Spatial Data Science Jobs in Santa Barbara, CA (NOW HIRING)

Position description
The Climate Hazards Center (CHC) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, seeks an experienced scientific programmer for the position of Climate and Data Services Associate Specialist. The CHC is an internationally recognized research group that develops and implements early warning science to support disaster risk reduction, drought monitoring, and famine prevention across select countries. Every day, the CHC provides life-saving information that helps guide critical decisions in the developing world. The selected candidate will work closely with CHC Principal Investigators and scientific programmers related to data pipeline development and operations, exploring innovative ways of distributing data or sharing products, and collaborating with international partners to support their decision-making needs and those of their communities.
This position bridges CHC data processing workflows and product management, and distribution services designed to be end-user facing. The Associate Specialist will focus heavily on managing internal data pipelines, expanding data delivery systems, and collaborating directly with international partners (such as national meteorological services, NGOs, and regional climate networks) to implement data pipelines and interfaces. The ultimate goal of this position is to get critical agro-climatic and environmental data into the hands of local decision-makers through the trusted regional entities that serve them.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Applicants must have completed a Master's Degree (or international equivalent) in Computer Science, Geography, Environmental Science, Climate/Atmospheric Science, or Data Science.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Experience: Minimum of 12 months of experience working with large-scale data workflows, system scripts, or geospatial datasets.

Preferred qualifications

• Environment: Demonstrated experience developing, maintaining, and operating data processing environments in UNIX/Linux server spaces.
• Automation: Experience managing automated data harvest tasks, cron jobs, and file sharing configurations.
• Communication: Proven capacity to document technical processes and communicate with non-technical or multi-cultural partners across varying time zones.
• Programming Literacy: Strong programming skills in a modern scientific computing language, with a strong preference for Python or R.
• Version Control & Collaboration: Demonstrated experience managing collaborative software development using Git/GitHub, including repository maintenance, branching strategies, and effective documentation for shared, reproducible codebases.
• Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to interface with, translate, or refactor legacy codebases (e.g., IDL, MATLAB, C/C++) into modernized processing pipelines.
• Database Management: Proficiency with SQL databases, specifically designing or maintaining relational schemas in PostgreSQL.
• Data Distribution: Familiarity with spatial web data services, data structures, and standard distribution protocols (FTP, HTTP, API endpoints, REST services).
• Domain Interest: Demonstrated interest or experience in applied environmental sciences, remote sensing data sets, climate risk mitigation, or international development[cite: 1, 2].

Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - Detailing your specific interest in the position, experience with data workflows, and suitability for international partner collaboration

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

References will be contacted only before the final candidate is selected.
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03124
Help contact: lucy.lopez@geog.ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs , as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
Job location
Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara