Software Engineer/Programmer II

NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS)/Office of Dissemination (DISS) and National Ocean Service (NOS)/Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL)

Durham, NH

Initial consideration will be given to applications received prior to

4:00 p.m. (MST), Thursday, 21 July, 2016.

The UCAR Visiting Scientist Programs, in cooperation with NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS)/Office of Dissemination (DISS) (link is external) and National Ocean Service (NOS)/Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL) (link is external), is seeking applications for a Software Engineer II to support the NOAA/NOS nowCOAST Geographic Information System (GIS) project. (link is external)

This position involves enhancement of the nowCOAST data ingest system, web mapping services, and map viewer to improve efficiencies, implement additional features and functionality, and incorporate the processing and display of additional datasets provided by NOAA, NESDIS, or other federal partners.

This position is located in the NOAA-UNH Joint Hydrographic Center (JHC) at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH.

The successful candidate will modify and extend the nowCOAST Python-based data ingest system to process additional datasets while optimizing resource usage efficiency and framework reusability, scalability, and performance.

This candidate will also:

• Create new web mapping services and modify existing services to include additional datasets and improve map service performance, cartography, organization, and metadata.
• Identify test cases and work with other nowCOAST team members to develop automated test suites to verify the quality, correctness, and reliability of new nowCOAST versions.
• Enhance existing operational monitoring capabilities by designing and developing new approaches to improve service interruption notifications and reduce likelihood and duration of system downtime.
• Maintain the existing operational nowCOAST system. Maintenance will involve restoring nowCOAST map services back to normal operations following unplanned outages and will require on-call technical response during non-business hours.
• Assist in the operational implementation of future upgrades of nowCOAST components (e.g. data ingest, map services, web application) in close collaboration with NWS/NCEP Central Operations system and database administrators.
• Develop additional expertise in Linux, Python, JavaScript, various GIS packages, associated database technologies, and NOAA’s real-time operational meteorological, oceanographic, and hydrologic spatial data sets, with a focus on geospatial data processing and management.

Decision Making and Problem Solving

The employee will receive supervision and guidance from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Ocean Service (NOS) nowCOAST Project Lead and NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS)/IDP-GIS Project Manager (PM).  The employee will work as a team member on projects as assigned by the nowCOAST PM.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of and experience with software development and debugging, including database and web service programming and performance optimization.
• Strong knowledge of software design principles and version control best practices.
• Experience in the implementation, monitoring, and troubleshooting of applications in an operational Linux environment.
• Familiarity with the implementation and maintenance of GIS map services.
• Experience with the manipulation and visualization of spatial data sets (e.g. meteorological, hydrologic, and oceanographic data, imagery, and forecasts) in various formats (e.g. Shapefile, GeoJSON, GeoTIFF, NetCDF, HDF, GRIB2, BUFR).

Education & experience

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science or Information Technology with 4-6 years of software development experience or equivalent combination of education (e.g. Master’s Degree) and experience.

2 or more years of experience with several of the following software technologies related to processing and display of geospatial data:

• GIS Software – ArcGIS Desktop and Server, GDAL/OGR, QGIS, FME, GeoServer
• Databases – PostgreSQL with PostGIS extension, ArcSDE
• Languages/Technologies – Python, JavaScript, Java, SQL, Subversion, Apache, Tomcat

Employees of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and subject to and covered by UCAR policies with respect to all personnel matters. The selected candidate will receive a fixed annual salary. Benefits include health and dental insurance, sick and annual leave, paid holidays, mandatory participation in a retirement fund (TIAA/CREF), and life insurance. Relocation benefits are not provided and UCAR will not sponsor a work visa to fill this position.

Please visit the VSP website for application details.

http://www.vsp.ucar.edu/opportunities/

Initial consideration will be given to applications received prior to 4:00 p.m. (MST), Thursday, 21 July, 2016. Thereafter, applications will be reviewed on an as-needed basis.

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is an EO/AAE who values and encourages diversity in the workplace.