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Data Curation Jobs in Baltimore, MD (NOW HIRING)

Data Scientist 3

Annapolis, MD ยท On-site

$161K - $211K/yr

Data Processing: (Data management and curation, data description and visualization, workflow and reproducibility). * Modeling, Inference, and Prediction: (Data modeling and assessment, domain ...

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Data Curation information

See Baltimore, MD salary details

$10

$45

$72

How much do data curation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for data curation in Baltimore, MD is $45.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.96 and $59.20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a data curation?

A Data Curation job involves collecting, organizing, maintaining, and ensuring the quality of data for accuracy and accessibility. Data curators clean and structure datasets, manage metadata, and ensure compliance with data governance standards. They work closely with data scientists, analysts, and engineers to support data-driven decision-making. This role is essential in industries like research, healthcare, finance, and technology, where high-quality data is crucial for insights and innovation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in data curation, and why are they important?

To excel in Data Curation, you need a strong background in data management, information science, and database technologies, often supported by a degree in a related field. Familiarity with data wrangling tools, metadata standards, programming languages (such as Python or R), and data management systems is highly valuable. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and collaborative communication are standout soft skills in this position. These abilities ensure data integrity, usability, and accessibility, which are essential for supporting robust decision-making and research outcomes.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in data curation roles?

Professionals in Data Curation often manage large, complex datasets from diverse sources, which can present challenges in ensuring consistency, accuracy, and proper documentation. They may encounter incomplete or poorly formatted data that requires significant cleaning and standardization. Collaborating with researchers, data engineers, and subject matter experts is common to clarify requirements and maintain data integrity. Staying current with evolving data standards and technologies is also key to success, making adaptability important in daily work.

How do you become a data curator?

To become a data curator, you typically need a bachelor's degree in a related field such as information science, computer science, or data management. Gaining experience with data organization, metadata standards, and tools like database management systems or data cleaning software is important, along with developing strong analytical and attention-to-detail skills.

Is a data curator a good job?

A data curator manages and organizes data sets to ensure quality, consistency, and accessibility, often using tools like databases and data management software. It is a growing field with opportunities in industries such as healthcare, finance, and technology, and typically requires strong attention to detail and knowledge of data standards. The role can offer stable employment and the chance to develop specialized skills in data management.

What does a data curator do?

A data curator is responsible for organizing, maintaining, and ensuring the quality of data within a database or repository. They select relevant data, apply standards for consistency, and often use tools like data management software to prepare data for analysis or sharing.

What are popular job titles related to Data Curation jobs in Baltimore, MD?

For Data Curation jobs in Baltimore, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Data Curation job openings in Baltimore, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,720 per year, or $45.1 per hour.

GD164 Technical Data Curator

Greenbelt, MD โ€ข On-site

ADNET Systems, Inc.
IT Servicesย โ€ขย 201 - 500 employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

GD 164 Technical Data Curator
ADNET Systems, Inc. is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Technical Data Curator to support the GES DISC team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. In this role, you will bridge the gap between raw Earth science data and the scientists and users who depend on it. You will work hands-on with large-scale atmospheric, precipitation, and climate datasets - ensuring they are well-documented, properly formatted, quality-checked, and accessible in modern cloud environments.
A key aspect of this role is serving as a technical liaison between data providers - such as instrument teams, mission science teams, and field campaign investigators - and the GES DISC archive. You will translate scientific data deliveries into well-curated, standards-compliant, archive-ready products that serve a broad user community.
The ideal candidate has experience both producing and consuming Earth science data - someone who understands the pain points of a data user firsthand and can translate that empathy into better data products and services.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Data Ingest & Management: Receive, validate, and ingest Earth science data products into the GES DISC archive; ensure data integrity and compliance with metadata standards (e.g., CF Conventions, ACDD, ISO 19115, NASA UMM).
  • Cloud Data Stewardship: Manage and optimize data holdings in cloud environments (AWS S3); support and promote cloud-native data access patterns including direct S3 access and cloud-optimized formats such as Zarr and Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF (COG).
  • Format Expertise: Work with common Earth science data formats including HDF4, HDF5, NetCDF-4, GeoTIFF, and others; validate and transform datasets as needed to meet archive standards.
  • Scripting & Automation: Develop and maintain scripts and pipelines to automate data processing, validation, transformation, and quality assurance workflows, primarily in Python; engage with and maintain legacy code in Perl, SQL, or other languages as needed.
  • Data Provider Liaison: Serve as a primary point of contact for data providers (e.g., instrument teams, mission science teams, field campaign investigators); communicate technical requirements for data format, metadata standards, and delivery protocols; collaborate with providers to resolve data quality issues prior to and following archive ingest.
  • User Support: Serve as a technical resource for data users; troubleshoot data access issues, respond to user inquiries, and advocate for user needs in tool and system improvements.
  • Collaboration: Coordinate with data providers, GES DISC platform engineers, NASA civil servants (at GES DISC and ESDIS), and the broader DAAC community to implement best practices and ensure consistency across the data archive.
  • Emerging Standards: Stay current with evolving data standards, formats, and community practices (e.g., STAC, OGC APIs, Zarr, cloud-optimized formats).

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Earth Science, Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Geography, Information Science, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
  • Strong Python programming skills, including experience with Earth science libraries such as xarray, netCDF4, h5py, numpy, pandas, or similar
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience working with gridded (Level 3) and swath (Level 2) data in HDF4/5 and/or NetCDF formats
  • Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (AWS preferred) and cloud storage concepts (e.g., object storage, cloud-optimized data access)
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively with external stakeholders such as data providers, science teams, or mission teams
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce clear technical documentation
  • Knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git/GitHub)
  • US Citizenship required.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 1 Investigation through NASA.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience working with or within a NASA DAAC or similar data repository (e.g., NSIDC, ORNL, ASDC, PO.DAAC)
  • Experience as a data user - i.e., has worked with Earth science datasets in a research, operational, or analytical context and understands common user workflows and pain points
  • Prior experience acting as a technical point of contact or liaison for data providers or external science teams
  • Familiarity with GES DISC data holdings or tools such as Giovanni, Earthdata Search, and OPeNDAP
  • Familiarity with atmospheric science, precipitation, hydrology, or climate data and the communities that use them
  • Knowledge of metadata standards such as CF Conventions, ACDD, ISO 19115, or NASA's Unified Metadata Model (UMM)
  • Experience with cloud-optimized formats (Zarr, COG, STAC)
  • Experience with database management and SQL query writing
  • Familiarity with data access protocols such as OPeNDAP, THREDDS, or Earthdata APIs
  • Experience with containerization tools (e.g., Docker)
  • Contributions to open-source Earth science software or data communities

Team ADNET brings over 30 years of experience to information systems and professional services for the federal government. With a history of expertise in software development, computer network design, IT security, mission operations support, and educational outreach, Team ADNET is deeply embedded in the Space and Earth Science at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD.
ADNET Systems, Inc. is working with Goddard Space Flight Center to fulfill NASA's vision for space exploration, and working with the Science and Exploration Directorate to fulfill its many missions.
ADNET Systems, Inc. is an employee-centric company, committed to providing premier benefits that support our employees and their families. With affordable medical and dental plans coupled with leading disability and life insurance options, ADNET offers our employees the benefits most sought after by today's professional candidate. Furthermore, our benefits package features the extras that distinguish us from other small businesses, ensuring our high employee retention that our customers appreciate.
Some features of our compensation plans and environment perks include:
  • Annual Leave/Sick Leave
  • Military and Family Emergency Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Performance Bonuses
  • Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
  • Direct Deposit Payroll
  • 401K Plan with Company Matching
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Swag bags