2026 NSF Unidata Intern at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Job Description Summary:UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the 2026 NSF Unidata Student Intern.The 2026 NSF Unidata Summer Internship will offer graduate students and upper-level undergraduates the opportunity to work closely with Unidatas professional staff on software development projects that interest them and benefit the wider Unidata community. Interns interact with software developers instructional designers technical writers and other mentors within the program building skill with modern software development processes learning about data-enabled Earth Systems Science and generally getting to know what its like to work in a community-focused organization supporting Earth Science research and education. Participants contribute to Unidatas innovative data access analysis and visualization tools by writing code creating learning materials or participating in other aspects of the software development lifecycle.Position Details: Visa Sponsored Job:NoRelocation Assistance Eligible:NoJob Location: Boulder ColoradoPosition Type & Term:Full time Term - Casual (Fixed Term)Compensation Min - Mid Range:Undergraduate Interns: $23.41/hr; Graduate Interns: $28.32/hrApplication NotesAs an intern you will choose a summer focus from a wide range of areas where NSF Unidata has active projects. Some examples include:Contributing to existing data management analysis and visualization software packages written in languages like Python Java and C.Creating learning materials that help students and educators take advantage of NSF Unidata software and services.Investigating ways that leading-edge technologies such as machine learning software containerization and cloud computing can benefit the Earth system science community.While we encourage you to think about focus areas you might be interested in and to take a look at some of the things previous interns have worked on youll work together with NSF Unidata staff mentors to choose projects once the internship begins.The 2026 program is an 11-week summer position (40 hours / week) running from May 18 2026 to July 31 2026. As circumstances permit interns will have the opportunity to work full-time in person and/or hybrid at the NSF Unidata Program Center (UPC) in Boulder Colorado.Interns receive an hourly stipend and will be provided with housing (shared with other UCAR interns) and transportation costs to and from Boulder. Additionally NSF Unidata will arrange for 2026 interns to attend the 2027 AMS annual meeting to present their work.Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59pm MT Friday February 6 2026. Applications will not be accepted past this date and candidates will receive a status update no later than Monday March 16 2026.Required application materials:Resume/CV (preferably in PDF Format)Questionnaire (to be completed when submitting your application) In lieu of a traditional cover letter the hiring team wants to learn more about your skills/experiences regarding very specific questions related to your skills education and academic/career goals to be successful in this position. As part of your application you will be asked to submit answers to two essays (up to 3000 character limit per essay). Your essays will be read and weighed equally to your resume so please ensure youre providing detailed yet informative responses based on your experiences.What drew you to apply for this internship How do you hope the experience will benefit youHow could your skills education and experience be used during the Unidata internship If possible provide specific examples of relevant projects you have worked on previously.Note: Candidates who advance in our selection process may be asked to submit a sample project (e.g. past class assignment research project previous work project etc.) that highlights relevant skills.Background checks are conducted for candidates who are offered the internship opportunity. Learn more.Work Authorization/Visa Sponsorship: Not available. You must be (a) a current U.S. Citizen; (b) lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or (c) a protected individual as defined by 8 USC1324b(a)(3).Work Location: This position is open to students seeking in-person and hybrid (combination of in-person and remote) opportunities. Regardless of flexible work arrangements UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S. excluding U.S. Territories.Duration of Internship: Monday May 18 2026 - Friday July 31 2026 (11 weeks)Travel & Accommodation: NSF Unidata Interns will receive housing accommodations and round-trip travel to Boulder CO for this internship. Please note that the benefits listed below in the Benefits Overview section do not apply to summer interns.What You Will DoHere is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.Key ResponsibilitiesResearch / Scientific Software DevelopmentEngage in research that builds on NSF Unidata technologies and involves using designing and/or modifying existing NSF Unidata software.Reporting / SeminarsIn addition to working closely with individual developers you will attend technical staff meetings to report on the status of your project. Youll also have opportunities to update the UPC staff on the progress of your project through informal brown bag talks. And youll also be encouraged to share your progress and experiences at UCAR and Unidata with a larger community by posting to the Unidata developers blog.In the last week of your internship you will have the opportunity to give a NSF Unidata Community Seminar describing your experience and the outcomes of your summer work.Unidata will also arrange for your attendance at the 2027 AMS Annual Meeting Student Conference allowing you to present your internship work to a wide audience of working scientists and other students. Well help you get started on your presentation and abstract submission during the summer.WritingThe intern will be expected to document their work (for projects that involve writing code this includes in-code documentation as well as user level documentation). The student will be encouraged to participate in the Unidata Developers Blog throughout their summer experience.Who Wed Love To Join Our TeamSuccessful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:Education & ExperienceMust be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program as a sophomore junior or senior or enrolled in a graduate level program with a focus on earth science or if in a related field (e.g. computing or engineering) some earth science coursework preferred.Knowledge Skills and AbilitiesDemonstrated knowledge and skill in the areas of data access distribution analysis and/or visualization.Basic knowledge through coursework of earth and/or computer science.Ability and willingness to learn and use new scientific computing tools and programs.Excellent oral and written communication skills.Ability to work with a diverse group of peers.Ability to work full-time virtually or in Boulder Colorado during the summer program.Ability to interact with mentors and peers in a manner that supports collaboration and inquiry.Basic problem-solving skills: exercises judgment when to ask for help. Consults with supervisor on larger job or community related issues.Desired but not required:For software development projects working knowledge of at least one Version Control tool preferably Git.Experience with Earth system science data formats (e.g. netCDF GRIB BUFR).QUESTIONSFor help with the Workday application process please reach out to Meghan Myron-Karels ().For general questions regarding the NSF Unidata program please contact Ryan May ().Commitment to Job Application FairnessApplicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age date of birth or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.Some Final ConsiderationsAt NSF NCAR UCAR UCP you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science problems including climate change air pollution extreme weather floods drought wildfires and space weather all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us from scientists to the professionals who support their work serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system from the ocean floor to the Suns core.Flexible WorkAt UCAR we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.Equal Opportunity EmployerUCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race age creed color religion national origin or ancestry sex gender disability veteran status genetic information sexual orientation gender identity or expression or your intersection of identities you are welcome at UCAR.Export ControlAll positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations and work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems. Work LocationUCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S. excluding U.S. Territories.AI SoftwareChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing theway society receives processes and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.Required Experience:Intern Key Skills Campaigns,Abinitio,AutoCAD 3D,Hardware & Networking,Customer Support,Arabic Employment Type : Full-Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1