How to apply for (Senior) Research Manager, Weather Data Systems

About Precision Development

Precision Development is a nonprofit that supports people living in extreme poverty by providing digital information and services. It focuses on increasing productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability. This role offers a chance to work on technology that directly benefits smallholder farmers.

About the role

The (Senior) Research Manager, Weather Data Systems will design and scale automated weather data pipelines that deliver actionable forecasts to smallholder farmers. You will oversee the end-to-end pipeline converting scientific forecasts into location-specific farmer messages via voice, SMS, WhatsApp, apps, or LLM systems. This role is critical for ensuring fast, error-free delivery of time-sensitive data and for designing replicable systems across geographies and dissemination vendors.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing pipeline performance, troubleshooting data delivery issues, and coordinating with forecast scientists and engineers to improve message accuracy. You could also document architecture decisions and plan for scaling the system to new regions or vendors. Exact daily tasks may vary; ask the hiring manager about team structure and typical workflows.

Who Precision Development is looking for

• Has a degree in computer science, data science, engineering, statistics, or a related technical field with strong quantitative skills.
• Has experience building or managing data pipelines involving real-time or automated processing.
• Is proficient in Python, SQL, or similar tools.
• Can translate between forecast science, engineering, and program teams and document architecture and decision logic for maintenance and extension.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific experience with automated data pipelines, especially those involving real-time processing or weather data.
• Show proficiency in Python and SQL by describing projects where you used these tools to build or manage pipelines.
• Explain how you have ensured fast, error-free delivery of time-sensitive data in previous roles.
• Demonstrate ability to work across teams (science, engineering, program) by giving examples of translating technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
• Mention any experience with dissemination channels like SMS, voice, WhatsApp, apps, or LLM systems, as these are key to the role.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your experience designing and scaling automated data pipelines, particularly for real-time or time-sensitive data. Highlight your proficiency in Python and SQL. Show how you have translated between technical and non-technical teams. Mention any work with dissemination channels or smallholder farmers, if applicable.

Research before applying

• Learn about Precision Development's mission and how they use digital information to support people in extreme poverty.
• Understand the types of weather data and forecasting methods that are relevant to smallholder farmers.
• Research the dissemination channels mentioned (voice, SMS, WhatsApp, apps, LLM systems) and how they are used in agricultural contexts.
• Look into the challenges of delivering time-sensitive data in low-resource settings.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Describe a data pipeline you designed or managed. How did you ensure it was fast and error-free?
• How would you approach converting scientific forecasts into location-specific farmer messages?
• What steps would you take to design a pipeline that is replicable across different geographies and vendors?
• How do you translate technical requirements between forecast scientists, engineers, and program teams?
• What experience do you have with Python, SQL, or similar tools for data processing? Provide examples.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Not providing concrete examples of data pipelines you have built or managed.
• Failing to show how you have worked across technical and non-technical teams.
• Ignoring the specific dissemination channels mentioned in the job description.