On-Call Scientific Software Engineer (Climate) - Remote

On-Call Scientific Software Engineer (Climate)

Location: US Remote

ICF seeks a Scientific Software Engineer for the ClimateSight project, a cutting-edge initiative focused on scalable, distributed modeling of climate-related geospatial data. This position will collaborate closely with domain scientists and technical experts to transform experimental code into robust, production-ready software. The engineer will lead efforts to refactor and optimize Python-based models for distributed computing using the Pangeo ecosystem, particularly Xarray and Dask, and will help integrate these models into a modular, well-documented Python package.

The successful candidate will bring deep experience in scientific computing, object-oriented Python development, and cloud-based data workflows. They will be responsible for implementing memory-efficient stochastic modeling methods, managing virtual environments, and ensuring compatibility with ARCO geospatial formats in AWS S3. This role requires a proactive, collaborative mindset and a commitment to building tools that are both high-performing and accessible to a broad range of users.

This is a remote, on-call hourly role that provides flexibility to work from zero to 20 hours per week.

Please note: Please ensure experience with Xarray and Dask is clearly notated on resume and/or cover letter for immediate consideration.

About On-Call Employment with ICF

Given the seasonal or project-specific nature of this project, ICF often hires professionals as “On-Call” employees. On-Call employees are scheduled for work hours as they become available (while we usually schedule work hours a few weeks ahead of time, and each on-call employee is free to accept or refuse the hours assigned to them in a given week. On-Call employees may work concurrent projects outside of their ICF assignment (as long as their outside work does not create a conflict of interest with the work they do for ICF).

Key Responsibilities

• Work with domain and technical experts to refactor existing experimental code to optimized production code (e.g. refactoring models to Python classes with appropriate methods).

• Refactor/develop code to allow out-of-core computing across a distributed cluster using Xarray and Dask.

• Implement methods for stochastic modeling (e.g. Monte Carlo sampling) in a memory-efficient and Dask-compatible manner.

• In collaboration with domain and technical experts, organize disparate functions and models into a fully integrated Python package, including interchangeable submodules for performing different stages of modeling.

• Write thorough and accessible documentation for using, maintaining, and expanding the developed package so that it is easily applied by other staff.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, computer science, or related discipline.

• 5+ years of experience with the Pangeo ecosystem of Python packages, especially Xarray and Dask libraries.

• 5+ years of experience refactoring Python functions to Dask-compatible versions suitable for distributed computing e.g. using apply ufunc and map_blocks from Xarray.

• 5+ years of experience working with and producing ARCO geospatial data formats (e.g. Zarr stores, within AWS S3 storage).

• Experience in object-oriented approaches to Python development.

• Experience developing and deploying Python packages.

• Experience with virtual environment management (e.g. using uv and pixi).

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Climate Science, Physics, Math, or Environmental Science background.

Professional Skills

• Team player with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Great organization and time management skills.

• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated, outstanding level of professionalism in providing administrative support, including ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy.

• Ability to apply detailed knowledge of organizational procedures to make independent decisions.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce error-free work products.

• Excellent problem-solving skills with ability to analyze situations, identify existing or potential problems and recommend solutions.

• Proficient with virtual communication platforms.

Working at ICF

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