Research Associate II-III

Position Function :

Provide computer science support in the development of data management capabilities and visualization techniques for NOAA and its partners.

An experienced computer scientist with extensive development experience and cloud-based programing is required to complete this work.

The position will be located at the Mississippi State University Science and Technology Center at the Stennis Space Center, MS.

Salary and rank are commensurate with abilities and experience. The period of performance is estimated to be a minimum of one year with a potential for additional years.

Salary Grade : Level II : 13; Level III : 14

Please see for salary ranges.

Department Profile :

The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Institute comprised of six academic institutions that are geographically distributed across the Gulf Coast states.

The six NGI member institutions are Mississippi State University (lead), the University of Southern Mississippi, Florida State University, Louisiana State University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory.

Together with NOAA and in support of their strategic plan, NGI conducts research on interconnections among Gulf of Mexico environments, habitats, resources, and people and engages in outreach to help others learn about and make decisions based on these interconnections.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

1.Effective Technology Solutions

a. Analyze, identify, recommend, and implement solutions to the gaps in data management

capabilities resulting from the development of new and existing environmental data sensors

and platforms.

b. Analyze, identify, recommend, and implement solutions to the increased complexities of

multi-dimensional and non-traditional data sets that are outside the stewardship solutions

currently available to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Oceanographic and Geophysical Sciences and Services Division (OGSSD)

c. Optimize and automate data visualization tools and products for multidisciplinary

oceanographic, coastal, and marine data.

d. Identify, develop and shepherd the migration of tools, products, and services from NGI

research to NOAA NCEI operations once fully vetted.

2. Support NCEI partner efforts

a. Research innovative approaches for design of a comprehensive framework for integrated

data management to leverage existing information and protocols for use in science-based

decision making, analyses, prioritizing needs, and identifying gaps.

b. Provide scientific expertise to assist restoration project performers to develop and optimize

effective data management processes and procedures, ensuring efficient end-to-end data

stewardship.

c. Provide at-sea data and sampling support aboard NOAA research cruises on NOAA and

non-NOAA vessels using a variety of at-sea data collection platforms

d. Work directly with users to turn feedback and ideas into solutions.

Minimum Qualifications :

or in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field.

Ability to go to sea to contribute to scientific expeditions up to 2 months out of the year.

Ability to receive a Department of Commerce moderate risk clearance.

1.Beginning with a Master’s degree : A professional employee with a master’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience and demonstrated competency can begin work at Associate II;

To begin at Associate III, one must have a master’s degree in the required discipline and a minimum of 3 years of experience.

2. Beginning with a Doctoral degree : A professional employee with a doctorate degree with 2 years of relevant experience and demonstrated competence can begin work at Associate III.

Preferred Qualifications :

Demonstrated proficiency with Cloud based programming, Linux, XML / XSLT / XSD, Technical Support, and HTML / DHTML, and XHTML, R, Python, and Google Apps Script or JavaScript.

Comfort with SQL databases.

Big data management and analysis experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Computer literate and experienced with common word processing, database, and office applications. Proficient in providing software system analysis, design, development, testing, documentation and implementation in a federal Government environment.

Familiarity with NOAA NCEI data management policies and procedures as well as NIST specified security protocols. Expert technical writer.