Senior Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineer

This position supports the National Weather Service (NWS) Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) Radar Operations Center (ROC), located in Norman, Oklahoma. The ROC is responsible for sustaining and modernizing 158 Doppler weather radars that provide critical tornado and severe weather warning observations across the Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Korea. These radars form the backbone of the nation's severe weather detection and forecasting capability.

As part of the Engineering Branch, you will work in the Software Engineering team, which develops, maintains, and enhances software for WSR-88D operational systems. This includes implementing and testing software modifications requested by NEXRAD stakeholders, correcting software defects, applying security updates, and ensuring compliance with system authorization requirements. The team supports key radar components such as the Radar Data Acquisition (RDA), Radar Product Generator (RPG), and Master System Control Function (MSCF), as well as projects like National Level 2 (NL2) radar data distribution, Special Product Generator (SPG) enhancements, and GIS-based analyses for radar coverage and wind farm impact studies.

This role involves collaboration with multiple agencies, including the Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, and Department of Defense, to ensure reliable radar operations and continuous improvement of mission-critical software systems.

Job Responsibilities :

• Develop, modify, and maintain software applications to support radar systems and equipment.
• Perform systems analysis to design, implement, and optimize software solutions.
• Provide technical documentation and contribute to technical writing efforts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate software with hardware systems.
• Develop software in a Linux (Red Hat) environment using programming languages such as C or C++.
• Apply scripting and web-based programming knowledge, including HTML, Python, and JavaScript, as needed.
• Ensure compliance with best practices in software engineering, systems integration, and cybersecurity.
• Experience with widget toolkits such as GTK+ or Motif is a plus.
• Utilize Inter-Process Communication (IPC) mechanisms, including Linux signals and shared memory management.
• Perform Linux system administration tasks, including patch management, user account management with Multi Factor Authentication, and system security.

Job Requirements : Education :

A Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering is desired.

Degrees in other technical disciplines may be considered if augmented by a minor in Computer Science or equivalent formal training courses.

Experience :

A minimum of five years of experience providing software engineering services.

Advanced degrees in specialized fields may substitute for a portion of the experience requirements.

Network socket programming experience; IPv6 socket programming is a plus.

Experience with Inter-Process Communication (IPC) mechanisms, including Linux signals and shared memory management.

Knowledge of computer hardware, systems software, and computer systems architecture and integration is desired.

Strong programming skills in a Linux (Red Hat) environment using at least one of the following programming languages : C, C++.

Experience with radar systems and equipment is highly desirable.

Experience with Widget Toolkits (e.g., GTK+ or Motif) is a plus.

Skills and Competencies :

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Effective communication and technical writing abilities.

Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Detail-oriented with a commitment to delivering high-quality work products.

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience with radar systems and familiarity with NEXRAD systems.

Training or experience in systems integration and hardware / software interfacing.