Purpose of the Position:
We are currently seeking a Research Associate II, Step 1, to provide support to NASA Earth Action science and application activities related to applications/product development, scripting, and analysis of optical, thermal, and synthetic aperture radar remote sensing data. Experience with Python, working with Earth Observation data, and a strong understanding of remote sensing concepts are strongly desired. The position will be located at the National Space Science & Technology Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and will support the scientific development and application of satellite remote sensing products.
Duties / Responsibilities:
• Leverage expertise in optical and SAR remote sensing data and Python to conduct research related to natural hazards and to contribute to high-level team deliverables, including peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and end-user engagement activities.
• Develop solutions based on end-user needs and capabilities through remote sensing and GIS techniques to enhance disaster response, preparedness, mitigation, and recovery for hazards such as floods, fires, and severe storms.
• Implement data processing algorithms in Jupyter notebooks or Google Colab, accessing multisensor NASA Earth observations to create Level 2 and Level 3 data products, and contribute to GUI interface development to disseminate data products.
• Support agenda development and the synthesis of technical discussions with end-users and project collaborators.
Minimum Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with remote sensing, earth observation/satellite data analysis, atmospheric & land surface modeling, environmental monitoring, Python programming, and GIS.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Expertise in implementing structured workflows for geospatial data products.
• Familiarity with meteorological and/or natural resource concepts and common types of Earth science applications, such as hazards/disaster scenarios, and natural resource management. Examples include severe storms, flooding, drought, tropical cyclones, wildfires, and/or earthquakes, forest monitoring, phenology change detection and monitoring, and land cover/land use change.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
Desired Qualifications:
• A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• Experience with Linux, working with Optical, thermal remote sensing, and Synthetic Aperture Radar data, different data and image formats, knowledge of machine learning/artificial intelligence, and knowledge of AWS/cloud computing is desired.
• Advanced knowledge of meteorological and/or natural resource concepts and common types of Earth science applications, including hazards/disaster concepts such as severe storms, flooding, tropical cyclones, fires, and/or earthquakes, or natural resource concepts such as forest monitoring, phenology change detection and monitoring, and land cover/land use change, is desired.
• Experience with scientific writing is preferred.
• Experience working on both in-person and hybrid collaborative teams is preferred.
Published Salary (if available):
$46,350 - $50,406
