Overview:
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a $430 million 
dollar observatory project dedicated to understanding how changes in 
climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology. For the next three 
decades NEON will collect a comprehensive range of ecological data on a 
continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US 
ecosystems. NEON will use cutting edge technology including an airborne 
observation platform that will capture images of regional landscapes and 
vegetation; mobile, re-locatable, and fixed data collection sites with 
automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field 
crews who will observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and 
collect soil and water data. A leading edge cyber-infrastructure will 
calibrate, store and publish this information. The Observatory will grow 
to 300+ personnel and will be the first of its kind designed to detect and 
enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales.

Summary:
The Commissioning Scientist will work under the direction of the Project 
Scientist, and in collaboration with the Project System Engineer and 
several product team leaders. The Commissioning Scientist will assist in 
planning and executing the scientific commissioning of NEON, as well as 
data quality planning. This role includes development of, participating in 
and leading the full range of commissioning activities, including some 
aspects of testing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Coordinate and collaborate across NEON product teams (e.g., Data 
Product 
Team, Cyberinfrastructure, Systems Engineering, Science Teams) to devise 
plan, procedures, and necessary software analysis tools for commissioning 
of NEON’s instrumental and observational subsystems, per the specified 
requirements and defined commissioning scope.
• Lead a team of staff scientists, data analysts, and software engineers 
that will participate in the implementation and execution of NEON’s 
science commissioning process.
• Perform data analysis, and interpret results with consideration and 
intense focus on the methodology and process around Scientific 
Verification of NEON.
• Ensure an appropriate level of integration and consistency in the 
science commissioning approach, which will include ensuring that 
methodologies are communicated and uniformly followed across project 
science and engineering teams.
• Contribute to data quality planning to ensure that measurements, data 
and data products meet science requirements, and monitor that quality 
benchmarks are uniformly implemented across all Observatory subsystems.
• Document the methodology and process for the NEON commissioning and 
verification process in collaboration with the Project Systems Engineer.

Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills:
• Ph.D. in ecology, biology or other natural sciences, environmental 
engineering, environmental planning or alternative related experience in 
the scientific commissioning of an Observatory, project or scientific 
enterprise.
• Six (6) or more years of post-graduate work experience in developing 
and 
implementing a science commissioning plan for a large scientific project 
and/or enterprise.
• Advanced quantitative/analytical skills; particularly in regard to 
analyses applied to large and diverse data sets.
• Experience with a range of environmental observations, measurement 
systems and data reduction and analysis techniques.
• Ability to communicate the science commissioning plan to internal teams 
so that the plan is uniformly implemented, and to the external science 
community so that all understand.
• Very effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across diverse cross functional 
teams.
• Experience effectively managing projects within specified timeframes.

Preferred Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills:
• Ten (10) or more years’ work experience in a scientific 
enterprise, 
preferably in the context of setting up large facilities.
• Experience/expertise in large scale and/or, long term ecological 
investigations.
• Experience and expertise in ecosystem ecology, organismal ecology, 
quantitative/statistical ecology, and/or related fields.
• Experience in scientific computing and experience trouble-shooting 
hardware or software is a plus.

Term:
This is a term position with work scheduled until end of construction, 
which is anticipated to be September 30, 2017.

Must have permanent authorization for US employment.

NEON Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans 
and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply.

Apply: http://www.neoninc.org/jobs/SrStaffScientistCommissioning

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