Computing and Software Support Engineer

ECMWF is opening an exciting new position for a Computing and Software Support Engineer in the User Services Section in the Forecast Department of ECMWF.

The Computing and Software Support Team provides technical advice and support to all users of ECMWF software and computing including Member and Co-operating States, ECMWF and public users. As part of a team of eight staff you will provide day-to-day 2nd line support to users and work on continuous improvements of our services, processes and documentation. 

With a growing user community and constant evolution in technologies we are looking for a dedicated individual with a genuine interest in helping others make the most of ECMWF’s software and platforms. Open data and cloud services (e.g. www.europeanweather.cloud) have brought an increased number of data users and diverse applications resulting in the need for outstanding support processes.

We are looking for a highly organised individual with a keen interest in latest technological developments and a capacity to  manage competing priorities and a variety of tasks. In this role you will have a direct impact on our user community by solving technical issues and shaping our client services and technologies. Hence excellent communication and collaboration skills are equally important in this role.

ECMWF is the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. It is an intergovernmental organisation created in 1975 by a group of European nations and is today supported by 35 Member and Co-operating States, mostly in Europe. The Centre’s mission is to serve and support its Member and Co-operating States and the wider community by developing and providing world-leading global numerical weather prediction. ECMWF functions as a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions and holds one of the largest meteorological archives in the world. The success of its activities relies primarily on the talent of its scientists, strong partnerships with its Member and Co-operating States and the international community, some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the use of innovative technologies such as machine learning across its operations.

Over the years, ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union, and for the past seven years has been an entrusted entity for the implementation and operation of the Climate and the Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the EU Copernicus Programme, as well as a contributor to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. The collaboration does not stop there and includes other areas of work, including High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend its provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.

ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with its headquarters based in Reading, UK, a new data centre in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany. For additional details, see www.ecmwf.int. 

About User Services Section

The User Services Section is a team of of 17 staff providing support and advice to all users of ECMWF computing, data and software services including Member States, Co-operating States, Commercial entities, ECMWF and public users. The section comprises a Computing and Software Support team and Data Support team and is based in Bonn, Germany and Reading, UK. 

About See-MHEWS and CLIMAAX Projects

This position supports two projects, the South-East European Multi-Hazard Early Warning Advisory System (SEE-MHEWS-A) and the Climate risk and vulnerability Assessment framework and toolbox (CLIMAAX). Both projects require engagement of User Services due to the large involvement of external users. The SEEMHEWS-A project involves assisting project members in using ECMWF’s IT infrastructure, such as access to HPC and use of European Weather Cloud. The CLIMAAX project will in a later stage require support for external users in using ECMWF software, such as the C3S Climate and Atmosphere Data Store (CADS) toolbox.  

• ​​​​​​​Provide technical advice and support on the use of ECMWF computing facilities, cloud services, archiving services and software
• Install and maintain program libraries and other software packages
• Provide training to users on computing and software
• Review, improve and develop processes and workflows to effectively support users
• Contribute to the creation of documentation to support a self-serve service for users
• Provide support to external projects, such as SEE-MHEWS-A and CLIMAAX
• Work in close collaboration with other teams in the section and in other departments, frequently representing the viewpoint of users
• Carry out other duties as required. 

• Strong and effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach
• Flexibility with the ability to adapt to changing requirements or priorities, user needs and services
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain a supportive and user-focused approach.
• Enthusiasm to help others 

• ​​​​​​​Provide technical advice and support on the use of ECMWF computing facilities, cloud services, archiving services and software
  
• Extensive experience in handling user queries and incidents with professionalism leading to successful resolution is required.
  
• Experience in providing support for computing services, including HPC or cloud platforms is required. 
  
• Experience  in cloud and/or HPC technologies is desirable.
  
• Experience in providing technical training to users is desirable.
  

• Knowledge of a modern scripting language such as Python is required. 
• Knowledge of software management and scripting in Linux environments, Windows or Mac OS is essential. 
• Some knowledge on managing containers and of Kubernetes or other container orchestration tools is desirable.
• Some knowledge on administrating and managing cloud platforms is desirable.
• Knowledge of compiling and running scientific codes on high-performance computing facilities is desirable.
• Knowledge of a high-level programming language, such as Fortran or C/C++ is desirable.

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.

Grade remuneration:  The successful candidates will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. The annual basic salary will EUR 83,888 (duty station Bonn) or ​​​​​​​GBP 68,374.56 (duty station Reading) NET of tax. 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

Length of contract:   27 months, with the possibility of extension

Location:                      Bonn, Germany or Reading, UK

As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows flexibility to staff to mix office and tele-working. 

Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions.

Interviews by videoconference (MS Teams) are expected to take place shortly after the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

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 Co-operating States, 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, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. 

In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy.  

Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.