The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) collects and provides the critical satellite Earth observations and other essential environmental information needed for disaster preparedness, all hazards response and recovery and the protection of the Nation's critical infrastructure and natural resources.

Duties

The Senior Scientist for GeoXO is recognized nationally and internationally as an authority and leader in satellite remote sensing for various earth orbit observations systems. The incumbent identifies national and agency needs for the use of satellite data to study environmental, atmospheric, and oceanic problems, and is sought after on important questions such as the scope and content of applied scientific programs. The incumbent reviews, analyzes, and evaluates new and existing plans, programs, and proposals for research initiatives as submitted by various researchers using GeoXO and partner data. Specific duties of the Senior Scientist for GeoXO include: 1. Provides the principal scientific guidance to the NESDIS leadership during the formulation of GeoXO performance requirements and architectural stages, as well as safeguarding those scientific requirements during the implementation phase. Supports the formulation of the mission-level architecture of spacecraft and instruments to optimize scientific return. Serves as the key adviser to the SPD in decisions impacting GeoXO performance, cost, and schedule as well as decisions that trade among competing instrument suites and operational constraints on the spacecraft. Assists the SPD in optimizing GeoXO scientific performance. 2. Serves as an independent expert and representative of the science and user communities responsible for ensuring the scientific integrity at all stages of GeoXO satellite development. Provides scientific rationales to define the instrument suites with performance requirements for measurements and derived products that satisfy user needs. Advocates for GeoXO scientific objectives with internal and external stakeholders including DOC, OMB, and Congress. 3. Evaluates and prioritizes user requirements, and transforms these requirements for instrumentation, data products, and services, into GeoXO applicable technical requirements. Works with the NOAA and inter-agency user community to define the users' needs, operational requirements, and science data product requirements through the GeoXO Requirements Working Group (XORWG). Serves as Chairman of the XORWG. Assures the mission serves NOAA's vision and goals, operations, and user requirements defined by the XORWG. 4. Leads scientific implementation of the GeoXO program. Represents science objectives at major milestone reviews. Develops science implementation plans for GeoXO. Advises the program engineering team and developers on science goals and user needs. Supports development of the program budget. Provides scientific leadership in assuring that the instrument data are effectively used by the mission users through education, proving ground, proxy data, and other techniques. Analyzes the value of the GeoXO observations to meet user needs and justify investments. 5. Maintains technical liaison with NASA and other agencies, ensuring approved programs have the required capability to coordinate with GeoXO satellite capabilities. Establishes relationships with partner organizations to secure use of their data products to evaluate their capabilities and prepare users for comparable GeoXO observations. Provides scientific support to international partners planning to use GeoXO observations, including assessing the compatibility of GeoXO space systems and ground data processing functions with partner systems. 6. Communicates with interagency and international counterparts on research and development efforts related to GeoXO including the World Meteorological Organization, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and Japanese Meteorological Agency. Advises international partner agencies on GeoXO capabilities and plans. Convenes science and application working groups to ensure users and prepared for GeoXO observations and to propose research on future applications. 7. Develops processes to prioritize user needs in order to recommend the highest-value GeoXO data products. Works with NESDIS product development scientists to ensure algorithm development plans meet user needs. Conducts research to advance use of GeoXO and related partner data. Evaluates and recommends improvements in the algorithms and ground processing. Communicates findings and recommendations to the SPD, to other NOAA scientists, and to the data users. Responsible to assess and project present and future needs, the formulation of alternative products and services, and reevaluating progress to assure that the highest-priority user needs continue to be met. 8. Directs systematic, critical, intensive investigation toward the development of new or fuller scientific knowledge. Develops the principles, criteria, methods, and a body of data of general applicability for use by others.

Requirements

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs). These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in leading teams and/or projects for a comprehensive business program in a complex organization. An individual's total experience and education must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position. All applicants will be evaluated by a panel to determine the degree to which they possess the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs). To be rated and considered for this position, applicants are requested to fully describe their experience in each of the following PTQs: Professional Technical Core Qualifications (PTQs): PTQ 1 - At least 3 years of comprehensive knowledge and experience in remote sensing satellites, their mechanisms, ground control, data acquisition, and processing system, as well as high-level technical capability in the range of scientific disciplines as related to state-of-the-art earth remote-sensing satellite development. PTQ 2 - Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the area of applications of satellite data and services for end-user purposes with at least 1 year of experience in planning and executing specialized programs that show outstanding research attainments. NOTE: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 4 pages.

Education

A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Contacts

• Address NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS) 1315 East West Hwy SSMC4 Silver Spring, MD 20910 US
• Name: Elizabeth Reese
• Phone: 240-394-5588
• Email: [email protected]