GD 164 Technical Data Curator
ADNET Systems, Inc. is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Technical Data Curator to support the GES DISC team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. In this role, you will bridge the gap between raw Earth science data and the scientists and users who depend on it. You will work hands-on with large-scale atmospheric, precipitation, and climate datasets - ensuring they are well-documented, properly formatted, quality-checked, and accessible in modern cloud environments.
A key aspect of this role is serving as a technical liaison between data providers - such as instrument teams, mission science teams, and field campaign investigators - and the GES DISC archive. You will translate scientific data deliveries into well-curated, standards-compliant, archive-ready products that serve a broad user community.
The ideal candidate has experience both producing and consuming Earth science data - someone who understands the pain points of a data user firsthand and can translate that empathy into better data products and services.
Key Responsibilities:
Data Ingest & Management: Receive, validate, and ingest Earth science data products into the GES DISC archive; ensure data integrity and compliance with metadata standards (e.g., CF Conventions, ACDD, ISO 19115, NASA UMM).
Cloud Data Stewardship: Manage and optimize data holdings in cloud environments (AWS S3); support and promote cloud-native data access patterns including direct S3 access and cloud-optimized formats such as Zarr and Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF (COG).
Format Expertise: Work with common Earth science data formats including HDF4, HDF5, NetCDF-4, GeoTIFF, and others; validate and transform datasets as needed to meet archive standards.
Scripting & Automation: Develop and maintain scripts and pipelines to automate data processing, validation, transformation, and quality assurance workflows, primarily in Python; engage with and maintain legacy code in Perl, SQL, or other languages as needed.
Data Provider Liaison: Serve as a primary point of contact for data providers (e.g., instrument teams, mission science teams, field campaign investigators); communicate technical requirements for data format, metadata standards, and delivery protocols; collaborate with providers to resolve data quality issues prior to and following archive ingest.
User Support: Serve as a technical resource for data users; troubleshoot data access issues, respond to user inquiries, and advocate for user needs in tool and system improvements.
Collaboration: Coordinate with data providers, GES DISC platform engineers, NASA civil servants (at GES DISC and ESDIS), and the broader DAAC community to implement best practices and ensure consistency across the data archive.
Emerging Standards: Stay current with evolving data standards, formats, and community practices (e.g., STAC, OGC APIs, Zarr, cloud-optimized formats).
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree or higher in Earth Science, Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Geography, Information Science, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
Strong Python programming skills, including experience with Earth science libraries such as xarray, netCDF4, h5py, numpy, pandas, or similar
Demonstrated hands-on experience working with gridded (Level 3) and swath (Level 2) data in HDF4/5 and/or NetCDF formats
Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (AWS preferred) and cloud storage concepts (e.g., object storage, cloud-optimized data access)
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively with external stakeholders such as data providers, science teams, or mission teams
Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality
Effective written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce clear technical documentation
Knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git/GitHub)
US Citizenship required.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 1 Investigation through NASA.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience working with or within a NASA DAAC or similar data repository (e.g., NSIDC, ORNL, ASDC, PO.DAAC)
Experience as a data user - i.e., has worked with Earth science datasets in a research, operational, or analytical @context and understands common user workflows and pain points
Prior experience acting as a technical point of contact or liaison for data providers or external science teams
Familiarity with GES DISC data holdings or tools such as Giovanni, Earthdata Search, and OPeNDAP
Familiarity with atmospheric science, precipitation, hydrology, or climate data and the communities that use them
Knowledge of metadata standards such as CF Conventions, ACDD, ISO 19115, or NASA's Unified Metadata Model (UMM)
Experience with cloud-optimized formats (Zarr, COG, STAC)
Experience with database management and SQL query writing
Familiarity with data access protocols such as OPeNDAP, THREDDS, or Earthdata APIs
Experience with containerization tools (e.g., Docker)
Contributions to open-source Earth science software or data communities
Team ADNET brings over 30 years of experience to information systems and professional services for the federal government. With a history of expertise in software development, computer network design, IT security, mission operations support, and educational outreach, Team ADNET is deeply embedded in the Space and Earth Science at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD.
ADNET Systems, Inc. is working with Goddard Space Flight Center to fulfill NASA's vision for space exploration, and working with the Science and Exploration Directorate to fulfill its many missions.
ADNET Systems, Inc. is an employee-centric company, committed to providing premier benefits that support our employees and their families. With affordable medical and dental plans coupled with leading disability and life insurance options, ADNET offers our employees the benefits most sought after by today's professional candidate. Furthermore, our benefits package features the extras that distinguish us from other small businesses, ensuring our high employee retention that our customers appreciate.
Some features of our compensation plans and environment perks include:
Annual Leave/Sick Leave
Military and Family Emergency Leave
Paid Holidays
Performance Bonuses
Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
Direct Deposit Payroll
401K Plan with Company Matching
Tuition Reimbursement
Swag bags
Equal Employment Opportunity: ADNET Systems, Inc. prohibits discrimination with respect to the hiring or promotion of individuals, conditions of employment, disciplinary and discharge practices or any other aspect of employment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or veteran status.
