Science System and Applications Incorporated (SSAI) is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to support the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Beltsville, MD.

We are looking for candidates who can support the USDA in:

• The processing, archival, and distribution of Earth science data
• Executing a land surface model to provide new estimates of soil moisture, land evaporation, steam flow, and soil erosion.
• Assimilating satellite observations into a land surface model to obtain improved estimates of soil moisture, stream flow, and rainfall.
• Evaluating satellite and model derived moisture products in comparison with crop condition, crop progress, and yield data collected in the field.

The work location is at the customer facility, however, pending customer consultation, remote/hybrid work may be allowed.

A successful candidate will need to be able to obtain proper clearances to access USDA IT systems and facilities.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Qualifications:

Candidate must have significant experience in the development and application of remote sensing algorithms for the retrieval of land surface temperature, land evaporation, and soil moisture from satellite observations and have a working knowledge of computer and graphical user interfaces and database storage systems for collection/retrieval of data.

Other requirements include:

• Master's degree in a physical science and 5 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience in hydrology, meteorology, hydro-meteorology, soil science, or a similar field.
• Experience in the retrieval of in-situ and remote sensing data, and integration with crop and soil models and online digital repositories of climate and soil data.
• Excellent data analysis skills and highly proficient in using advanced features of analytical tools such as MATLAB.
• Basic image processing, modelling, and programming skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment.

Desired Knowledge/Skills/Qualifications:

• Expertise with land data assimilation and water-balance modelling.
• Familiarity working with Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) data.

EOE, including disability/vets

Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear and occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.