Every Friday, I break down real meteorology job postings and cover what the role actually involves, what employers are really looking for, and how to position yourself to get hired. Experience in energy, aviation, agricultural commodities, transportation, outdoor recreation, and event forecasting. Free, every Friday
The Friday Job Report - Week 33
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Issued on the 14th of August, 2026 Course Energy Meteorology Fundamentals: Forecasting for the Energy Industry Launch Date: September 2026 Course Length: 12 weeks Course Teaching Style: Instructor-Led, Live based on US eastern time, UTC-4 More details on this course will be provided on the week 34 Friday Job Report, next week. If you sign up just to say you are interested, you will get the discounted price. You can sign up here. Imposter Syndrome in Meteorology Whether you are starting a new job, sitting on a panel at a weather conference, writing a white paper, or explaining to your friends about El Niño, everyone at some point gets nervous about being the expert in the room. Personally, I've struggled with this my whole career. The way I learn and the way university atmospheric science is taught are wildly different and so I never felt on the same level as my classmates or coworkers. And yet, while my coworkers all seemed satisfied to stay in the same job for years or their entire career, my curiosity and insatiable need to learn, has driven me to work in aviation, road weather, marine weather, energy, agriculture, sports, concerts, wildfires, and more. I've accepted and been offered many jobs and the places I've worked, I've excelled. Imagine the horror, when at my current job, right after starting I was asked about the natural gas forecast for North America for the upcoming Winter. I always had other people that knew that stuff and could talk about it. I just sat in the shadows and made forecasts. I was never the official voice on a topic. So I did what I do best. I researched everything about teleconnections like the PDO, PMM, IOD, about the MJO, ENSO, sea surface temperatures, looked at past analogs and case studies and ultimately developed a 3-D conceptual model in my head about how the pattern would develop. I used this to make a forecast, my own forecast, and then I shared it with every customer I spoke with over the course of 2025/2026 Fall and Winter. In the past, I had always relied on other people to be the experts, and I was never satisfied with the end result. It worked. I was told by one of the largest global ethanol producers (ethanol facilities use natural gas) that they benefited from my forecast. Good job. In my current role that is all you get. On a trading floor, it probably could be more like a $100K bonus (in the US). You may have imposter syndrome at some point in fact you probably should, it makes you stay humble, but you should also be confident that you know what you need to know and if you don't you can always learn. Also worth noting, you are never going to be perfect, if you are making a forecast. However, when you can explain to a customer or coworker what happened and why you missed, that makes a huge difference in them trusting you to make the next forecast. (this is the answer to many interview questions) The JobsTitle: Operational Load Forecaster Company: ERCOT Work Location: Austin, Texas Pay: $132,000 - $182,000 Benefits: See Job Listing Degree:
Years of Experience:
Key Skills or Knowledge: (You should be able to do these duties)
Who Should Apply? Energy meteorologists with programming skills. While the job listing states 1-2 years, the listing is specific for a senior level and likely they add that information about years experience to all listings. About the Location You work near Austin, Texas without being in the traffic and overcrowded city. If this is your jam, then you should really consider applying. As I have stated on previous job reports, Austin, while very hot in the Summer, has many lakes and rivers, fed by spring waters, to cool off in. If you like to hike, camp, rock climb, maybe go spelunking (they have caves), ski or go tubing, you can do that pretty close to Austin. Sure the traffic is an absolute nightmare and their limited train system doesn't make sense, but you could in theory do all of the above without going into the city.
Past Job ListingsTitle: Senior Scientist Company: Aon Work Location: Chicago, IL or Boston, MA Pay: $100,000 - $130,000 Benefits: See Job Listing Degree:
Years of Experience:
Key Skills or Knowledge: (You should be able to do these duties)
Preferred, but Not Required
Who Should Apply? This role for one is senior level and likely not going to involve a lot of actual weather forecasting without models. Heavy use of and developing models, analyzing data, performing research and communicating your findings to other people. You should be ok working heavily in programming. About the Location The job is remote, but there could still be a requirement to go into the office. Both offices are likely downtown. Both have public transit, both are big cities with lots of people, good places to eat and things to do. Both are freezing cold and get a substantial amount of snow. Both have access to water and the outdoors if you are willing to drive a few hours.
