Federal Noaa Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Boulder, Colorado

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.

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 Atmospheric Composition Modeling Program within NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) conducts research on atmospheric composition and its controlling processes aimed at improving models of air quality, weather prediction and reanalysis. Researchers use atmospheric models and observations collected on the ground, in the air, and from space to develop and evaluate innovative ways of describing and simulating the emissions, transport, and chemical evolution of atmospheric gases and aerosols at regional to global scales.

• Develops and validates atmospheric chemical-transport models for both research and operational applications, including development of the Configurable ATmospheric Chemistry (CATChem) library (30%).
• Incorporates the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) framework for satellite data assimilation into the UFS-Chem atmospheric chemistry model (30%).
• Updates fire emissions to be used in UFS-Chem to improve model performance at simulating ozone and aerosols produced from fires (25%).
• Evaluates UFS-Chem model output against in situ and satellite observations and publishes new scientific findings in the peer-reviewed literature (10%).
• Perform other relevant duties as necessary (5%).

• This is a 2-year appointment with the possibility of extension.
• Candidates must be able to successfully complete federal clearance and start work by October 1, 2026.
• This position does not offer visa sponsorship. Given project deliverables and the need for federal clearance, candidates working in the U.S through a visa or working permit are not eligible for this role.
• 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.
• Domestic or international conference travel is required for approximately 1-3 times per year.
• Occasional field campaign support may be required for approximately 1-2 times per year.

• CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this position is $72,000 - $84,450. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career-track classification.
• This position can accommodate a hybrid work modality after an initial training period.
• 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 receive a pass allowing free access to the regional public transit system, which is an outstanding network of buses and light rail systems that provide service within Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

• A PhD degree in atmospheric sciences or relevant field of study, followed by a minimum of two years of postdoctoral research experience. Candidates fulfilling two years of postdoctoral research experience by October 1, 2026, will be considered.
• Experience with satellite data assimilation is required.
• Experience with atmospheric chemical-transport model development (UFS experience is a plus) is required.
• Experience with statistical evaluations and validations is required.
• Experience publishing scientific findings in peer-reviewed literature is required.

• Ability to consistently promote, support, work, and act in a manner in support of CIRES' vision, mission and values.
• Strong knowledge of satellite data retrievals.
• Strong knowledge of atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric chemistry and geoscientific models.
• Strong skills with large-scale data processing and visualization.
• Expertise with high-performance computing and/or cloud computing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage time and prioritize tasks.
• Demonstrated programming proficiency through Python.
• Demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present at national/international conferences.

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 and experience 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 applying advanced statistical evaluations for model-measurement comparisons and/or satellite validations.
• Experience developing statistical analysis and visualization tools.
• Experience developing a workflow for model implementations.
• Experience documenting standard operating procedures for technical tasks.
• Experience evaluating emissions inventory.

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV.
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
3. If you are identified as a finalist, the search committee will request a letter 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.

This position will close August 28, 2026.

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