Marston Ward
Yukon,OK
Summary
Skilled Technical Lead successful at marrying technology and business needs in order to meet changing demands and solve diverse problems. Also, senior-level Software and Application Developer passionate about creating cutting-edge ML-based weather applications. Strong work ethic and dedicated to quality assurance. Adept at working with teams across multiple disciplines or independently in fast-paced settings. Prepared to leverage 33+ years of public and private sector experience to take on new role with long-term potential and room for professional growth.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Technical Lead and Research Meteorologist
NextGen Federal Systems, LLC
2021.09 - Current
- Designed and implemented statistical verification algorithms to enhance the accuracy of short-term and long-term weather forecasts.
- Maintain and enhance functionality of a ML-based Global Synthetic Weather Radar system, enabling more precise weather tracking even on remote areas.
- Active role in designing, researching and building state of the art ML weather applications such as turbulence, contrails, and icing prediction as well as cloud properties prediction using both commercial, federal, and simulated data.
- Created detailed project plans with timelines, deliverables, and resources needed.
- Strengthened proficiency in Python algorithm design, Docker application design, and Conda/Mamba Python environment management
- Utilized Postgresql for efficient database management and formulated SQL queries
- Designed and integrated data pipelines using Pangeo tools (Xarray, Zarr, Pandas) for seamless data processing.
- Meteorological feature generation and performed statistical downscaling using tools such as PySteps, Metpy and XGCM libraries
- Conducted research on global lightning datasets from Earth Network, Vaisala, and the Worldwide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN).
- Lead Sprint Reviews and stand-ups and other Agile ceremonies to ensure project progress.
- Resolved conflicts between stakeholders by proposing creative solutions that balanced competing interests.
- Actively pursued continuous learning in the emerging field of fusing Machine Learning with Weather and Climate through relevant courses and self-study
- Developed a custom GRIB2 to Xarray API using GDAL/Pygrib and Python, streamlining NWP data processing.
- Validated and verified NWP temperature profiles using Spire Radio Occultation global forecast data
- Leveraged JupyterLab and Google Colab for efficient development, presentation, and documentation of work
- Demonstrated expertise in code debugging and troubleshooting to ensure the delivery of high-quality software.
- Regularly engaging in pair programming sessions to help junior developers grow in Agile ways of working and sharpening their clean code skills.
- Organized and conduct seminars to foster collaboration and facilitate knowledge transfer.
- Contributed to proposal writing and review activities to support project acquisition and development.
Scientific Developer and Technical Delivery Manager
ADNET Systems Inc.
2020.06 - 2021.09
- Applied the Agile Scrum framework and methodologies to a research project, utilizing ARcGIS for the display and analysis of satellite datasets provided by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Developed a Python pipeline for data preparation and transformation into the Meta Raster Format (MRF), suitable for integration with ArcGIS.
- Facilitated and guided agile projects through various types of readiness reviews, ensuring project readiness and alignment with objectives.
- Mentored a new developer in Python programming, algorithm design, and fundamental software development practices.
- Monitored and managed the project using Agile tools such as Confluence and Jira, ensuring efficient collaboration and progress tracking.
- Acted as both the Scrum Master and Project Lead, overseeing project execution and ensuring adherence to Agile principles.
- Served as the SAFe Scrum Master within the Agile Release Train, reporting on SAFe objectives, facilitating team interactions, and facilitating cross-project communication.
- Conducted training sessions on software development techniques and Agile practices, coordinating workshops and Communities of Practice (CoPs) to promote internal knowledge sharing.
- Served as a liaison between Science and Engineering teams, facilitating effective collaboration and communication.
- Assumed the role of process owner for newly formed Agile teams, guiding and optimizing their Agile practices and processes.
Tech Lead and Data Engineer
Findwise AB
2019.01 - 2020.05
- Scrum Master for a team of four to six software developers, overseeing the development of an enterprise search solution written in Java.
- Led the development and maintenance efforts of Findwise's search solution for the company's fourth largest customer, a prominent Swedish healthcare provider.
- This solution supported a workforce of 5.5K employees, serving over 1.6M patients.
- Provided comprehensive supervisory support to team members, including training, mentoring, and efficient scheduling and prioritization of work tasks.
- Developed intermediate-level proficiency in Java, Elasticsearch, Solr, and REST API, effectively contributing to the technical implementation of the search solution.
- Demonstrated expertise in working within a Scrum framework, effectively applying Agile methodologies and facilitating effective communication within the team.
- Gained valuable experience in Agile Software Project Management, encompassing methodologies, frameworks, scheduling, monitoring, and overall project management techniques.
- Analyzed customer feedback data to make recommendations for product improvement.
- Performed code reviews to ensure quality assurance standards were met.
- Resolved technical issues related to software design and implementation.
- Monitored system performance metrics to proactively identify potential problems.
- Reviewed project plans and timelines with team members on a regular basis.
- Assisted in the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and training of new staff members.
- Provided technical guidance and mentorship to junior developers.
- Presented progress reports at executive meetings on a regular basis.
- Conferred with project managers and other stakeholders to fully understand software design specifications and plan optimal development approaches.
Quality Assurance Test Engineer
Veoneer
2018.06 - 2018.12
- Designed and implemented an API framework, building upon a prototype, to facilitate test execution and control for Optical Cameras, catering to esteemed clients such as Geely and Volvo car companies in China
- Ensured accuracy and reliability of test specifications through interpolation and quality control procedures
- Developed multiple systems for a new camera production line, enabling efficient quality checks for thousands of cameras on a daily basis
- Gained proficiency in algorithm design, optimizing performance and functionality
- Acquired expertise in LUA programming language, with additional experience in C interfacing
- Demonstrated proficiency in communication protocols like FlexRay, LIN, and CAN
- Expertise in developing and debugging test algorithms, including the implementation of effective error handling strategies
- Hands-on experience in the installation of electronics and cameras for the production line
- Proficient in working within a Scrum framework and employing Agile methodologies and tools such as Jira and Confluence.
Education
PostDoc Climate Model Enhancement - Climate Model Enhancement
Gothenburg University
Gothenburg, Sweden04.2018
Ph.D. - Environmental Science
Chalmers University of Technology
Gothenburg, Sweden04.2014
Master of Science - Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Stockholm University
Stockholm, Sweden06.2003
Associate In Applied Technology -
Community College of the Air Force
03.1998
Skills
- Technical Lead
- Meteorology
- Climate Modelling
- Scientific Programming
- Software Engineering
Platforms Servers
- AWS
- Windows 11
- Mac OS
- Windows Server
- RedHat Centos Cluster (HPC)
- WSL2
- Ubuntu
- Rocky9
Certification
- Leading SAFe 5.0, Scaled Agile, Inc., 08/2023
- Product Owner-Product Manager SAFe 5.0, Scaled Agile, Inc., 08/2023
Databases
- MongoDB
- PostgresSQL
- SQLite
Misc
- Git
- Jira
- Confluence
- Docker
- Zarr
- Dask
- Pivotal
- Trello
- Elasticsearch
- Solr
- RESTful API
- Jira Big Picture
- ActiveMQ
- CDO
- VS Code
- GDAL
- GRIB2
- NetCDF
- Parquet
Selected Areas Of Expertise
- Climate Modeling
- Meteorology
- Weather Forecasting
- Weather Observing
- Scientific Testing
- Test Engineering
- Agile Project Leadership
- Scrum Mastery
- Software Development
- Data Analysis
- Scientific Communications
- Software Design
Prior Professional Experience
- Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, 05/2014, 04/2018, PostDoc Researcher, Integrated Satellite Sensor Simulator Package, COSP, and RTTOV with EC-Earth's Atmospheric Model, OpenIFS, Demonstrated expertise in integrating and optimizing software components for the advancement of atmospheric modeling within EC-Earth's OpenIFS model., Led a successful $200K, two-year project proposal, involving the integration of the Satellite Sensor Simulator Package (COSP) and RTTOV with EC-Earth., Developed efficient software interfaces in Fortran 90, enabling seamless communication between the models., Leveraged high-performance computing (MPI) environments to enhance computational speed and memory efficiency., Employed a systematic development cycle, from design to testing/debugging, using TotalView and Git., Presented findings at prestigious national and international conferences., Fortran 90, Bash, Python, NCL, CDO, Overleaf (LaTeX), MS Word, NetCDF, GRIB
- Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, 09/2008, 04/2014, Doctoral Researcher, Evaluation of Atmospheric Clouds and Precipitation in Climate Models, Designed and developed an efficient application in C for processing near-real-time Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) data in GRIB format and converting it to NetCDF4., Implemented known algorithms to enrich the data stream by generating higher order products such as relative humidity, relative and potential vorticity based on meteorological products., Integrated the application into the Odin satellite post-processing system, providing valuable support to international stakeholders. The results of this work continue to be utilized in ongoing operations., Conducted comprehensive investigations of cloud and convective processes in three climate models: CAM5, EC-Earth, and ECHAM5., Published three research papers in peer-reviewed journals based on these studies., Performed data cleaning and balancing for all models as an initial step in the workflow., Standardized and normalized simulated data to facilitate proper comparison with observational data from research satellites (A-Train)., Compiled, cleaned, and balanced satellite observations in preparation for analysis using established statistical methods., Matlab, Bash, Python, C, Fortran 90, NCL, CDO, NETCDF4, HDF5, GRIB, Emacs
- SMHI, Norrköping, 06/2001, 09/2008, Meteorologist, Researcher, Forecast meteorologist and researcher for climate monitoring products derived from satellite data.
- US Air Force, 09/1988, 03/1998, Weather Observer & Forecaster
Degrees
- M.Sc.
- Ph.D.
Clearance Level
Secret DoD (Active since Dec 2021)
Software Packages
LaTeXTotalVXgcmpenIFSOpenIFSNetCDFNetCDFActiveMQDaskPostgresSQPySTEPSomparisonSpatioSpatioPostDocPostDocFlexRayGeelySolrSolrFindwise'sCoPsColabJupyterLabPygribVaisalaMetpyPyStepsdownscalingZarrZarr
- XgcMetpy>
- Xarray
- Metpy
- PySTEPS
Languages Scripts
- Python
- Fortran 90
- Java
- Bash
- LUA
- C
- Matlab
Training
FindwiseVeoneer
- Agile (PM, Methodologies, SWD, Frameworks) - 5+ hours
- AWS (Terraform, Lambda, Associate Solutions Architect, DevOps Mindset, CloudOps Automation) - 7+ hours
- Docker & Kubernetes - 12+ hours
- Advanced courses in Python - Continuous learning
- Data Science with Pandas - Continuous learning
- MOOC Machine Learning in Weather & Climate (ECMWF Jan-May 2023) - 10+ hours
- Forecast Validation and Verification (2021-2023) - Continuous learning
Affiliations
- Volunteer work on Sundays at a nursing home.
- Dedicated father and husband.
- Love biking and indoor climbing.
- Learning to chess as a means mental discipline and train to see several steps ahead.
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Swedish
Professional
Timeline
Technical Lead and Research Meteorologist
NextGen Federal Systems, LLC
2021.09 - Current
Scientific Developer and Technical Delivery Manager
ADNET Systems Inc.
2020.06 - 2021.09
Tech Lead and Data Engineer
Findwise AB
2019.01 - 2020.05
Quality Assurance Test Engineer
Veoneer
2018.06 - 2018.12
PostDoc Climate Model Enhancement - Climate Model Enhancement
Gothenburg University
Ph.D. - Environmental Science
Chalmers University of Technology
Master of Science - Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Stockholm University
Associate In Applied Technology -
Community College of the Air Force
- Leading SAFe 5.0, Scaled Agile, Inc., 08/2023
- Product Owner-Product Manager SAFe 5.0, Scaled Agile, Inc., 08/2023
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