OISS Workflow Developer

Summary

CSS is a company dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace, and they are seeking an OISS Workflow Developer. The role focuses on providing expert metadata analysis to support Artificial Intelligence Contexts and Units by translating contractual and operational requirements into standardized metadata elements.

Responsibilities

• Review Submission Agreements to identify required and implied metadata fields, including:
• Data types, variables, and products
• Temporal resolution, coverage, and frequency
• Spatial references, station identifiers, and observing platforms
• Data status (e.g., preliminary, verified, or derived)
• Submission schedules, update cadence, and lifecycle expectations
• Interpret responsibilities of the data provider and long-term archive to ensure metadata accurately reflects stewardship, preservation, and access obligations
• Define the minimum essential metadata fields required to establish:
• Artificial Intelligence Contexts (AICs): descriptive context that defines how data can be interpreted, constrained, and responsibly used by artificial intelligence or machine learning systems
• Artificial Intelligence Units (AIUs): discrete, machine-actionable data units with clearly defined provenance, structure, and meaning
• Map Submission Agreement-derived metadata fields to appropriate internal schemas and external metadata standards
• Capture and document data lineage elements such as:
• Observing system or scientific program
• Processing level and verification status
• Responsible organizations and points of contact
• Ensure clear distinctions between raw observations, processed products, and derived datasets are represented in metadata definitions
• Collaborate with data stewards, archivists, software engineers, and artificial intelligence or machine learning teams to ensure metadata is:
• Scientifically accurate
• Contractually compliant
• Scalable and reusable across systems
• Produce clear documentation, metadata field inventories, and crosswalks to support implementation and review
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings, technical discussions, and coordination sessions
• Commit to and complete assigned work tickets by agreed-upon due dates
• Proactively communicate risks, blockers, or dependencies that may impact delivery, including a clear explanation and proposed mitigation or revised timeline
• Provide clear, accurate, and detailed weekly status reports that include:
• Work completed during the reporting period
• Current status of assigned tickets
• Identified risks or issues
• Planned work for the upcoming reporting period
• Ensure reported status aligns with actual progress to support management monitoring and program oversight

Skills

• Experience performing scientific or technical metadata analysis
• Ability to interpret formal agreements, technical documentation, and governance artifacts
• Strong understanding of data lifecycle concepts (data acquisition, verification, archival, and access)
• Excellent written communication and documentation skills
• Experience with environmental, oceanographic, meteorological, or geophysical data
• Familiarity with common metadata standards (e.g., International Organization for Standardization 19115, Directory Interchange Format, Climate and Forecast conventions)
• Exposure to artificial intelligence data readiness, data governance, or digital stewardship programs

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Experience performing scientific or technical metadata analysis
• Ability to interpret formal agreements, technical documentation, and governance artifacts
• Strong understanding of data lifecycle concepts (data acquisition, verification, archival, and access)
• Excellent written communication and documentation skills

Nice to Haves

• Experience with environmental, oceanographic, meteorological, or geophysical data
• Familiarity with common metadata standards (e.g., International Organization for Standardization 19115, Directory Interchange Format, Climate and Forecast conventions)
• Exposure to artificial intelligence data readiness, data governance, or digital stewardship programs