Data Steward Software Developer

ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States. ECMWF carries out scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of its forecasts, collects and processes large amounts of observations, and manages a long-term archive of meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and climate reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and land surface.
For details, see www.ecmwf.int/.

ECMWF is currently in the process of setting up its new data centre in Bologna, Italy, and will migrate its HPC and supporting IT and communications infrastructure to this new site in 2020. This role has been established as part of this programme to build, equip and migrate ECWMF’s IT operations to the new datacentre and will be based in Reading, Berkshire in the UK.

Summary of the role

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to work at the forefront of numerical weather prediction (NWP) and this position sits in the System Design Team of the Integrated Forecast Systems Section, in the Research Department.

The successful candidate will join a small, established team of NWP and scientific computing experts, responsible for implementing ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System (IFS), a world- leading scalable and flexible numerical weather prediction model.

He or she will work to support the Senior Data Steward, a role dedicated to improving the processes and activities associated with the substantial amounts of data created within ECMWF. The primary responsibility of the person in this role will be to design, develop and maintain the necessary databases and software to enable the Senior Data Steward, and ECMWF users to have a clear oversight of their data, and to effectively manage its lifecycle. Additionally, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to other areas of software development in the section.

Main duties and key responsibilities

• Evaluating the requirements to allow the Senior Data Steward and ECMWF Users to successfully manage their data
• Designing and implementing the necessary databases
• Designing and implementing software to allow ECMWF Users and the Senior Data Steward to
  interact with these databases, and easily manage their data
• Providing maintenance and the necessary documentation for the databases and software
• Contributing to the development, and migration of tools and infrastructure for research scientists, for the new computer centre in Bologna

Personal attributes

• Excellent interpersonal, team working and communication skills
• Ability to accurately interpret complex customer requirements to produce a successful software design
• Flexibility, with the ability to adapt to changing organisational priorities and user needs
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach
• An interest in identifying, investigating and resolving technical problems

Qualifications and experience required

Education

• A university degree or equivalent is required in a discipline related to computer science, meteorology, physics or mathematics. A PhD would be an advantage but not essential.
  
  

Experience

• Very good recent experience developing databases and web based applications to interact with them.
• Experience in finding customer requirements, and developing software to meet these is essential.
• Experience in an operational numerical weather prediction centre would be a significant advantage.

Knowledge and skills (including language)

• A proven track record in the design and implementation of both SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Very good experience in developing web applications which interact with a database backend.
• Good knowledge of a high-level programming language (e.g. C++, python) and UNIX-scripting is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of meteorological modelling and experience working with scientists in a similar environment would be an advantage.
• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and interviews will be conducted in English.
• A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German) would be an advantage.

Other information

Grade remuneration: The successful candidate will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations and the annual basic salary will be £56,487.24 net of tax. This position is assigned to the employment category STF-PL as defined in the Staff Regulations.
Full details of salary scales and allowances are available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs, including the Centre’s Staff Regulations regarding the terms and conditions of employment.

Starting date: As soon as possible.
Length of contract: Contract to 31 December 2020.
Location: The position will be based in the Reading area, in Berkshire, United Kingdom.

Interviews for this position are expected to take place in Reading, Berkshire, week commencing 22 January 2018.

How to apply

Please apply by completing the online application form available at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.

ECMWF has an Equal Opportunities Policy and applications from all suitably qualified candidates are
welcome. Staff are usually recruited from among nationals of the following Member States and Co-operating States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Staff from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases