Overview
Lynker is seeking a talented Lead Web Developer to support the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) at the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). SWPC operates 24 / 7 to monitor and forecast conditions in the space environment that affect technologies on Earth and in space, supporting national security, transportation, power grid resilience, emergency management, and commercial space operations. SWPC is also designated as one of three ICAO Space Weather Centers, supporting international aviation.
The Lead Web Developer will lead the end-to-end redesign of SWPC's primary website, www.spaceweather.gov, transforming it into a modular, intuitive, data-rich platform that meets the needs of SWPC's 21st-century customers. This role encompasses strategic design, technical execution, and stakeholder engagement from research through prototyping, implementation, and deployment. The Lead Web Developer will guide integration of experimental models and visualizations from the SWPC Testbed into a scalable public web architecture delivering high availability and mission-critical data services. Strong leadership, UX design, and customer engagement skills are essential. The ideal candidate may be located in Boulder, CO, but remote work could be possible for the right candidate.
Responsibilities
- Lead the complete ground-up redesign of SWPC’s public website, from discovery and planning through development, testing, deployment and sustainment.
- Conduct stakeholder interviews and user research to define core requirements, identify customer expectations, and prioritize improvements to the user experience.
- Architect and implement a modular, maintainable, and scalable web infrastructure that supports dynamic content, real-time data, dashboards, product visualizations and reporting.
- Design modern, accessible, and responsive interfaces using human-centered design and usability best practices.
- Integrate new forecast models, scientific tools, and Testbed-developed products into operational web workflows, ensuring traceability, version control, and documentation.
- Oversee web theming, templating, and CMS restructuring (e.g., Drupal, Wordpress) to decouple content, presentation, and logic layers.
- Collaborate with SWPC’s Testbed development team to transition experimental capabilities and prototypes into production environments.
- Develop and maintain APIs, containerized services (e.g., Docker), and middleware components supporting interactive plots, animation loops, and time-series data.
- Provide strategic guidance to web developers and content managers on architecture, performance optimization, and security best practices.
- Act as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders, NOAA IT teams, and external users for web modernization efforts.
- Document system designs, data flows, testing protocols, and training materials to support long-term maintainability and sustainability.
Qualifications
A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Atmospheric Science, Space Physics, Geophysics, or a related field (Master's degree a big plus).10+ years of related experience.5+ years designing and developing large-scale, user-facing websites with modern frameworks and CMS platforms.Proven track record leading end-to-end redesign projects, including research, planning, development, testing, and deployment.Proficiency in front-end technologies (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript), backend scripting (e.g., PHP), and CMS administration (Drupal preferred).Experience designing modular web architectures with decoupled components, reusable templates, and dynamic content integration.Strong understanding of UI / UX design principles, accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508), and responsive design patterns.Experience integrating APIs, real-time data services, or visualization libraries (e.g., D3.js, Plotly).Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and deployment automation (CI / CD).Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders.Demonstrated ability to work in a team, make strategic decisions, and lead cross-functional technical teams to complete large-scale web projects.Preferred / Ideal
Experience supporting operational or scientific websites in federal, academic, or weather domains is a huge plus.Familiarity with NOAA, NWS, or SWPC data products and services.Working knowledge of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and geophysical data formats (e.g., NetCDF, JSON, HAPI).Background in Agile project management, user journey mapping, or design sprint facilitation.Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience presenting design strategies and prototypes to leadership and external partners.Enthusiasm for improving scientific communication through modern web technology.About Lynker
Lynker is a growing, employee-owned small business specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to deliver technically sound, cost-effective solutions in hydrology, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and business process improvement. We focus on placing the right people in the right roles to be effective. Our organization enables professionals to tackle customers' scientific and technical priorities—creatively and effectively.
Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment and the opportunity to work with talented professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Our benefits include the following :
Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly costHealthcare benefits covering medical, prescription drug, dental, and visionPersonal Time Off (PTO) policy plus paid holidaysCompetitive compensation regularly calibrated against industry benchmarks401(k) with company matchingEmployee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)Flexible spending accountsEmployee assistance program (EAP)Short- and long-term disability insuranceLife and accident insuranceTuition assistance and workforce development reimbursement per yearSpot bonuses for exceptional performanceAnnual Employee Recognition Awards with bonusesEmployee Referral ProgramLearning Management System access and personalized career growth plansEqual Opportunity
Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.
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