Past or Other Job ListingsNo New Marine Meteorology Jobs Past or Other Job ListingsNo New Agriculture Meteorology Jobs Past or Other Job ListingsNo New Operational Meteorology Jobs Past or Other Job ListingsTitle: Senior Avalanche Forecaster Company: State of Colorado - Work Location: Leadville, CO (remote - hybrid) Rule: Must be a Colorado resident when applying. Closes: 20th of August, 2026 Pay: $76,860 - $92,232/Year Benefits: See Job Listing Degree:
Years of Experience:
Key Skills or Knowledge: (You should be able to do these duties)
Who Should Apply? Similar to last week's post about Mammoth Mountain, you should know how to forecast for avalanches and the safety required to go into the backcountry. You should know how to rescue people trapped in an avalanche and how to avoid being trapped yourself. You should probably be a skier or snowboarder or someone that loves being on the mountain everyday, even if a lot of this work is performed at home, when you are required to be onsite, it should be somewhat natural for you to be in deep snow, and if needed the ability to get down and off the mountain. About the Location The job is open for Denver and Colorado Springs. If you've never been on US-50 in Colorado, you should go. So many snow-capped mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and hot springs. My single, favorite place to be in the US is south of US-50 in Colorado. Although since going to Crested Butte a few years ago, if you can handle elevation, then it is really amazing as well.
Past Job ListingsTitle: Meteorology Software Developer Company: Pitch Aeronautics Work Location: Remote Pay: None Given Benefits: See Job Listing Permit: Must be a US Citizen Degree:
Years of Experience:
Key Skills or Knowledge:
Plus many more desired qualifications. Who Should Apply? Developers or programmers that either are experienced in meteorology or meteorologist with strong programming skills with a background in development or similar transferrable skills.
Past Job ListingsNo New Road Weather Jobs Past Job ListingsTitle: Data Scientist Climate & Air Quality Company: TNO Work Location: Netherlands Pay: €3,500 - €6,150 / month Benefits: See Job Listing, but very good. Closing Date: 23rd of August 2026 Permit: Open to International Candidates Degree:
Years of Experience:
Key Skills or Knowledge: (You should be able to do these duties)
Who Should Apply? This job involves working with data analysts to make complex air quality data available to other users and your job is to essentially help translate and create more concise, but informative ways to communicate the data to your customers. If you have a data science background or air quality with the technical skills and you want to live in the EU and the Netherlands, then you should apply. About the Location The Netherlands, normally is wet with many days of clouds and showers. It is super flat and people do get around on water taxis on the canals, along with a robust train system and by auto. This salary will cover you on your own, but will be tight for a family if your spouse or partner isn't able to work. Finding somewhere to live would be the hardest part of moving to the Netherlands. Housing is tight and most homes do not have air conditioning, so in very hot summers, like this one, it may be less than enjoyable. Also, the stairs in the homes in the Netherlands are basically death traps as they are very steep. I discovered many situations where falling down the stairs was highly possible while performing normal tasks. Don't let this deter you, but just know, if you have small children, a pet, or bad knees, then look for a first floor apartment.
Past or Other Job ListingsTitle: Aviation Data Scientist Company: Open Airlines Work Location: Toulouse, France (hybrid) Pay: €43,000/Year + Bonus Benefits: See Job Listing, but very good. Permit: See Listing Degree:
Years of Experience:
Key Skills or Knowledge: (You should be able to do these duties)
Who Should Apply? If you are interested in aviation and speak English and French, this is a good job because Airbus is based in the Toulouse region.
Title: Community Energy Resilience Director Company: The Climate Center Work Location: Remote in California Pay: $90,000 - $125,000/Year Benefits: See Job Listing Degree:
Years of Experience:
Key Skills or Knowledge: (You should be able to do these duties)
Who Should Apply? This role is not forecasting and only loosely connected to meteorology through climate work. However, while many jobs are leaning towards heavy coding, for some people that is the opposite direction they want to go, and this type of job provides an opportunity and an idea where to look for other similar jobs. If you are in or willing to be in California, it is state law remote workers have to live in the state. Startups somehow get a bypass on that law, but most remote jobs are required to be within the state. What I have found is that many of these policy related jobs don't list anything about meteorology not because they don't want people with a knowledge of the climate, but they don't even know they should consider meteorologists. One note, 3-5 references required. About the Location California can be super expensive, but the ability to live wherever can definitely benefit you as there are more affordable locations in the state, even in major cities. Not having to commute anywhere really opens up your options.
Final ThoughtsAs you can see I have changed up the format quite a bit to focus on regardless of the location. I will leave past or other jobs active either until there are too many openings and they are bumped off, or 30 days from when I post the job. I will go back to breaking them up by the US and International, but on this report they are mixed. Best of luck on your job search! |
Scott Patterson
Every Friday, I break down real meteorology job postings and cover what the role actually involves, what employers are really looking for, and how to position yourself to get hired. Experience in energy, aviation, agricultural commodities, transportation, outdoor recreation, and event forecasting. Free, every Friday