Senior Lightning Scientist (RF Systems)

Location: Remote; State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Company

hirify.global provides weather forecasts, warnings, real-time weather data, and weather intelligence products for consumers, businesses, and government agencies.

What you will do

• Serve as a scientific and technical authority on lightning physics, detection methodologies, and operational interpretation.
• Develop, evaluate, and improve lightning detection algorithms using TOA, TDOA, interferometry, and hybrid geolocation methods.
• Analyze RF signals, characterize waveforms, mitigate noise, and classify signals across relevant frequency bands.
• Collaborate with hardware and electrical engineering teams on sensor design, RF front ends, antennas, placement, and calibration.
• Build and refine real-time and post-processed signal processing pipelines for lightning data.
• Design and validate algorithms for lightning geolocation, flash clustering, classification, quality control, and network performance evaluation.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Atmospheric Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Geophysics, or a related field, such as a PhD or an MS with significant experience.
• Deep knowledge of lightning physics, electromagnetic emissions, and storm electrification.
• Strong experience with RF systems, signal processing, spectral analysis, and lightning detection techniques.
• Proficiency in algorithm development and data analysis using Python, C++, or similar scientific computing environments.
• Experience with large-scale, real-time observational data systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, critical-thinking, and technical communication skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with lightning detection hardware, sensors, ground-based networks, antenna theory, or RF propagation.
• Familiarity with FPGA, SDR, embedded systems, cloud data platforms, and high-throughput processing pipelines.
• Published research or patents related to lightning detection, RF sensing, or atmospheric electricity.
• Experience with operational forecasting, severe weather teams, or machine learning for lightning and RF signal classification.

Culture & Benefits

• Work remotely while collaborating with science, engineering, product, operations, and research teams.
• Contribute to forecasting, nowcasting, severe weather detection, public safety, and customer-facing weather intelligence products.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to scientists and engineers.
• hirify.global is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and provides reasonable accommodations during the employment process.