Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Weather Program Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Weather Program Technician is a hands-on operational role responsible for installing, maintaining, calibrating, and troubleshooting meteorological instrumentation and observational networks that support aviation, public safety, forecasting, and environmental monitoring. This role ensures continuous, high-quality surface and upper-air observations (METAR/TAF, ASOS/AWOS, radiosonde data), manages telemetry and site power systems, performs preventative maintenance and repairs in the field, and provides data and decision support to forecasters, emergency managers, and partner agencies (NOAA, NWS, FAA, DOT). The ideal candidate combines technical electronics/mechanical aptitude with meteorological knowledge, strong documentation practices, and a safety-first approach.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Aviation Weather Observer / MET Observer
Field Service Technician (electronics or instrumentation)
Entry-level Meteorological Technician (intern or seasonal position)

Advancement To:

Senior Weather Program Technician / Lead Field Technician
Field Operations Supervisor / Program Manager (Meteorological Programs)
Meteorological Instrumentation Engineer / Systems Specialist

Lateral Moves:

Data Quality/Observations Analyst
GIS or Environmental Data Technician
Emergency Management or Continuity of Operations Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate, inspect, and maintain surface observing systems including ASOS/AWOS units, anemometers, barometers, thermometers, hygrometers, present weather sensors, ceilometers, and lightning detectors; perform routine preventative maintenance and repairs to ensure continuous, accurate data collection for aviation and public safety.
Perform manual and automated METAR/TAF reporting, aviation observation coding, and surface observation verifications in compliance with FAA, WMO, and agency-specific procedures; ensure timely dispatch of observations to national and regional feeds.
Calibrate, test, and certify meteorological instruments using precision reference equipment; record calibration results, apply calibration offsets, and maintain traceable calibration certificates and logs.
Launch, track, and recover radiosondes and balloon systems for upper-air soundings; prepare payloads, validate rawinsonde data, and upload sounding data and metadata to national data systems and quality-control pipelines.
Implement and manage a preventive maintenance schedule for fixed and mobile meteorological stations; coordinate depot-level service, parts replacement, and lifecycle planning to reduce operational downtime.
Troubleshoot instrument hardware, embedded software, and telemetry network issues (cellular, satellite, radio); perform in-field diagnostic testing, firmware updates, and component-level repairs, escalating to vendors or engineering teams when required.
Monitor, quality-control, and flag incoming observational data streams; analyze anomalous readings, apply QC algorithms or manual correction procedures, and document data quality actions for ingestion into forecast models and archives.
Install, configure, and commission new environmental sensors, data loggers, power systems, and mounting infrastructure; follow engineering drawings, safety plans, and site permitting requirements for deployment.
Conduct field deployments to remote or temporary monitoring sites and research campaigns; manage logistics, environmental constraints, and site security to meet campaign objectives and data collection schedules.
Operate and support radar ancillary equipment, satellite receivers, ceilometers, sodars/remote profilers and other remote sensing systems; coordinate maintenance windows and testing with regional operations centers.
Maintain detailed maintenance logs, service reports, calibration records, and equipment inventories; ensure documentation meets audit, regulatory, and archival standards.
Provide operational weather briefings and site-specific hazard assessments to FAA, airport operations, emergency management, military units, and internal forecasting teams; translate observational trends into actionable guidance.
Develop, test, and maintain scripts and small applications (Python, MATLAB, or R) for automated data ingest, QC, visualization, and reporting to improve operational efficiency and data accessibility.
Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations (OSHA, FAA, site-specific), perform electrical lockout/tagout, and enforce personal protective equipment (PPE) use during tower climbs, rooftop work, and generator servicing.
Coordinate with federal, state, and local partners (NOAA/NWS, FAA, DOT, state climatologists) to share observations, support cooperative programs, and contribute to joint operational initiatives.
Train and mentor junior technicians, seasonal staff, and contractors in observation protocols, instrument care, radiosonde operations, and safety procedures to build team capability and resilience.
Support operational forecasting and modeling teams by providing high-quality metadata, observational uncertainty estimates, and field notes necessary for data assimilation and model verification.
Maintain and troubleshoot power systems (solar panels, batteries, backup generators) and ensure uninterrupted telemetry for remote stations; perform generator maintenance and fuel management when required.
Conduct site surveys and environmental assessments to recommend optimal instrument siting, cable routing, and structural supports that conform to exposure, exposure height, and obstruction standards.
Respond to severe weather events and emergencies by mobilizing field teams for targeted observations (rapid-update soundings, mobile mesonets), documenting event-specific datasets, and supporting post-event analysis.
Manage procurement, warranty tracking, and vendor relationships for meteorological hardware and consumables; evaluate new sensor technologies and make cost-effective recommendations for upgrades.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to help internal teams and external partners derive value from observational networks.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by recommending instrumentation improvements, telemetry upgrades, and data product enhancements.
Collaborate with business units to translate operational requirements (observations, reliability, latency) into technical specifications for procurement and engineering teams.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within cross-functional teams to align field work with software and data delivery milestones.
Provide community and stakeholder outreach, including presentations, site demos, and training sessions that explain observational capabilities and data uses.
Assist with grant reporting, program budget tracking, and documentation required for cooperative agreements and funded campaigns.
Participate in periodic emergency exercises and continuity-of-operations planning to validate instrument resilience and field team readiness.
Maintain a clean and safe workshop and vehicle fleet, ensuring tools, test equipment, and safety gear are inspected, calibrated, and available for deployments.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven experience operating and maintaining ASOS/AWOS, MET observers, and aviation observation systems; proficiency with METAR/TAF formatting and FAA reporting standards.
Hands-on radiosonde (rawinsonde) launch operations, payload preparation, and upper-air data handling.
Instrument calibration and precision measurement techniques for temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and visibility sensors; ability to use reference standards and calibration certificates.
Data quality control (QC) methods for observational data, including automated QC scripts, manual flagging, and metadata documentation.
Telemetry and communications systems knowledge: cellular telemetry, satellite modems, radio links, SCADA, and associated network diagnostics.
Basic electronics and electromechanical repair skills: soldering, multimeter/oscilloscope use, connector and wiring repair, and component replacement.
Familiarity with remote sensing platforms: ceilometers, doppler radar ancillary equipment, satellite downlinks, and profilers.
Scripting and data tools: Python (pandas, xarray), shell scripting (bash), MATLAB or R for data processing and visualization.
Database and data ingestion skills: SQL, time-series databases, and understanding of data pipelines for operational ingestion.
Experience with Linux-based systems, configuration management, and deploying lightweight applications on field gateways or embedded devices.
GPS/time-synchronization, sensor leveling procedures, and environmental sensor siting best practices.
Knowledge of regulatory and standards frameworks: FAA guidance, WMO manuals, OSHA safety standards, and agency-specific operational directives.
Ability to read engineering drawings, follow installation schematics, and perform small-scale civil work (anchor bolts, mounting towers, cable routing).

