Research Associate
ECS Corporate Services

Job Info

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ECS is seeking a Research Associate to work remote.

Job Description:
NOAA Fisheries' fish stock assessments provide the sound science necessary for the conservation and management of fishery stocks. Using data collected from a variety of sources, a stock assessment uses mathematical models to describe how the history of fishing has affected the current status of the stock, as well as project a level of future catch that will support sustainable management of the fishery. NOAA Fisheries' National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) is responsible for coordinating the national stock assessment enterprise, advancing national stock assessment science, and implementing national policies and procedures to ensure science products are high quality and the best available for supporting fisheries management.
A suite of analytical tools is available to assessment analysts to support quantitative analyses conducted during each stage of the stock assessment process. These analytical tools have varying degrees of generality, accessibility, testing, documentation, and adherence to software development practices. NOAA Fisheries has established a new initiative, termed the Fisheries Integrated Modeling System (FIMS) that supports development of generalized next generation stock assessment software that will better support fishery management. Software development of FIMS is organized by the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology under NSAP and includes collaborations with NOAA Fisheries scientists across the U.S. as well as domestic and international partners outside of NOAA. FIMS is being designed in accordance with software development best practices and is intended to be modular in design with linkages to ecosystem, climate, and human dimensions modeling systems.

NSAP requires contractor support for development of analytical software tools, with a particular focus on FIMS. Key tasks include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
Support national assessment model development activities

• Collaborate broadly with NSAP, FIMS collaborators, and other programs to strategize and prioritize model development tasks
• Work within a team of software developers to support and build a national suite of analytic tools
• Ensure access to recent developments by regularly updating tools with new versions that have sufficient testing and documentation
• Keep abreast of NOAA and IT policies to ensure compliance and appropriate provision of tools

Development and testing

• Support and contribute to the development, testing, validation, documentation, and maintenance of national analytical tools used in fisheries science
• Facilitate intelligent use and error handling to minimize user mistakes
• Facilitate community software platform development and versioning

Communication

• Collaborate with developers and field scientists throughout NOAA Fisheries and beyond to best meet community needs
• Develop training modules and documentation for stock assessment software and user interfaces as needed
• Provide reports, briefings, and presentations as needed
• Serve as an interface between user groups and IT development teams
• Communicate project results and activities to general and scientific audiences in written and oral formats

Deliverables

• Software code for national analytical tools used in fisheries science
• Development and adherence to software project management, including practices related to community development, version control, testing, verification, validation, and documentation
• Publications (working papers, technical memoranda, peer-reviewed papers) that describe national analytical tools, document research, development and testing, and serve as user manuals and training modules
• Training modules and documentation for stock assessment software and user interfaces as needed

Required Skills:

• Must have a Master's or PhD Degree
• Excellent programming skills, including experience that may include C, Fortran, and Java, and statistical software, such as R, TMB, AD Model Builder, and others
• Experience and understanding of code versioning software, such as Git, SVN, mercurial, and others
• Familiarity and experience with parameter estimation for population models, including an understanding of analytical techniques and terminology
• Experience with developing and implementing standards in software and data management and documentation
• Demonstrated proficiency for the following skill sets:
• Project management for complex and technical scientific programs
• Communication both verbally and using written materials (including visual presentation) with a variety of audiences including technical, scientific and non-scientific
• Working with diverse groups of individuals under strict timelines to accomplish goals
• Working independently with strong time management skills
• Adaptability to quickly changing priorities
• Attention to detail

ECS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. ECS promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.

ECS is a leading mid-sized provider of technology services to the United States Federal Government. We are focused on people, values and purpose. Every day, our 3000+ employees focus on providing their technical talent to support the Federal Agencies and Departments of the US Government to serve, protect and defend the American People.

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