Senior Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation

at  Met Office

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.
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.

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.

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)

Please refer the Job description for details