CIRES/ ESIIL and Earth Lab Software Developer

The University of Colorado System is seeking a Software Developer for the CIRES/ESIIL and Earth Lab in Boulder, CO. Responsibilities include advising researchers on code optimization, leading training events, maintaining cyberinfrastructure, and developing software in R and Python. The role involves collaboration with various partners and contributing to environmental data science projects. The position is based in Boulder and requires strong technical and communication skills.
Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
(CIRES) in Boulder, Colorado, is seeking a Software Developer to
work in the Environmental Data Science Innovation and Impact Lab
(ESIIL) and Earth Lab.

Core responsibilities of the ESIIL and Earth Lab Software Developer
include i) consulting with and advising researchers on how to
optimize and scale their code and workflows on HPC or the cloud;
ii) instructing the users’ network on how to use CU Boulder, Earth
Lab, and ESIIL cyberinfrastructure including leading and assisting
with training events, Summits and Hackathons; iii) assisting with
the development and maintenance of ESIIL and Earth Lab
cyberinfrastructure in coordination with key partners (e.g.,
CyVerse, CU Boulder Research Computing and CIRES IT); iv)
developing and maintaining open source codes and software (mostly,
in R and Python), docker containers and key databases with
documentation and metadata for the network; v) developing and
maintaining front-end applications including ESIIL’s integrated
websystem and funding-based end-user applications; vi) helping
maintain the multiple ESIIL and Earth Lab data, code, software and
container repositories, as well as websites in coordination with
CIRES IT and CU Boulder. The ESIIL and Earth Lab software developer
will also contribute to Earth and environment data science,
next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
(ML) development, and research projects, as needed. The candidate
should have excellent technical and communication skills and be
comfortable working in a team environment.

The selected candidate will be based in Boulder, Colorado, at
ESIIL/Earth Lab, under the supervision of the Analytics Hub
Director and, as appropriate, advised by the ESIIL and Earth Lab
Directors.

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

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
(CIRES)

At CIRES , the Cooperative Institute for
Research in Environmental Sciences, more than 900 people work to
understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s
relationship with the planet. An institute at the University of
Colorado Boulder, we have partnered with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 1967. Our areas of
expertise include weather and climate, wildfire and water, changes
at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water
resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our researchers work in
10 CU Boulder departments and eight NOAA laboratories and
centers.

Esiil

The Environmental Data Science Innovation
& Impact Lab (ESIIL) is an NSF-funded data synthesis center
led by the University of Colorado Boulder in collaboration with
NSF’s CyVerse at the University of Arizona and the University of
Oslo. ESIIL’s mission is to empower a broad community to accelerate
open Environmental Data Science. ESIIL enables a global community
of environmental data scientists to use the wealth of environmental
data and emerging analytics to develop science-based solutions to
solve pressing challenges in environmental sciences. ESIIL’s
research community generates discoveries and novel approaches
through 1) innovative team science, 2) innovative tools and
collaborative cyberinfrastructures, 3) data-science education and
training, and 4) building broad collaborations and networks.

Earth Lab

Earth Lab is part of CIRES
and CU-Boulder’s Grand Challenge: Our Space, Our Future. Earth
Lab’s mission is to harness the data revolution by using Earth
observations from multiple platforms (drones, aircraft, and
satellites) and other sources (e.g., surveys, reports, social
media) to better understand the pace and patterns of environmental
change and to develop solutions. Earth Lab aims to use the big data
and AI revolutions through education, research, analytics,
cyberinfrastructure, and broad collaboration. As a branch of the
Earth Lab, the Analytics Hub aims to advance data-driven
discoveries and solutions in Earth & Environment science
through AI- and cyberinfrastructure-enabled analyses and
systems.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
• (30%) Work on the development and maintenance of ESIIL and
Earth Lab’s Analytics Hub and cyberinfrastructure, both back- and
front-end applications, and instruct users through consulting and
training efforts on how to use the Hub’s analytical and
cyberinfrastructure tools and platforms.
• (30%) Work with ESIIL and Earth Lab scientists, affiliates,
networks, and cyberinfrastructure collaborators to co-produce and
optimize the interoperability and long-term sustainability of the
codebases, containers, and datasets of ESIIL and Earth Lab networks
as open, generalized resources for science researchers and
decision-makers.
• (40%) Contribute to software development for advancing
discoveries and solutions that are based on the integration and
analysis of diverse remote sensing and in-situ datasets (surveys,
reports, etc.), including the expansion and maintenance of code
workflow, model development and data publication on innovative fire
behavior metrics of an existing fire spread algorithm (e.g.,
FIREDpy , developed by the Earth Lab
team). Specifically, the ESIIL and Earth Lab software developer may
incorporate climate, fuels, and topography datasets as attributes,
derive additional fire behavior metrics from current or upcoming
remote sensing platforms (MODIS, VIIRS, and/or FireSat), and/or
integrate ancillary fire datasets, using cloud or other
high-performance computing resources to harmonize and analyze big,
complex environmental data, develop open AI-based pipelines, and/or
develop code workflows to advance the FIREDpy algorithm.