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication: produce clear maintenance reports, safety documentation, and operational briefs for technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong troubleshooting and analytical thinking: systematically diagnose failures, replicate anomalies, and apply corrective actions under time pressure.
Attention to detail and documentation discipline: maintain complete logs, calibration records, and metadata to support data integrity and audits.
Teamwork and cross-functional collaboration: work effectively with forecasters, engineers, vendors, and partner agencies in both operational and project contexts.
Adaptability and resilience: perform field work in harsh weather, remote locations, and irregular schedules with a professional and safety-first attitude.
Customer-service orientation: respond to stakeholder requests, provide timely data support, and prioritize mission-critical observations.
Time management and project organizational skills: balance routine maintenance, unscheduled repairs, and multi-site deployments.
Training and mentoring capability: lead on-the-job training and develop standard operating procedures for repeating tasks.
Safety leadership: model and enforce safe work practices, participate in hazard assessments, and complete safety-related certifications.
Problem prioritization and decision-making under uncertainty to ensure continuity of operations and mission-critical data delivery.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with technical coursework or certifications in electronics, instrumentation, or meteorology; OR
Associate degree in meteorological technology, electronics, environmental science, or a related technical field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology, Environmental Science, or closely related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Meteorology / Atmospheric Science
Environmental Science / Environmental Monitoring
Electronics / Electrical Engineering Technology
Instrumentation & Control / Mechatronics
Data Science / Computer Science (for data ingest and QC tooling)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on meteorological instrumentation, field operations, or aviation weather observation experience.

Preferred:

3+ years of direct experience with ASOS/AWOS operations, radiosonde launches, and environmental sensor maintenance.
Demonstrated experience performing instrument calibration, field troubleshooting, and telemetry/network diagnostics in a mission-critical environment.
Prior work supporting FAA/NOAA/NWS programs, aviation weather services, or research campaigns is highly desirable.

Certifications that strengthen candidacy: FAA weather observer training, NOAA/NWS observer courses, OSHA 10/30, CPR/First Aid, NWS cooperative observer program training, vendor-specific instrument training.