Scientific Programmer/Developer
We are seeking a scientific programmer to support algorithm development and data product generation for the SAGE III/ISS mission at NASA Langley Research Center. SAGE stands for "Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment" and represents a series of instruments dating back to the 1970s which measure upper atmospheric composition. Since 2017, SAGE III/ISS has operated on the International Space Station (ISS), scanning the rising and setting sun with a spectrometer to collect atmospheric absorption data which is processed into scientifically useful vertical profiles of aerosol extinction, ozone, and other trace gases.
The successful candidate will join a small programming team maintaining the SAGE III/ISS gas retrieval algorithms, developing new features, and analyzing various telemetry parameters and data products. Code review and testing will be among your daily duties. You will also learn to generate commands for the SAGE instrument, test them in a NASA laboratory, and transmit them through the ISS. Work will be performed at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
While technical skill and experience are valuable for this position, curiosity and creativity are most important. Success in the job will also depend on perseverance, critical thinking, and attention to detail. Applicants are encouraged to highlight examples of problem-solving ability and outside-the-box thinking in their submissions.
Responsibilities:
- Work with a team of scientists, engineers, and programmers to design and implement software solutions for scientific problems
- Improve existing algorithms to optimize statistical robustness and computational performance
- Apply scripting and automation to data processing
- Perform routine monitoring and commanding of the instrument
Requirements:
- M.S. or equivalent in Atmospheric Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related field (B.S. with relevant coursework/experience may be considered)
- Strong Python programming skills and knowledge of common scientific and visualization packages like NumPy and Matplotlib
- Familiarity with Linux operating systems, command lines, and file systems
- Demonstrated ability to apply physical and mathematical concepts in code
- Proficiency writing and speaking in English
Preferred skills & experience:
- Fortran programming
- Source control with Git/GitHub/Gitflow
- Remote sensing, gas spectroscopy, and radiative transfer
Applicant must be a US citizen or permanent US resident.
This work will be performed on-site at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton VA. In person attendance is expected.
