Cloud Properties & Cloud-Free Line of Sight Specialist

Posting Detail Information

Working Title25-113 : Cloud Properties & Cloud-Free Line of Sight Specialist

Position LocationFort Collins, CO

Work LocationPosition is fully in-office / in-person

Research Professional PositionYes

Posting Number202501356AP

Position TypeAdmin Professional / Research Professional

Classification TitleResch Sci / Scholar I

Number of Vacancies

Work Hours / Week40

Proposed Annual Salary Range$75,000 - $88,000

Employee Benefits

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Desired Start Date10 / 08 / 2025

Position End Date (if temporary)

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11 : 59pm (MT) on10 / 08 / 2025

Description of Work Unit

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere ( CIRA ) at Colorado State University ( CSU ) is a multi-million dollar research organization located on CSU's Foothills Campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. CIRA is a cooperative institute (CI) that is also a research department within CSU's College of Engineering, in partnership with the Department of Atmospheric Science. Its vision is to conduct interdisciplinary research in the atmospheric sciences by entraining skills beyond the meteorological disciplines, exploiting advances in engineering and computer science, facilitating transitional activity between pure and applied research, leveraging both national and international resources and partnerships, and assisting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ), CSU , the State of Colorado, and the Nation through the application of our research to areas of societal benefit. Expanding on this Vision, our Mission is to serve as a nexus for multi-disciplinary cooperation among CI and NOAA research scientists, University faculty, staff and students in the context of NOAA -specified research theme areas in satellite applications for weather / climate forecasting. Important bridging elements of the CI include the communication of research findings to the international scientific community, transition of applications and capabilities to NOAA operational users, education and training programs for operational user proficiency, outreach programs to K-12 education and the general public for environmental literacy, and understanding and quantifying the societal impacts of NOAA research.

Position Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere ( CIRA ) on the Foothills Campus at Colorado State University ( CSU ) in Fort Collins, CO, seeks to hire one Research Scientist I to contribute to the development / evaluation of 3D global cloud products from multi-satellite data, advance cloud-aerosol visibility studies, apply machine learning methods to quantify cloud and storm properties, and support validation and operational transition. The objective of this position is to provide an opportunity for a motivated researcher to explore innovative approaches in several high-impact, cutting-edge environmental satellite data applications while working in a highly stimulating and interdisciplinary team environment. This position requires a start date between 15 September 2025 and 6 October 2025. Onsite presence is required for this position because it requests significant collaboration with on-site teams. This position is partially funded by a US Department of Defense contract and therefore is open ONLY to citizens of the United States or Lawful Permanent Residents with a physical USCIS "Green Card."

The individual in this position will serve as a member of CIRA's Meteorological Satellite Application Team (Cloud) and will interact closely with the CSU Department of Atmospheric Science ( ATS ). Additionally they will be mentored by Principal Investigators of 3D global cloud projects, cloud-aerosol visibility projects, and machine learning projects. They also will be mentored by the CIRA Director and PI of CIRA's ONR 3D Cloud / OVERCAST project. Specifically, the individual in this position will report to CIRA's OVERCAST Project Manager and explore applications for weather and climate research to offer critical new insights to existing environmental satellite data records together with in-situ and model data, utilizing both physics / statistics-based approaches and AI / machine learning methods if applicable. They will use multi-sensor-based cloud retrieval products and employ both traditional and new machine learning methods to support CIRA's cloud projects funded by the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research ( ONR ), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ), and the National Science Foundation ( NSF ). Target projects will include the following activities :

Develop the processing framework and code packages for cloud-free line of sight calculations using quantitative global cloud products with geostationary / polar-orbiting satellite sensors

Build machine learning (ML) models to quantify cloud and storm mode characteristics, incorporating satellite and numerical weather prediction model data

Develop a model to derive cloud-aerosol visibility information using global satellite observations

Evaluate new products using multi-sensor data analysis from both in-situ and satellite measurements and demonstrate the results.

Required Job Qualifications

Ph.D. in atmospheric science or closely related field, plus 1-2 years of experience working with meteorological data sets;

Experience working with meteorological satellite data sets;

Experience working with in-situ field campaign data sets, data quality control, analysis and evaluation;

Experience working with 3-dimensional atmospheric cloud and precipitation algorithms / products;

Experience developing and programming algorithms that estimate the cloud-free line-of-sight between two points in 3-dimensional cloud products;

Experience coding to read, write, and manipulate scientific datasets using Python;

Experience working with Linux / Unix OS;

Ability to communicate well, orally and written, and particularly across disciplinary boundaries;

Ability to work in a team environment.

Preferred Job Qualifications

Experience working with numerical weather model data sets and multi-data intercomparisons;

Experience working with atmospheric cloud and precipitation algorithms / products;

Experience working on developing operational-ready data / code packages;

Experience using machine learning and big data analysis;

Experience working on DoD, NOAA , NSF , or NASA -related projects.

Essential Duties

Job Duty CategoryApplied Research

Duty / Responsibility

Analyze 3D global cloud fields based on geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite data;

Run, improve, and evaluate deterministic cloud-free line of sight calculations using ground-based and satellite data;

Conduct research and develop machine learning techniques to advance global cloud / aerosol visibility information;

Coordinate and collaborate with other team members on other machine learning applications to better characterize cloud, precipitation, and storm features in weather and climate research.

Percentage Of Time50

Job Duty CategoryIndependent Research

Duty / Responsibility

Contribute to and lead scientific studies that serve the CIRA mission;

Develop scientific ideas and skills for future proposals that may lead to an independent research program.

Percentage Of Time20

Job Duty CategoryCollaborative Research

Duty / Responsibility

Collaborate with operational partners and product end users;

Collaborate with CIRA and ATS scientists working on similar research projects.

Percentage Of Time20

Job Duty CategoryDocumentation & Reporting

Duty / Responsibility

Publish scientific results;

Pravel to scientific conferences to present results.

Percentage Of Time10

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applications must be submitted via online portal.We will not accept materials sent via email or other mode. NOTE : In your cover letter, please specifically address the required and preferred qualifications of this position. A cover letter that fails to address the qualifications of this position may not be further considered after review by the search committee. Likewise, an online application with a generic cover letter or missing a cover letter, and / or an application that does not include current / correct reference contact information may not be further considered after review by the search committee.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you need assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Search ContactLinn Barrett, linn.barrett@colostate.edu

EEO

Colorado State University ( CSU ) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and / or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

References Requested

References Requested

Minimum Requested3

Maximum Requested3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (

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Applicant Documents

Required Documents

Cover Letter

Resume or CV

Optional Documents