This position within the New York (NY) State Weather Risk Communication Center (SWRCC) will serve as a focal point for creating products and tools for both the meteorologists on staff as well as external partners. This position will also help fulfill external requests that require a significant amount of data manipulation or static graphic design. This position may also assist with reporting where summary graphics required. On occasion, this position will use their meteorological expertise to assist with SWRCC briefings when needed. Overall, their expertise is expected to improve the meteorological services the SWRCC provides to critical state and other public sector stakeholders. Most NY agencies and authorities do not possess hired meteorologists, which makes the process of preparing for-, responding to-, and examining impactful weather events challenging. This position will work to fill this gap alongside operational weather forecasters and other domain experts and will contribute to the greater educational and research environment at UAlbany where appropriate. This position may also propose and contribute to externally funded research endeavors, where those endeavors align with the general SWRCC mission. SWRCC appointments are for 10 months per year recurring annually, with the remaining two months being eligible to be filled via research-funded effort.

Primary Responsibilities During the SWRCC 10-month appointment:

• The primary task of this position will be to create NY-centric weather products primarily using the Python programming language, such as by:
  • using National Weather Service products and models to create forecast graphics and products
  • using observational data like the NYS Mesonet or ASOS data to extract important information
  • using the MRMS product suite to create products specific to NY
  • creating statistics relating to either weather data or NY infrastructure impacted by weather
• These products will be responsive to requests by meteorologists employed by the SWRCC as to external stakeholder requests or needs
• On rare occasions, contribute to real-time weather briefing products during times of highly impactful weather or an unexpected staffing shortage of operational SWRCC meteorologists
• Coordinate with the SWRCC lead meteorologist, risk communication scientist, and software engineer positions on completing tasks as needed
• On occasion, present to both external and internal stakeholders on the functionality of the products this position creates
• Seek external funding - in partnership with SWRCC staff, UAlbany researchers, and/or state partners - to conduct research or develop products that generally align with the SWRCC and/or UAlbany mission

During the two months which are eligible to be filled via research-funded effort, the scientist may work either independently or with other scientists at or beyond UAlbany on externally funded projects. These projects may or may not directly contribute to the Product Scientist's 10-month appointment foci, and the SWRCC director may not direct them to contribute to their 10 month appointment foci without additional extra effort compensation. The SWRCC director may assist the Weather Product Scientist in procuring additional research.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

• This position will report to the director of the SWRCC.

Minimum Qualifications:

• MS degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a substantially similar field received by the candidate's start date
• Demonstrated Python programming ability and skill with relevant Python packages such as Numpy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Cartopy, Geopandas, MetPy, and/or other similar packages
• Experience with Numerical Weather Prediction model output created by the National Weather Service
• Experience using shell scripting in a Linux environment
• Ability to work with both external stakeholders as well as internal stakeholders (coworkers) on product development
• Foundational background in weather forecasting principles including operational meteorology
• Experience with National Weather Service products and knowledge of their weather forecasting principles
• Good teamworking ability
• Able to work competently on independent projects without significant supervision
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a substantially similar field
• Experience with using modern version control systems such as Git
• Knowledge of GIS concepts such as map projections, raster datasets, and vector datasets
• Experience in creating or accessing APIs
• Experience with other weather programming languages or tools such as NCL, Jupyter lab, etc
• Familiarity with NYS Mesonet data or other similar surface observing networks
• Experience with machine learning
• Basic web development experience
• Experience contributing to (or leading) proposals leading to externally funded research endeavors

Working Environment:

• A typical individual office with standard M-F work hours.
• Rare but occasional weekend or evening work when working in coordination with a state partner on  this position's responsibilities during the 10-month SWRCC appointment.

Professional Rank and Salary Range: R-3, $65,000 - This is a 10-month appointment that allows for supplementary summer salary from research funding.

Special Notes: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish, and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. The University at Albany's Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml

Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of verifying information, may such requests be made.  If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

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About University at Albany (SUNY)

The University at Albany, SUNY, offers exciting and rewarding careers to those who seek opportunities to grow and excel. Driven by a passion for excellence and a desire to make a positive impact on the community and the world, UAlbany is one of the nation's most diverse public R1 institutions. There are exceptional benefits available to employees. For more information, please visit: https://www.albany.edu/human-resources/careers-ualbany

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