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Operational Meteorologist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Cloverdale, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Vallejo, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Le Grand, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Colma, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Avenal, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Wilseyville, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

La Habra, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Tustin, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Davis, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Laton, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Alpine, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Martinez, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Fairmead, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

US Navy

Oceanographer/Meteorologist

Eureka, CA

... meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, geophysics, and precise time and astrometry ... Serve as the one-of-one geophysical expert at an operational command. What to Expect Serve in a ...

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All JobsOperational Meteorologist JobsOperational Meteorologist Jobs in California

Operational Meteorologist information

See California salary details

$36.5K

$95K

$120.4K

How much do operational meteorologist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for operational meteorologist in California is $95,017.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $97,200.00 and $97,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a typical day look like for an Operational Meteorologist?

A typical day for an Operational Meteorologist includes analyzing weather data from satellites, radars, and observation stations to generate short-term and long-term forecasts. You'll be tasked with updating forecasts throughout your shift, delivering briefings to stakeholders such as emergency management teams or media outlets, and issuing alerts for severe weather conditions as necessary. The role often involves shift work, including nights and weekends, to provide 24/7 coverage. Collaboration with other meteorologists, IT specialists, and sometimes public safety officials is common, making teamwork and clear communication crucial parts of the job.

What does an operational meteorologist do?

An operational meteorologist analyzes weather data and forecasts to provide timely weather information for decision-making in sectors like aviation, shipping, or emergency management. They use tools such as weather models, radar, and satellite imagery, often working in shifts to ensure continuous coverage and accuracy.

Is there a high demand for meteorologists?

Operational meteorologists are in moderate demand, especially in sectors like weather forecasting, aviation, and emergency management. Employment growth is driven by the need for accurate weather predictions and climate analysis, with a typical requirement for specialized training and certifications. Job prospects can vary based on geographic location and industry needs.

What is the highest paying meteorologist job?

The highest paying meteorologist roles are typically senior positions such as chief meteorologists, atmospheric scientists, or meteorology directors, often found in government agencies, private industry, or research institutions. These roles usually require advanced degrees, extensive experience, and specialized skills, and they can offer salaries exceeding $150,000 annually.

Is meteorology being replaced by AI?

Operational meteorologists use AI and machine learning tools to improve weather forecasting accuracy and data analysis. While AI enhances certain tasks, human expertise remains essential for interpreting complex weather patterns and making critical decisions. AI is a complement, not a replacement, for meteorologists' skills and judgment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Operational Meteorologist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Operational Meteorologist, you need a solid background in atmospheric sciences, data analysis, and weather forecasting, typically supported by a degree in meteorology or a related field. Familiarity with meteorological software, radar systems, and tools like AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System) is essential, and certifications from organizations such as the American Meteorological Society can be advantageous. Strong communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills are important for conveying complex weather data to varied audiences and collaborating effectively. These competencies enable operational meteorologists to provide accurate forecasts and timely warnings, ensuring public safety and supporting critical industries.

What does an Operational Meteorologist do?

An Operational Meteorologist analyzes weather data, creates forecasts, and provides real-time weather warnings to help industries and the public make informed decisions. They use radar, satellite imagery, and computer models to monitor atmospheric conditions. These professionals often work in government agencies, broadcasting, aviation, or private weather services, ensuring timely and accurate weather information.

What are the most commonly searched types of Operational Meteorologist jobs in California? The most popular types of Operational Meteorologist jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Operational Meteorologist jobs in California? For Operational Meteorologist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Operational Meteorologist jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Operational Meteorologist jobs in California are:
Operational Meteorologist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Operational Meteorologist job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 92% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,017 per year, or $45.7 per hour.

