Job Details

CIRES/ Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation, Visualization Developer

Position Number: 7083615
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Other Science

CIRES/ Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation, Visualization Developer

Requisition Number: 71265
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 25-Apr-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation (CEEE) at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU Boulder) encourages applications for a visualization developer to join the NOAA Science On a Sphere (SOS) program (https://sos.noaa.gov/). The SOS program develops groundbreaking data visualization technologies from mobile apps to large exhibits that deliver real-time and other current Earth and space data. The SOS data catalog, containing over 600 visualizations, is at the core of all the technologies that are developed and is used widely beyond SOS products. The SOS program strives to stay on top of technological trends and ensure an engaging and educational presentation of NOAA's data catalog that is accessible, scientifically sound, and culturally relevant. The intended users for these technological developments and visualizations are museums, educators, students, the general public, and scientific professionals. We seek a dedicated and hardworking visualization developer who will play a central role in expanding and modernizing this catalog by transforming complex scientific datasets (e.g., satellite observations, numerical model outputs, and geospatial data) into compelling visual narratives optimized for spherical and flat-screen display systems. This includes working with datasets such as global temperature anomalies, hurricane tracks, ocean currents, wildfire activity, auroras, and solar imagery.

The SOS program prioritizes scientific accuracy, accessibility, and storytelling, ensuring NOAA data is engaging and understandable for audiences including museums, educators, students, the public, and scientific professionals. This role requires both technical expertise and creative vision.

The SOS team is composed of software engineers, scientists, and educators. The successful candidate will collaborate across disciplines while independently driving visualization projects from concept through deployment.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 900 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 CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation (CEEE) connects educators, learners, and communities with environmental and Earth system science. Our team provides accessible, high-quality environmental science curriculum and informal learning experiences, community building and engagement, meaningful career development, and research and evaluation support to evaluate the impact of education and science programs. We strive to make science and research data accessible, inspire environmental action, and empower curiosity and scientific engagement for a sustainable future. We support future and early-career scientists through training and career opportunities. We collaborate with scientists to broaden the impact of their research through outreach activities and educational materials and to develop program evaluation plans for research proposals.

The NOAA Office of Education SOS team is composed of a small group of dedicated software engineers, educators, and scientists who work together to create innovative data visualization and educational tools that give everyone the power to understand our interconnected world and inspire meaningful change. The SOS program includes three technologies:

SOS is a room-sized, global display system that projects visualizations of planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere to help illustrate Earth System science to people of all ages. It has been installed in over 200 venues worldwide and is viewed by an estimated 60M people annually.
SOS Explorer, a flat-screen version of SOS for Windows computers, is popular in schools.
The SOS Explorer Mobile app has had over 50K downloads and thousands of unique monthly users. All of these technologies are reliant on the vast earth and space science data visualization catalog that is at the heart of the program. Visit sos.noaa.gov for more information about the SOS program.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Updating and expanding scientific visualizations for the SOS data catalog (60%)

Create new visualizations from Earth and space science datasets (e.g., satellite imagery, model outputs, geospatial data).
Update and modernize existing datasets in the SOS data catalog.
Identify gaps in the catalog and source data for new datasets.
Apply visualization and design principles (color theory, projection techniques, animation, storytelling) to produce high-quality, engaging visual content.
Collaborate with scientists and partners to provide training and dataset creation support.

Publishing visualizations (25%)

Format and ingest datasets into internal pipelines and website catalog.
Manage metadata, descriptions, and catalog entries, ensuring datasets are accessible, discoverable, and reusable by internal and external audiences
Determine optimal image and video rendering options for display on our platforms.

Testing and documenting (10%)

Perform thorough quality assurance to ensure accuracy, performance, and visual clarity, with particular attention to detail.
Create and maintain documentation, standards, and templates for dataset details including descriptions, color bars, and metadata.
Contribute to outreach materials such as images, videos, and presentations.

Perform other relevant duties as necessary. (Not to exceed 5%)

What You Should Know

Given project deliverables, candidates must be able to start work by July 1, 2026
This position will include limited travel to workshops, conferences, and training.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
The team can offer hybrid work modality for this role. Candidates must be able to physically come into the office. This position has not been approved as fully remote.
The annual hiring salary range for this position is $55,062 to $83,030.
Relocation funds are available for this role following CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder's rules and regulations for relocation reimbursement.
The University of Colorado Boulder offers 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.
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

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be daring. Be professional. Be Boulder.

What We Require

At least 3 years of professional experience in the field of visualization development, data visualization, or a related field. Years of experience must be post-degree.
Bachelor's degree in a related field.

What You Will Need

Expertise in Python for processing and visualizing scientific or geospatial datasets.
Expertise working with Earth science and geospatial datasets (e.g., NetCDF, HDF5, GIS), including satellite and numerical model outputs from organizations like NOAA and NASA.
Expertise generating and refining visualizations and animations using tools such as FFmpeg, Blender, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, or similar.
Strong knowledge of data visualization principles, including color theory, projection, and visual storytelling.
Ability to create high-quality visual media outputs, including image sequences and videos.
Excellent problem-solving skills, strong logical thinking ability, and high attention to detail.
Capable of independently driving high-quality work to completion while actively collaborating with and receiving feedback from cross-functional and diverse teams.
Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks effectively.
Strong communication skills to translate scientific data into accessible visual formats.
A strong passion for advancing CIRES' mission of improving understanding of the Earth system through education and engagement.

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.
If you are identified as a finalist, the search committee will request a letter of recommendation at a later time.

The position will close on April 25, 2026.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/CIRES-Center-for-Education-Engagement-and-Evaluation-Visualization-Developer/71265