CIRES/ NSIDC Data Operations Specialist

at  University of Colorado Boulder

JOB SUMMARY

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) seeks a new member for the Data Operations team to manage and support NSIDC’s archive of satellite, aircraft, and ground data. The Data Operations team operates multiple automated systems for ingest, archival, and distribution of a broad range of NASA, NOAA, and other cryospheric data products. Individual Data Operations Specialists are also embedded within project and data product teams to provide insight to the role of Data Operations and knowledge of archival best practices. The successful candidate will support NSIDC’s mission by operating our data systems, providing data system knowledge to software development projects, and providing data management support to science data product teams.

WHO WE ARE

At CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, more than 800 environmental scientists work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES is a partnership of NOAA and the University of Colorado Boulder, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at the Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, and solid Earth sciences. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.
https://cires.colorado.edu/
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), http://nsidc.org, part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado at Boulder, serves as a national information and referral center in support of snow and ice research. NSIDC is a trusted source of cryospheric data and services, and is a leader in research and development within this field.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• The position is located in Boulder, CO.
• Appointment will be made at the rank of Professional Research Assistant.

• Operate and sustain existing NSIDC data systems, including the NASA Earth Observing System Data Information System (EOSDIS) Core System, NASA EOSDIS cloud data management system, and other custom software stacks.
• Troubleshoot and resolve system integrity and system performance [AML1] [DLC2] issues.
• Monitor ingest, archive, and distribution processes.
• Communicate best practices around data archival [AML3] [DLC4] with other groups and projects in the center, including science data product teams and software development projects.
• Engage with science teams, data providers, and other data managers about data flows into and out of our systems.
• Develop scripts to extend or enhance the automation of operational processes.
• Perform migrations of scientific data across data management systems.
• Attend relevant meetings and teleconferences with team members and external collaborators.
• Perform configuration management and testing for a variety of custom software systems.
• Duties may also include one or more of the following:
• Produce data and metadata,[AML5] [DLC6] including reports on quality assurance[DLC7] , for products being archived and managed by the center.
• Author and implement system documentation and operational procedures.
• Install, configure, and tune data management software.
• Lead projects that impact the Data Operations team - either with a team of Data Operations Specialists or other groups within the center.
• Supervise interns or students within the Data Operations team.