Senior Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation

Job Introduction

We’re looking for an exceptional Senior Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our  Senior Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation, this job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work - based in Exeter or Reading. 

Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work part-time and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a job share.  Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

World changing work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

• We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
• We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better
• We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
• We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
• We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Your world of expertise

The Met Office has embarked on an exciting programme, to redesign its operational forecasting capability for future high-performance computing (HPC) platforms. The current Met Office Data Assimilation (DA) system is not expected to be efficient across the range of possible alternative HPC solutions likely to be available on the 2025 timescale. The new software is being developed within the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) framework from the Joint Centre for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA).

The Met Office provides an opportunity for talented scientists to apply their skills to real-world problems, with impacts upon services that reach all our lives. Within the organisation, you will work in the team working on the Assimilation of Earth observations, part of the Satellite and Surface Assimilation (SSA) section of Weather Science. Data assimilation is the process of combining observational data with output from a numerical model to produce a statistically optimal estimate of the initial conditions for weather prediction. The Met Office is at the forefront of DA applications in operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and it is an exciting time to be working in this area. Perhaps the greatest challenge for modern DA is the need to consider how these complex DA algorithms will be run efficiently on the potentially radically different supercomputer architectures needed to maintain progress over the next decade.

As part of our approach to growing expertise in DA and JEDI, the successful applicants will also have exciting secondment opportunities to spend time working in Boulder, Colorado, at the JCSDA.

We are looking for talented and creative candidates eager to contribute to the research and development of satellite and/or surface observation assimilation techniques for initialising operational weather forecast models on the next generation of supercomputers. The successful applicants will become members of our research and development team and will apply scientific and technical knowledge to contribute to the success of the Met Office.

Why join us

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is accredited as a 'Great Place to Work UK 2023' and in addition has achieved a place on both the UK's 'Best Workplaces in Tech' and 'Best Workplaces for Women' lists.

As our Senior Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation, your total reward package will be up to £57,639 annually, which includes:

•  £41,725 base pay
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave

We currently have 3 posts available, 2 permanent and 1 fixed-term at 3 job levels (Foundation Scientist, Scientist and Senior Scientist - please see alternative job adverts). Whilst the temporary position is for 2 years, there is potential also for this post to develop into a permanent position.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

1. Hold a degree in a physical/mathematical/environmental science (2:1 or above) or demonstration of equivalent with extensive post-doctoral level or equivalent experience, a proven track record of scientific research and an ability to plan and deliver scientific research projects (Experts by nature)

2. Ability to deliver quality science in an area relevant for the skills needed to deliver the scientific development of observations processing or data assimilation.

3. Experience or aptitude to write scientific software. Experience of leading and/or supporting significant scientific software developments, ideally in Python or C++.

4. Demonstrated ability to be a strong team player with an ability to support and interact with scientific and technical colleagues. Willingness and ability to provide scientific/technical support and mentoring to junior staff.

5. Good communication skills (written, oral, presentation and listening). Ability to communicate scientific and technical information to specialist and non-specialist stakeholders, and to interact with them in a clear and concise manner with influence and authority. (Force for good)

Desirable Criteria 

We encourage you to apply if you believe you meet our essential criteria, but we’re also keen to discover if you have:

1. Evidence of development of observations' processing or data assimilation systems.

2. Experience with working with a large, complex code base.

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you. Apply below using your CV and a Cover Letter/Supporting Statement with evidence against each of the essential criteria. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.

Closing date 02/06/2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 17/06/2024. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

How we can help:

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please contact us via careers@metoffice.gov.uk . You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.

We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.