Scientist, Plume Modeling and Forecasting

New

ReflectiveClimate research

The role can be fully remote and we are open to candidates based anywhere in the world, Overlap with core working hours (9am-1pm PST).Full-Time

Salary130,000 - 160,000 USD per year

Apply NowOpens the employer's application page

Job Details

PhD in atmospheric science, fluid dynamics, or a closely related field, or equivalent research experience.
Experience running high-resolution or large-eddy simulations of dispersing material, such as plumes, tracers, or reacting flows.
Experience comparing simulations against measurements.
Hands-on forecasting or mission-science experience on an airborne or balloon field campaign.
Experience planning flights from ensemble forecasts and making real-time calls during campaigns.
Comfort with Python.
Experience with Fortran is preferred.
Experience working with high-performance computing systems.
Ability to clearly explain what a model result does and does not support, and document it so others can act on it.
Strong written and verbal communication with scientific, engineering, and non-technical audiences.
Ability to work across disciplines and with external partners.
Experience with JAX or another differentiable modeling framework is strongly preferred.

Lead plume forecasting for balloon-based tracer campaigns with external partners, working within their data assimilation and forecasting process while developing in-house capabilities.
Develop and evaluate plume forecasting capabilities over the 24- to 72-hour horizons required for a potential field study, and document performance limits and their implications for feasibility.
Quantify forecast uncertainty, including ensemble spread, its growth over time, and implications for search patterns and instrument settings.
Translate forecast results into observing-team requirements for viewing geometry, altitude, timing, and expected plume extent.
Model detailed plume evolution to support numerical experiments evaluating candidate observing suites and sampling cadences.
Verify tracer-campaign forecasts against observations and report where they failed.
Run plume-resolving simulations of injected material from release through dispersion, covering scales not resolved by the global emulators.
Translate plume-scale results into dilution rates, an effective source term, and a parameterization for the global framework.
Coordinate with the experiment team on what plume-scale modeling can predict and what observations could resolve uncertainties.
If a field study proceeds, serve as mission scientist by providing real-time forecast updates, go/no-go input, and sampling direction to pilots and instrument operators.

View Full Description & ApplyYou'll be redirected to the employer's site