CIRES/NSIDC Operations Data Manager
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Job Summary
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) within the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) encourages applications for a full-time Data Manager to join the Data Operations team to manage and support NSIDC's archive of satellite, aircraft, and ground data! The Data Operations team operates multiple automated systems for ingest, archival, and distribution of a broad range of NASA, NOAA, and other cryospheric data products. The Data Manager will serve as a member of NSIDC cross-functional teams to oversee data operations systems and processes and advise on data archival procedures and best practices. Additionally, this role will be involved in the daily evolution, testing, and deployment of software systems supporting ingest, archival, publication, discovery, and ongoing management of scientific data both on premises and in the cloud.
Who We Are
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.
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), affiliated with CIRES, at the University of Colorado Boulder, is a key national hub for snow and ice research. Renowned for its credibility in providing cryospheric data and services, NSIDC holds a leading role in research and development in this specialized field. Operating as part of CIRES, NSIDC supports research on Earth's cryosphere, including snow, ice, glaciers, frozen ground, and climate interactions. The center manages and distributes scientific data, develops tools for data access, supports users, conducts scientific research, and educates the public.
As a NASA Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC), NSIDC plays a crucial role in managing significant data and science resources. For more information, visit https://nsidc.org.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- (35%) Perform migrations of scientific data, operational scripts and processes across data management systems.
- (35%) Perform migrations of data providers across data management systems.
- (18%) Operate and improve NASA EOSDIS cloud data management system.
- Troubleshoot and resolve system integrity and system performance issues.
- Monitor ingest, archive, and distribution processes.
- Develop scripts to extend or improve the automation of operational processes.
- Author and implement system documentation and operational procedures.
- (10%) Operate and sustain existing NSIDC data systems, including the NASA Earth Observing System Data Information System (EOSDIS) Core System and other custom software systems.
- Troubleshoot and resolve system integrity and system performance issues.
- Monitor ingest, archive, and distribution processes.
- Perform configuration management and testing for a variety of custom software systems.
- (2%) Support and maintain Amazon Cloud Service based OpenAltimetry web application.
- Additional Duties May Include:
- Attend relevant meetings and teleconferences with team members and external collaborators.
- Communicate data system architecture and data management best practices with other groups and projects in the center.
- Represent Data Operations in Agile based project development.
- Engage in quarterly planning to create, scope, and estimate critical development.
- Complete Operations based stories in Agile sprint cycles.
- Lead cross-functional projects that impact the Data Operations team ‐ either with a team of Data Managers or other groups within the center.
What You Should Know
- Due to NASA funding restrictions, candidates who have paid or unpaid appointments or positions with Chinese Government organizations, Chinese Government controlled organizations, Chinese-owned companies, or any company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China are ineligible for hire.
- Please note that those applicants requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future, or those that are on work permits, will not be considered for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to legally work in the United States on a full-time basis.
- For questions about the job, please contact Blake Graham, hiring supervisor, at blake.graham@colorado.edu. For questions about the application process, please contact Chris Pappas at chris.pappas@colorado.edu.
- The anticipated start date for this position is July 1,
- This position offers a hybrid work modality with both on-site work and remote work. Hybrid work arrangements will follow current CIRES and university guidance and policies.
What We Can Offer
- CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.
- The annual hiring salary for this position ranges from $68,218 - $101,555. 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.
- 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 will have free access to the regional public transit system, an outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.
Benefits
Be Statements
What We Require
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Computer information systems or related discipline.
- Experience working in Linux/Unix.
- 2+ years of experience with NASA ESDIS data ingest and archive systems, such as ECS and Cumulus.
What You Will Need
- Ability to creatively problem solve: to break down system‐level problems into tasks, prioritize them, and work them through to completion.
- Ability to work collaboratively on highly efficient, cross‐functional teams.
- Ability to efficiently represent technical needs and archival standards to development teams.
- Ability to learn new systems quickly in an on‐the‐job environment.
- Ability to be self‐directed and recognize tasks that need to be completed, take ownership of them, work through them, and ask for help when needed.
- Experience communicating with technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to balance multiple assigned tasks, prioritize them, and efficiently context‐switch between critical tasks.
- Ability to collaborate and/or contribute to research excellence.
What We Would Like You to Have
We invite applicants to apply even if they do not have the preferred skills and experience outlined in this section. If you meet the minimum qualifications 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.
- Experience with Perl, Python, shell scripting, SQL, or equivalent.
- Experience operating NASA Earth Observing System Data Information System (EOSDIS) Core System.
- Experience operating NASA EOSDIS Cloud data management system (Cumulus).
- Understanding of how NSIDC operational systems run, including monitoring, troubleshooting, and system impact dependence.
- Knowledge of version control systems (such as GitHub), continuous integration (such as Jenkins or Bamboo), and software delivery.
- Experience with virtual machines, including the use of Vagrant, Puppet, Docker, and other related tools.
- Experience with Amazon Web Services cloud technologies, including deployment and troubleshooting.
Special Instructions
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.
- List of contact information for 3 professional references (name, title, professional relationship, email) who may be contacted on your behalf for a professional reference. You don’t need to include letters of recommendation with your initial application. If you are selected as a finalist for this role, the search committee will request a letter of recommendation at a later time.
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 as an optional attachment.
Please apply by June 5, 2025 to be considered for this position.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Blake Graham
Posting Contact Email: blake.graham@colorado.edu