Lynker Technologies
Physical Scientist for Coupled Ocean Modeling

US-MD-College Park

Job ID: 2026-1490
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Physical Scientist
College Park, MD

Overview

Lynker is seeking a talented Physical Scientist for Coupled Ocean Modeling, to support the Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in carrying out research and development work related to earth system coupled modeling systems. The successful candidate will advance the development, testing, and evaluation of the Unified Forecast System (UFS) based operational applications, especially focussing on ocean forecast and coupling, as well as on ocean data assimilation. The work location is at the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) in College Park, MD. The ideal Physical Scientist for Coupled Ocean Modeling, will be able to work a HYBRID schedule, working 2 days per week in the office in College Park, MD, and the rest of the days of the week remotely.

Responsibilities

Duties of the Physical Scientist for Coupled Ocean Modeling will include the following:

The candidate will perform the job duties in a high-quality, independent, and collaborative way, developing and applying innovative methods for the primary work areas (see below). The candidate will work with EMC scientists and external collaborators to develop, test and evaluate the current and future operational high-resolution ocean analysis and forecast systems. Based on the UFS framework and infrastructure, the candidate will support the development of both offline ocean modeling and coupled earth system applications, from ocean initialization to forecasting and coupling, as well as ocean related evaluation and verification. Detailed responsibilities will include the following areas.

• Model Development: Advance UFS-based Earth system models, with a primary focus on ocean and marine components and their interactions within the coupling framework.
• End-to-End Integration: Support the development of comprehensive ocean coupled applications, including initialization, observation monitoring, and forecasting.
• Operational Transition: Provide scientific support for the implementation of ocean-coupled analysis and forecast systems into operations.
• Workflow Optimization: Architect, develop and refine advanced workflows for flexible system integration and streamlined operational transitions.
• Experimentation & Analysis: Design and execute retrospective and real-time parallel experiments to validate, verify, and support operational upgrades and implementations.

Qualifications

The Physical Scientist for Coupled Ocean Modeling should have the following:

• A Master’s Degree or higher in physical oceanography, marine sciences, atmospheric sciences, mathematics, or related physical science.
• 3+ years of professional experience in coupled ocean or Earth-system modeling.
• Scientific Expertise: Deep understanding of oceanic sciences and hands-on experience developing ocean and coupled earth-system models/applications at a process level; Awareness of model parameterizations and their limitations.
• Programming Proficiency: Advanced skills in modern languages, e.g., FORTRAN, Python, and C++.
• HPC Knowledge: Demonstrated experience working within High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments.
• Software Engineering: Demonstrated proficiency with version control tools (e.g., Git, GitHub) and modern software development best practices.
• Collaboration: Ability to work independently on complex problems in a team and fast-paced environment and demonstrated skill in performing tasks requiring organization and attention to detail.
• Communication: Proven ability to translate complex technical details for diverse scientific audiences through oral presentations and written reports.

The Ideal Physical Scientist for Coupled Ocean Modeling will have the following:

• Familiarity with the NOAA operational forecasting environment.
• Experience with UFS applications and Earth system modeling frameworks.
• Hands-on experience with coupling infrastructures like ESMF and FMS.

• Experience working in an agile software development environment.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.