Ionospheric Scientist – Modeling Lead

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Colorado.

📋 Description

• Enhance predictive models for the ionosphere and atmosphere to improve space weather forecasting, impacting communications, navigation, and satellite drag.

• Collaborate with the scientific community and space weather users to discover modeling innovations that will benefit forecasters and clients.

• Evaluate and validate models and applications to determine SWPC priorities.

• Facilitate the transition of high-priority models from research into operational space weather forecasting.

• Ensure that scientific validation, documentation, and software infrastructure requirements are fulfilled.

• Seek external research capabilities related to new models, observations, and innovations.

• Present findings via internal reports, professional meetings, publications, and conferences.

• Oversee and coordinate the ionospheric modeling group at SWPC.

• Manage model development initiatives across various agencies and guide research priorities.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Ph.D. from an accredited institution in Physical Sciences, Atmospheric Science, Space Physics, Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.

• Minimum of five years of experience in research or operational forecasting.

• Extensive knowledge of ionosphere and thermosphere physics and chemistry.

• Understanding of space weather physical processes, including the interaction of solar wind with Earth’s magnetosphere.

• Proficiency in ionosphere and thermosphere modeling.

• Scientific programming abilities, particularly in Fortran and Python.

• Experience in physical-model analysis and validation utilizing satellite and ground-based data.

• Familiarity with the WAM-IPE model or other physics-based ionosphere-thermosphere models.

• Proven ability to manage and coordinate a small team of scientists.

• Capability to operate effectively in a mission-focused operational environment.

• Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to make independent decisions.

• Excellent teamwork skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ideally, knowledge of space weather impacts on radio communications, satellite navigation, or satellite drag.

• Ideally, understanding of lower-atmosphere impacts on space weather.

• Ideally, experience with data assimilation methodologies.

• Ideally, familiarity with GitLab and Docker.

• Ideally, experience in parallel programming/computing and high-performance computing.

• Ideally, experience in developing visualizations of scientific datasets.

• Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage for employees at no monthly cost.

• Healthcare benefits include medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.

• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy in addition to paid holidays.

• Highly competitive compensation package regularly adjusted 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, and workforce improvement reimbursement annually.

• Spot bonuses for outstanding performance.

• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses.

• Employee Referral Program.

• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System.

• Customized career growth plans for every employee.