Scientific Research Software Engineer Reading 2024

We are looking to hire a highly motivated Scientific Software Support Engineer (A2) to lead the planning, delivery and support of an online climate risk assessment toolbox for the Horizon Europe CLIMAAX project, in collaboration with internal experts and external project partners. The toolbox consists of a JupyterBook website and cloud based JupyterHub platform. As part of a dynamic team, you will organise day-to-day second line support to the toolbox users and work on continuous improvements of our web services, processes and documentation. Your work will directly contribute to help mitigating climate-related disaster risks by building the next generation of disaster risk management and climate adaptation toolbox.

At ECMWF, you will find a passionate community, collectively aiming to bring novel technology and science to the cutting-edge of numerical weather prediction and climate services. In this role, you will develop and support innovate solutions to improve our software libraries to process data, which serve downstream users of weather and climate data. You will bring creative solutions for handling of datasets, reviewing and providing code for the users, as well as supporting their queries.

The role sits in the Data Processing Services team, within the Development Section in the Forecasts and Services Department. The primary focus of the team is to ensure the scalability, performance, and robustness of the operational weather forecasting pipeline and the associated data processing tools. We navigate challenges posed by future model upgrades by exploring recent technology, such as accelerators and novel storage hardware. We also implement and develop new algorithmic methodologies, including machine learning, in order to maintain ECMWFs world-leading position for global weather prediction.

About ECMWF

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world-leader in weather and environmental forecasting. As an international organisation we serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions and data that is critical for understanding and solving the climate crisis. We function as a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions, holding one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world. The success of our activities builds on the talent of our scientists and experts, strong partnerships with 35 Member and Co-operating States and the international community, some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the use of innovative technologies and ML across our operations.

ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the EU Copernicus Programme. We also contribute to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.

The CLIMAAX Project

The Climate risk and vulnerability Assessment framework and toolbox (CLIMAAX ) project provides financial, analytical, and practical support to improve regional climate and emergency risk management plans. CLIMAAX is designed to contribute to the harmonization and consolidation of the practice of regional climate risk assessments. The project will provide an operational handbook , consisting of a framework for climate impact assessments as well as software tools to handle hazard, exposure and vulnerability data on European and local level to perform regional climate risk assessments.

In this role you will

• Lead the development and maintenance of the Python workflows and web applications of the CLIMAAX project, including JupyterHub and Jupyter Notebooks components.
• Collaborate with the ECMWF User Services Section and contribute to the second level support for the CLIMAAX users.
• Create, update and maintain self-service documentation for CLIMAAX and ECMWF users.
• Liaise with the scientific and the user communities of the CLIMAAX project to gather inputs and implement service improvements.
• Contribute to deliverables, milestones and reporting required for the CLIMAAX project.
• Contribute to the ECMWF open-source software stack.

What were looking for

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills with a proactive, continuous improvement approach.
• Initiative and ability to work collaboratively with other ECMWF teams and external, geographically distributed collaborators.
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain a supportive and user-focused approach, but also able to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Self-motivation, accountability, and the ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in an international work environment and with people from diverse backgrounds.

Your education skills and experience

• Advanced university degree (EQ7 level or above) or equivalent professional experience in computer science or engineering, computational science, physics or natural sciences, mathematics, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience developing software in Python is required.
• Demonstrated experience developing Jupyter-based web applications is desirable.
• Knowledge of software lifecycle maintenance is highly desirable, including knowledge of version control using Git and GitHub.
• Experience in user experience (UX) in software design is an advantage.
• Experience developing or operating software in high-availability operational environments is an advantage.
• Ability to write software in a distributed computing or scientific computing environment is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability programming in UNIX/Linux systems.
• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English.
• Good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German) is an advantage.

If you feel that you have the relevant profile and motivation to join us but don't meet precisely all of the skills that are 'desired' or 'an advantage' we encourage you to apply!

Other information

Grade remuneration: The successful candidates will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. The position is assigned to the employment category STF-PL  as defined in the ECMWF Staff Regulations. 

Starting date:  As soon as possible

Candidates are expected to relocate to the duty station. As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking, including away from the duty station (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).

Interviews by videoconference (MS Team) are expected to take place shortly after the closing date.

Who can apply

Applicants are invited to complete the online application form by clicking on the apply button below.

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion.