Job reference: VN25-028
Salary and Grade: Grade A2 EUR EUR 89,168.64 EUR (Germany) NET annual basic salary + other benefits
Deadline for applications: 22/05/2025
Department: Research
Location: Bonn, Germany
Contract type: STF-PL
Publication date: 25/04/2025
Contract Duration: To 30 September 2028
The role
ECMWF has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated Scientific Software Engineer (A2) to join the Workflow Design and Integration Team. In this role, you will focus on the design, building and testing of the workflows needed for the operation of the CAMS global services, which encompass monitoring and forecasting of reactive gases, greenhouse gases and aerosol constituents in the atmosphere using the ECMWF Integrated Forecasting System (IFS). This will also include the design and development of new workflows for the upcoming anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission monitoring and verification support (CO2MVS) capacity which is being developed within CAMS. The use of state-of-the-art machine-learning techniques in numerical weather and atmospheric constituent prediction is also rapidly becoming more prevalent. You will be involved in implementing such novel prediction systems into the operational forecasting suites. You will work with many colleagues to ensure all necessary input data is available, that the operational models run as efficiently as possible on ECMWF’s super-computing facilities, and that all output data are archived robustly and available for further post-processing and dissemination to users. You will ensure all developments are compatible with operational standards and have appropriate levels of optimisation and reliability.
At ECMWF, you will find a passionate community, collectively aiming to build world-leading global Earth system models for numerical weather prediction, atmospheric composition forecasting, and climate monitoring.
You will work closely with colleagues in the Workflow Design and Integration team, and many technical and scientific colleagues across ECMWF to design, build and implement these operational workflows into ECMWF’s suite of operational forecasting systems. Your colleagues in the team and beyond will be based across our offices in Reading, Bonn and Bologna.
About the Team
The Workflow Design and Integration Team is responsible for integrating and implementing software updates in the ECMWF forecasting systems and adapting operational suites to run on new or upgraded hardware. The team provides second line operational support, including on-call when necessary. The Production Services Section is responsible for the operational production services of ECMWF, including in the framework of DestinE and of the Copernicus services, working closely with teams across the organisation to maintain, develop and manage the operational forecasting systems and associated data services.
Role responsibilities
- Contribute to the design, development and support of operational workflows for the CAMS operational products, in close collaboration with relevant scientific and technical experts
- Perform technical quality assurance testing for science and technical contributions at the earliest possible stage
- Ensure new developments are compatible with operations and have appropriate levels of optimisation and reliability
- Advise on contributions to new versions of the software, respond to pull-requests and contribute pro-actively to code-review, considering user requirements and operational constraints
- Communicate with colleagues about upcoming changes and ensure all relevant people are aware and understand the impacts of these changes
- Monitor progress and performance of the suites related to CAMS and solve problems as they arise, using operational tools, procedures, best practice and internal expertise, including 2nd line on-call support when necessary
- Collaborate with colleagues across ECMWF in the ongoing development of CAMS workflows required for improving and enhancing the service
What we're looking for:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to communicate with a wide range of technically skilled colleagues at ECMWF and in partner organisations, also to non-technical staff
- Dedication and enthusiasm to work as part of a team, taking initiative to work collaboratively with other team members and project partners
- Ability to work independently, but to know when it is important to seek advice
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive continuous improvement approach
- Ability to work with precision and care and having a good awareness of the need to test thoroughly and document changes appropriately
- Ability and willingness to collaborate with internal and external experts on aspects related to the operational production of CAMS
- Active listener seeking and respecting the views of others
- Highly organised with the capacity to work on a diverse range of tasks to tight deadlines
- Flexibility, with a willingness to adapt plans if partner organisations work at different paces, and if priorities shift over time
- Candidates must be able to work and communicate effectively in English
Education
- A university degree (EQF Level 6) in a physical, computational, or mathematical science, or related subject, or equivalent professional experience
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
- Programming skills with scripting languages (such as Python) in a UNIX/Linux environment required
- Experience in an operational or time-critical environment is desirable
- Experience of working collaboratively on software development projects is desirable
- Experience with working in a scientific environment
- Experience in managing distributed applications and a good understanding of performance-related issues (memory, disk I/O, networking, etc.)
- Experience with working in a High Performance Computing environment
- An understanding of numerical weather prediction or meteorological applications
- Experience of handling meteorological and/or environmental geospatial data
- Knowledge of standardised data formats for international exchange
- Candidates must be able to work effectively in English. Knowledge of one of ECMWF’s other working languages (French or German) would be an advantage.
We encourage you to apply even if you don’t feel you meet precisely all these criteria.
About Copernicus
Copernicus is the flagship Earth observation component of the European Union (EU) space programme. Based on the exploitation of space-based and Earth observations and scientific models, Copernicus provides validated information services for land, marine, atmosphere and climate monitoring, as well as emergency management and security. These services, and their free, open and quality-assured data and tools, support a range of environmental and security applications across sectors and policy domains. ECMWF has been entrusted to operate two of these Services - the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) - on behalf of the European Commission, as well as being a contributor to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) service provides consistent and quality-controlled information related to atmospheric composition, including air pollutants and greenhouse gases, solar energy, and climate forcing, everywhere in the world. For more information, see https://www.copernicus.eu/en/copernicus-services/atmosphere
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) service provides authoritative information about the past, present and future climate, as well as tools to enable climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies by policy makers and businesses. For more information, see https://www.copernicus.eu/en/copernicus-services/climate-change and www.copernicus.eu
About ECMWF
ECMWF is a world leader in Numerical Weather Predictions providing high-quality data for weather forecasts and environmental monitoring. As an intergovernmental organisation, we collaborate internationally to serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions, data and training activities that are critical to contribute to safe and thriving societies.
The success of our activities depends on the funding and partnerships of the 35 Member and Co-operating States who provide the support and direction of our work. Our talented staff together with the international scientific community, and our powerful supercomputing capabilities, are the core of a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions. We also hold one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world.
Our vision: The strength of a common goal
Our mission: Deliver global numerical weather predictions focusing on the medium-range and monitoring of the Earth system to and with our Member States
ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with its headquarters in Reading, UK, a data centre in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany, as a central location for our EU-related activities. ECMWF is internationally recognised as the voice of expertise in numerical weather predictions for forecasts and climate science.
www.ecmwf.int
Other information
Grade remuneration: The successful candidates will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. ECMWF also offers a generous benefits package, including a flexible teleworking policy. The position is assigned to the employment category STF-PL as defined in the ECMWF Staff Regulations. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs, including the ECMWF Staff Regulations and the terms and conditions of employment.
Starting date: As soon as possible
Contract duration: Approximately 3 years to 30 September 2028
Location: Bonn, Germany (The successful candidate is expected to relocate to the duty station)
As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model that allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking. We allow for remote work 10 days/month away from the office, including up to 80 days/year away from the duty station country (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).
Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions.
Interviews will take place via videoconference (MS Team). If you require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment process, please contact us via email: [email protected]
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.
Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Cooperating States, listed below, as well as from all EU Member States:
ECMWF Member and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy (note: ECMWF will not be able to assist with leaving the country).
Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.
