Boulder, Colorado

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 950 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.
As part of NOAA’s National Weather Service, the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) operates 24/7 to provide real-time monitoring and forecasting of solar and geophysical events, which impact satellites, power grids, communications, navigation, and other technological systems. SWPC customers include the general public, industry, and government agencies.

• Design the Future: Design, build, and innovate user interface solutions for applications that will be evaluated in the Space Weather Prediction Testbed (SWPT), and contribute to the continuous improvement of the SWPT’s Frontend design practices and usability testing. (50%)
• Design Fundamental Testbed Capabilities: Design and build user platforms that will form the basis for interactive Testbed exercises with researchers, forecasters, and end users, allowing participants to collaboratively explore space weather events. (30%)
• Collaborate and Innovate: Join a dynamic team where your expertise will contribute to modernizing the Space Weather Prediction Center’s user products and data visualization. Collaborate with researchers, developers, industry partners, as well as operational staff and space weather forecasters to bring the best version of products into operations at SWPC. (20%)

• Access to the NOAA Federal Center and computer facilities is necessary to perform the work of this position. Access is not available for individuals working in the United States through a visa or working permit and therefore we are unable to consider applications from individuals on a visa or working permit, or requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to legally work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the David Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305.
• If you are selected as a finalist, you will be required to pass a federal laboratory background clearance for site access.

• CIRES can offer a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this position is $75,268- $113,246. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
• Some relocation funds are available for this position to off-set moving expenses following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocation processes and procedures.
• This position offers a hybrid work environment with both on-site and remote work hours.
• CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development, and a Mentorship Program.
• Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues. Boulder was recently ranked as one of the top places to live in the U.S. by U.S. News.
• As an employee at CU Boulder, you receive a pass allowing free access to the regional public transit system, which is an outstanding network of buses and light rail systems that provide service within Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

Why Choose Us

• Make a Difference: Your work directly impacts the resilience of national infrastructure from power grids to satellite navigation systems. SWPC is part of an international community working with our sister organizations from nations around the world.
• Innovative Environment: Be part of shaping the future of the Space Weather Prediction Center’s software landscape.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team that values your insights and encourages knowledge sharing.

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be empowered. Be supportive. Be Boulder.

• A Bachelor's degree in computer science, application design, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of software development experience with at least 2 years as a Frontend design engineer, or a comparable role.

• Clear and Effective Technical Communicator: Proven ability to develop production-ready science-based visualizations and design interfaces which relay complex information to subject matter experts and/or the general public in an easily digestible format.
• Feedback Whisperer: Proven ability to gather constructive feedback from developers and end-users (i.e. usability testing) to iteratively determine product requirements.
• Data Visualization Expert: Strong, demonstrated skills with web-based data visualization software, like D3 and Plotly.
• Frontend Finesse: Proven familiarity with design systems and proficiency in modern Java Script, CSS, including frameworks like Vue, React, and/or Svelte.
• Great Teammate: Proven ability to work well within a team environment including actively collaborating on design and technical approach.
• Lifelong Learner: Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies related to UI/UX and frontend design.

Please note that while the position details both required and preferred skills and experience, we invite applicants to apply even if they do not have the preferred skills and experience outlined in this section. If you meet the requirements and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on the job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

• Version Control Expertise: Experience with Git (including Git Lab, Git Hub, or Bitbucket frontends).
• Prototyping Prowess: Ability to create design prototypes in programs like Figma or Balsamiq.
• Production Background: Experience designing robust applications used in production environments with high reliability.
• Leadership and Development: Proven ability to share standard processes to enhance team-wide design principles.
• Containerization Familiarity: Know-how developing frontend environments while using microservices architectures such as Docker.
• Linux Background: Comfort with development, testing, writing documentation, and troubleshooting in Linux.

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• Resume or CV.
• Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
• Be prepared to submit a list of 5 professional references (2 of whom must be/must have been supervisors or professors). If you are selected as a finalist, we will ask you to contact your references so that they can complete a Crosschq questionnaire on your behalf. Crosschq is an online automated reference check solution. This information will be kept confidential and viewable only by the search committee.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version (if applicable) as an optional attachment.
The position will close December 16, 2024 with the intent to continually evaluate and extend if needed.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.