Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) is seeking a Support Scientist with scientific programming experience to advance NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Cryospheric Science Lab Firn Modeling capabilities. Working with colleagues within the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA GSFC, and many external university investigators this position will involve converting and optimizing existing MATLAB code to an operational Python-based computing environment, parameter testing and optimization, technical and scientific writing, as well as doing research.
The successful candidate will provide programming and scientific analysis support in two broad areas:
1) facilitating the development and operational generation of a new ICESat-2 Standard Data Product for land ice mass change
2) creating an operational framework for monthly production of the evolution of ice-sheet surface conditions using an existing python-based model and atmospheric climate data as input
Collaborative authorship of science publications for broad distribution, and oral or poster presentations at conferences and workshops will be expected.
The specific task activities may include:
• streamlining inputs to the python-based Community Firn Model (CFM) to enable conversion of ice sheet volume change to mass change;
• improving CFM data product usability and metadata;
• converting existing Matlab code to Python code in an operational environment;
• coordinating file formats and conventions with existing ICESat-2 Standard Data Products;
• exploring opportunities to improve surface process model workflow, including machine learning and artificial intelligence;
• performing model comparison to observations, both of which involve large data volumes;
• writing and publishing in high impact peer reviewed journal articles on success of efforts.
Required Qualifications:
+ M.S. degree and 1 year of relevant experience (or B.S. and 4 years) in an atmospheric, biospheric, geophysics, oceanography or other physical science, mathematics or computer science or equivalent combination of education and experience
+ Excellent Python programming experience written and oral communication skills
+ Proficiency using MATLAB and Git
+ A demonstrated understanding of open science practices
+ Access to relevant systems and data requires US Citizenship or Permanent Residence
Desired Qualifications:
+ Experience with large data sets
+ Knowledge of machine learning and artificial intelligence
+ PhD on an Earth Science related discipline
EOE, Including disability/vets
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How to hire a scientific programmer analyst
Scientific programmer analyst hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring scientific programmer analysts in the United States:
- In the United States, the median cost per hire a scientific programmer analyst is $1,633.
- It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
- Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
- On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new scientific programmer analyst to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.
How to hire a scientific programmer analyst, step by step
To hire a scientific programmer analyst, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a scientific programmer analyst, you should follow these steps:
Here's a step-by-step scientific programmer analyst hiring guide:
- Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
- Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
- Step 3: Make a budget
- Step 4: Write a scientific programmer analyst job description
- Step 5: Post your job
- Step 6: Interview candidates
- Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new scientific programmer analyst
- Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
Post a scientific programmer analyst job for free, promote it for a fee
Identify your hiring needs
Before you start hiring a scientific programmer analyst, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.
Determine employee vs contractor statusIs the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?A scientific programmer analyst's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, scientific programmer analysts from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.
Here's a comparison of scientific programmer analyst salaries for various roles:
Type of Scientific Programmer Analyst Description Hourly rate Scientific Programmer Analyst Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and design information systems solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both. $30-51 Information Technology Consultant An Information Technology Consultant, also known as IT Consultant, is responsible for sharing extensive knowledge of Information Technology by providing suggestions and solving issues within the company. Among the duties include installing and maintaining the necessary software and hardware, designing new procedures, overseeing all implementations, and ensuring that all systems are running smoothly, employing methods to secure databases, and providing essential instructions when needed... Show more $29-55 Technical Consultant A technical consultant is a professional who provides technical support and performs troubleshooting functions for the company's product or application. A consultant should be highly knowledgeable about the product or application so that he/she can assist users and clients with whatever issues they may be facing... Show more $32-56 Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:- Python
- Linux
- MATLAB
- Unix
- Fortran
- SQL
- Perl
- Visualization
- R
- Remote Sensing
- Software Packages
- SAS
- C++
- Windows
Responsibilities:- Conduct comparative functional assessment of simulation models written in FORTRAN code, which lead to DoD-wide adoption of assessment results.
- Manage to increase company productivity by implementing digital scanning system to replace handwriting practices while being responsible for entire SDLC process.
- Port HP-UX programs to Linux.
- Develop graphical user interfaces (GUI).
- Use SAS tools to perform data cleansing, discovery and analysis.
- Design and develop SAS and SPSS programs to manipulate and analyze data.
Make a budget
Including a salary range in your scientific programmer analyst job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A scientific programmer analyst salary can vary based on several factors:- Location. For example, scientific programmer analysts' average salary in hawaii is 33% less than in california.
- Seniority. Entry-level scientific programmer analysts earn 41% less than senior-level scientific programmer analysts.
- Certifications. A scientific programmer analyst with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
- Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a scientific programmer analyst's salary.
Average scientific programmer analyst salary
$83,798yearly
$40.29 hourly rateEntry-level scientific programmer analyst salary$64,000 yearly salaryUpdated December 18, 2025Average scientific programmer analyst salary by state
Rank State Avg. salary Hourly rate 1 California $106,384 $51 2 New York $83,592 $40 3 Rhode Island $79,802 $38 4 Maryland $78,752 $38 5 Florida $78,712 $38 6 Massachusetts $77,506 $37 7 Michigan $72,272 $35 8 Pennsylvania $71,707 $34 9 Texas $70,419 $34 Average scientific programmer analyst salary by company
Rank Company Average salary Hourly rate Job openings 1 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center $89,206 $42.89 4 2 Alfa $86,843 $41.75 3 A & B $86,114 $41.40 4 AuroPro Systems $85,873 $41.29 5 Moffitt Cancer Center $84,465 $40.61 1 6 Global Science & Technology, Inc. $83,430 $40.11 7 SAIC $82,584 $39.70 19 8 The Wistar Institute $81,911 $39.38 9 Science and Technology $81,290 $39.08 10 Science Systems and Applications $76,168 $36.62 11 Brown University $74,794 $35.96 Writing a scientific programmer analyst job description
A good scientific programmer analyst job description should include a few things:
- Summary of the role
- List of responsibilities
- Required skills and experience
Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a scientific programmer analyst job description:
Scientific programmer analyst job description example
Post your job
To find the right scientific programmer analyst for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with scientific programmer analysts they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit scientific programmer analysts who meet your education requirements.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
Interview candidates
Recruiting scientific programmer analysts requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.
Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.
While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a scientific programmer analyst applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:
- TestDome
- CodeSignal
- Testlify
- BarRaiser
- Coderbyte
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new scientific programmer analyst
Once you've selected the best scientific programmer analyst candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.
You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.
After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new scientific programmer analyst. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a scientific programmer analyst?
Before you start to hire scientific programmer analysts, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire scientific programmer analysts pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.
You can expect to pay around $83,798 per year for a scientific programmer analyst, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for scientific programmer analysts in the US typically range between $30 and $51 an hour.
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Updated December 18, 2025