What You Should Know
• This position is a full-time appointment and is intended to be
at the early to mid-career stage.
• The position will likely be a hybrid arrangement with some
virtual work time and some in-person work time as conditions allow,
following current Earth Lab, ESIIL, CIRES, and university guidance
and policies. The in-person time will be in the ESIIL offices in
the SEEC Building on the CU Boulder East Campus. This is not a
remote position.

What We Can Offer
• CIRES can offer a generous compensation package.
• Annual salary for this position is $75,268 - $113,246. Salary
is commensurate with education and experience and determined based
on the CIRES internal career track classification.
• Some relocation funds are available to help off-set moving
expenses, following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s
relocation processes and procedures.
• This position can accommodate a hybrid work modality.
• CIRES and the University of Colorado boulder offer 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 inventive. Be supportive. Be Boulder.

What We Require
• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, applied mathematics, computer
science, Earth or environmental sciences (or related field)
• At least 3 years of software development experience.
• Experience in developing scalable pipelines using
high-performance computing (HPC) or cloud platforms (e.g., AWS,
CyVerse).
• Experience applying statistical and artificial intelligence/
machine learning methods to analyze large scientific datasets,
particularly remote sensing and geospatial data, using Python
and/or R.
• Experience with multimodal data curation and management,
including streaming, cleaning, formatting, documentation, and
publishing in alignment with FAIR and CARE principles.
• Experience with open-source code, container and image
development, documentation, and maintenance, including repository
management (e.g., GitHub, Docker Hub), to support open and
reproducible science.
• Experience developing and/or maintaining front-end
applications.

What You Will Need
• Strong communication skills for effective collaboration with
data scientists and researchers in both in-person and remote
settings.
• Demonstrated commitment to open data and software standard
processes and to educating and supporting researchers and
decision-makers in the use of data and cyberinfrastructure, which
includes a strong service background.
• Strong quantitative skills spanning statistics, informatics,
remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and applied machine learning
(e.g., computer vision, big-data analytics) using Earth,
atmospheric, geoscience, or biological data across scales.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position details the required and
desired skills and experience, applicants do not need to possess
all of the desired skills and experience to be considered for this
position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have a passion
for the work, and have experience in a related field, you are
encouraged to apply. We encourage on-the-job training for any
additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the
position.
• Ability to contribute to a collaborative workforce, advance
scientific discovery, and support the development of Earth and
environmental technology solutions.
• Strong experience collecting, organizing, and analyzing
multimodal Earth and environmental data, including wildfire and
fire-related datasets.
• Familiarity with emerging foundational machine-learning models
for Earth and environmental sciences, as well as next-generation
large language model tools for AI-assisted data curation, labeling,
coding, and user-interface development, including Model Context
Protocol (MCP) server.
• Experience in teaching, training, or mentoring in academic or
research settings.
• Experience with web content management and front-end
development, including CMS platforms (e.g., Drupal), UI styling
libraries (e.g., Bootstrap), and programming with PHP/Twig.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:
• A copy of your CV.
• A cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly
describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific
interest in this position.
• Though not required at the time of application, be prepared to
submit a list of 5 professional references (2 of whom must be
supervisors or professors). If you are selected as a finalist, we
will ask you to contact your references so that they can complete a
Crosschq questionnaire on your behalf. Crosschq is an online
automated reference check solution. This information will be kept
confidential and viewable only by the search committee.

Note: The final candidate will be required to provide proof of a
completed academic degree in the form of a transcript or diploma
copy if the candidate will be using a completed academic degree to
fulfill a minimum requirement for the position.

Application Deadline:

Applications must be submitted by the end of the day on March
29, 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.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Cibele Amaral

Posting Contact Email: CIBELE.AMARAL@COLORADO.EDU