-resolution weather
forecasts over North America. In collaboration with other partners,
GSL is developing and improving RRFS using the Model for Prediction
Across Scales (MPAS) and the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation
Integration (JEDI) framework. To support NOAA's Geostationary
Extended Observations (GeoXO) program, NOAA/GSL has been evaluating
the data impact of hyperspectral infrared radiance data from
polar-orbiting satellites and is also expanding to evaluate the
data impact from geostationary hyperspectral infrared sounder data
(i.e., the recently available Meteosat Third Generation Infrared
Sounder (MTG-IRS) data).

CIRES/NOAA GSL seeks a Satellite Data Assimilation Scientist to
join the Data Assimilation Branch and contribute to the continued
development and improvement of RRFS. The scientist will develop,
evaluate, and test modifications in data assimilation procedures
for satellite and other observations in RRFS, with a particular
focus on satellite radiance data (e.g., MTG-IRS data) and satellite
retrieval products. The candidate will work collaboratively with
scientists at GSL, external partners, and the broader RRFS and UFS
modeling communities.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a
workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and
dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to
apply, including protected veterans and individuals with
disabilities.

Who We Are

CIRES is an internationally recognized
leader in innovative environmental science and research and is
located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than
900 environmental science professionals work to understand the
dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the
planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of
expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles,
air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth
sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a
sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal
understanding of the Earth system.

The Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) is
one of ten NOAA Research laboratories and is located in Boulder,
Colorado. GSL researchers develop the-state-of-the-art weather and
air quality models, state-of-the-science decision support tools and
visualization systems and use high-performance computing technology
to support a Weather-Ready Nation. GSL strives to advance its
workforce scientifically, technically, and professionally.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Development and testing of assimilation of hyperspectral

sounding radiance from Meteosat Third Generation Infrared Sounder
(MTG-IRS). (45%)

• Development and testing of assimilation of satellite retrieval

products from Meteosat Third Generation Infrared Sounder (MTG-IRS)
and other sounding retrieval data. (45%)

• Tune and optimize satellite data assimilation within the

MPAS-JEDI based RRFS. (10%)

A scientist assigned at the Research Scientist II level will
take the following additional responsibilities:

• demonstration of independency and leadership.
• Contribute to the retrospective and real-time RRFS experiments

to evaluate novel weather observations and data assimilation
innovations.

A scientist assigned at the Research Scientist III level
will further take more responsibilities as below:

• May be asked to supervise employees, lead projects.
• Substantial and unique contributions to the atmospheric data

assimilation, especially satellite data assimilation.

What You Should Know

• This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of

Colorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the David
Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305, on a
federal research campus.

• Selected finalists will be required to pass a federal

background check for site access.

• Foreign nationals’ access to the federal facility will be

limited to weekdays, and with the presence of a federal
escort.

• Due to project deliverables, the targeted start date for this

position is by March 1, 2027.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this position is $72,000-

$114,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and
determined based on our CIRES internal career track
classification.

• The preferred modality for this position is either in-person or

hybrid, but we may accommodate a fully remote work modality at the
supervisor’s discretion,

• Some relocation funds are available to help offset expenses,

following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocation
processes and procedures.

• CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust

training curriculum, opportunities for professional development,
and a Mentorship Program.

• Boulder is a vibrant community with

access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers,
lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports
venues.

• As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the

regional public transit system, an
outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service
Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding
communities.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are
committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our
employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,
dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition
assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local
transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder
offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class
outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of
Forbes' America's Best
Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado
and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and
programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be enlightened. Be unique. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Ph.D. in meteorology, atmospheric science, or relevant field of

study.

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working on atmospheric data

assimilation.

What You Will Need

• Strong programming skills in at least one modern advanced

programming language (e.g. Fortran or C++).

• Demonstrated ability to use a version control system (e.g.

Git/GitHub).

• Demonstrated ability to work in high-performance computing

environments.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a

team.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position details both required and
preferred skills and experience, we invite applicants to apply even
if they do not have the preferred skills outlined in this section.
If you meet the requirements and have passion for the work, you are
encouraged to apply. We encourage on the job training for any
additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the
position.

• Experience with meteorological data assimilation (JEDI, GSI, or

DART, etc.).

• Experience with analyzing satellite observations and their

impact in data assimilation systems.

• Experience with satellite radiance data including data

assimilation work on hyperspectral radiance data (e.g.,
AIRS/CrIS/IASI/MTG-IRS).

• Expertise with radiative transfer models (e.g., CRTM/RTTOV)

used with satellite radiance data.

• Knowledge of satellite observations, satellite retrievals and

the associated error characteristics and averaging kernels.

• Experience with one or more of the following programming

languages: Fortran, C++, Python, Linux Shell scripting
languages.

• Experience with scientific data formats (grib2, NetCDF,

BUFR).

• Excellent written and oral presentation skills.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• Resume or CV.
• Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly

describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific
interest in this position.

• Contact information (name, title, affiliation, email) for 3

references familiar with your professional qualifications for the
position. You don’t need to include letters of recommendation with
your initial application. If you are identified as a finalist for
this role, the search committee will request letters of
recommendation at a later time.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified
by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an
approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the
United States, please submit a translated version as an optional
attachment.

Please apply by October 15, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For
consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs .

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in
any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying
information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school
attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting
or removing this information.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Guoqing Ge

Posting Contact Email: guoqing.ge@colorado.edu