Space Weather Testbed Scientific Programmer

Overview

Lynker is seeking an experienced and sharp Space Weather Testbed Scientific Programmer for a long term contract supporting the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) at the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). SWPC operates 24/7 to monitor and forecast conditions in the space environment that affect the performance and reliability of critical technologies on Earth and in space. SWPC supports national security, transportation, power grid resilience, emergency management, and commercial space operations.

SWPC is also designated as one of three ICAO Space Weather Centers, supporting international aviation.

The Space Weather Testbed Scientific Programmer selected will support SWPC Testbed by developing, maintaining, and testing scientific software tools used in space weather modeling, analysis, and forecasting. This position plays a critical role in the research-to-operations (R2O) process by enabling the integration of new models, data sources, and processing workflows into operational test environments. The role requires strong programming and analytical skills, a solid understanding of geophysical or atmospheric data, and the ability to work collaboratively with scientists, developers, and operational forecasters.

The ideal Space Weather Testbed Scientific Programmer will be located in Boulder, CO; however the role could operate remotely for the right candidate.

• Write, refactor, and maintain scientific code for processing observational data, running models, and supporting experimental workflows within the SWPC Testbed.
• Support containerization of scientific applications using tools such as Docker or Singularity to ensure reproducibility and scalability.
• Assist in the design, setup, and execution of testbed experiments, including integration of new model output and observational inputs into forecast workflows.
• Perform data analysis and quality control of space weather model and observational datasets to support testbed experiments and product validation.
• Contribute to the development of graphical user interfaces or visualization tools that enhance the usability of forecast tools and data products.
• Collaborate with research scientists, system engineers, and operational staff to ensure code and workflows are aligned with SWPC operational constraints and priorities.
• Support documentation of software, experiments, and evaluation results, and contribute to briefings or technical discussions with stakeholders.

• A Master’s Degree in Computer Science, engineering, mathematics, atmospheric science, space physics, geophysics, or similar, from an accredited institution.
• 8+ years of web development experience.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Fortran, or C/C++, with experience working in Linux-based environments.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git), data formats (e.g., NetCDF, HDF5), and scripting for workflow automation.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets, perform diagnostics, and communicate results effectively in both written and verbal formats.

• Experience with containerization (e.g., Docker, Singularity) and high-performance computing (HPC) systems.
• Familiarity with atmospheric, heliophysical, or magnetospheric modeling systems or frameworks.
• Understanding of operational forecast environments and the research-to-operations process.
• Experience working on collaborative scientific software development projects or in a testbed environment.
• Master’s or Ph.D. in a related discipline is preferred but not required if experience is commensurate.

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…