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