Quantitative Meteorologist

Rainmaker Technology Corporation

El Segundo, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

About Rainmaker
Rainmaker is pioneering a modern cloud-seeding system to increase precipitation, improve water availability, and address severe-weather challenges. We combine atmospheric science, weather-resistant UAS, radar and satellite observations, numerical weather prediction, novel sensing systems, and sustainable seeding technologies to design, operate, and evaluate precipitation-enhancement programs.
Research at Rainmaker is attached directly to operations. Our scientists and engineers collect proprietary observations, deliberately intervene in atmospheric systems, evaluate the results, and use what they learn to improve the next operation.
About the Role
As a Quantitative Meteorologist, you will bridge atmospheric science, statistical analysis, operational decision-making, and commercial program design.
You will develop rigorous methods for identifying when and where cloud-seeding operations are most likely to be effective, evaluating completed operations, improving real-time forecast and nowcast workflows, and assessing potential new programs. You will turn meteorological expertise that currently lives in individual judgment into repeatable analyses, decision systems, and defensible measures of performance.
This is not primarily a shift-forecasting role or a pure academic-research position. You will own ambiguous quantitative questions that span science, operations, product, and business development, and you will personally build the analyses and tools needed to answer them.
What You'll Do
  • Develop quantitative methods for identifying, scoring, and ranking cloud-seeding opportunities.
  • Analyze historical and real-time meteorological data to understand the atmospheric and operational conditions associated with successful targeting and precipitation outcomes.
  • Design observational studies, experiments, and statistical analyses that distinguish intervention effects from natural weather variability as rigorously as the available data permits.
  • Establish honest uncertainty bounds and communicate when the evidence does not support a causal conclusion.
  • Build reusable tools for evaluating potential cloud-seeding programs, including climatology, seedable-hour frequency, targetability, operating constraints, expected opportunity, program design, and sensitivity analysis.
  • Work with software engineers to automate meteorological forecasting and nowcasting workflows used by flight and field operations.
  • Develop decision-support methods that combine NWP, ensembles, radar, satellite, sounding, aircraft, UAS, surface, and in-situ observations.
  • Define ground truth, baselines, validation methods, and performance metrics for forecasting, retrieval, precipitation-estimation, and intervention-analysis systems.
  • Translate meteorological concepts into features, labels, physical constraints, evaluation frameworks, and failure cases for machine-learning work.
  • Work with ML and software engineers on hybrid physical, statistical, and learning-based approaches while retaining responsibility for meteorological validity.
  • Produce technical analyses that support customer proposals, program design, business development, scientific validation, and operational reviews.
  • Create stronger feedback loops between forecasting, field operations, sensor development, research, and model development.
  • Communicate results clearly to scientists, operators, engineers, customers, regulators, and nontechnical stakeholders.

What We're Looking For
  • An advanced degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, applied mathematics, statistics, physics, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent evidence of exceptional quantitative meteorological ability.
  • Strong understanding of cloud and precipitation processes, mesoscale meteorology, and numerical weather prediction.
  • Experience applying statistical methods to noisy, spatially and temporally correlated environmental data.
  • Strong Python and scientific-computing skills, including experience with tools such as NumPy, SciPy, pandas, xarray, and geospatial libraries.
  • Experience working with meteorological data such as GRIB, netCDF, radar, satellite, model, sounding, aircraft, or surface observations.
  • Ability to formulate ambiguous scientific and operational questions as measurable quantitative problems.
  • Experience building reproducible analyses, automated workflows, datasets, or decision-support tools.
  • Strong judgment about causality, confounding, uncertainty, validation, and the limits of observational evidence.
  • Clear written and verbal communication across scientific, operational, engineering, and commercial teams.
  • High agency and willingness to do the analytical and implementation work personally.

We care deeply about demonstrated technical ownership. If you have a project, system, experiment, paper, portfolio, or technical write-up that shows how you approach difficult problems, include it with your application and tell us what you personally contributed.
Preferred Qualifications
  • A PhD in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a closely related field.
  • Experience with cloud microphysics, orographic precipitation, convective precipitation, weather modification, hail, or field campaigns.
  • Experience with WRF, HRRR, GFS, ECMWF products, data assimilation, ensembles, operational forecast verification, or meteorological post-processing.
  • Experience with causal inference, experimental design, Bayesian methods, spatial statistics, time-series analysis, uncertainty quantification, or decision science.
  • Experience developing statistical or ML models for weather, remote sensing, or physical systems.
  • Familiarity with radar meteorology, satellite retrievals, quantitative precipitation estimation, cloud-particle measurements, or atmospheric instrumentation.
  • Experience designing or evaluating operational meteorological programs.
  • Experience communicating quantitative results to customers, regulators, government agencies, or business-development teams.

What Success Looks Like
Within your first year, you will have helped Rainmaker:
  • Quantify and rank cloud-seeding opportunities more consistently.
  • Improve the accuracy, speed, and automation of operational forecasting and nowcasting.
  • Establish repeatable and scientifically defensible methods for evaluating operational outcomes.
  • Identify changes to targeting or program design that can increase expected precipitation yield.
  • Evaluate new regions and customer programs using rigorous meteorological and quantitative analysis.
  • Define better ground truth and evaluation frameworks for Rainmaker's ML, retrieval, and forecasting systems.
  • Create durable feedback loops between field operations, scientific research, commercial program design, and model development.

Benefits
  • Significant stock options with high potential upside as an early-stage company
  • 401(k) with employer matching
  • Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)
  • Relocation assistance provided (if applicable)
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Paid parental leave for both parents
  • Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette
  • Free EV charging at the HQ

$120,000 - $180,000 a year

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