ECMWF is recruiting an analyst to join the reanalysis team in the C3S team of the Copernicus Services Department. The reanalysis team uses global forecast models, climate observations and data assimilation systems to produce datasets that describe the recent evolution of the Earth’s climate system. ECMWF reanalysis data provide an essential contribution to the catalogue of the Climate Data Store currently being developed as part of the C3S infrastructure.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the development and maintenance of the Observation Feedback Archive (OFA), an open-access database facility for storing and retrieving observations used in reanalyses and other climate data products. The OFA will provide C3S users with full access to the observations along with information on instrument characterization, data quality, reanalysis departures, data sources, etc.

The analyst will be responsible for the OFA technical infrastructure, including user interfaces and data visualisation tools. He or she will work together with scientists in the reanalysis team on adding new data sources and quality feedback information to the OFA.

Key responsibilities:

• Preparing observational datasets and reanalysis feedback for inclusion in the OFA
• Developing the OFA user interfaces and graphical tools to support efficient and transparent access by a wide range of users
• Documenting the technical and scientific aspects of the OFA, including its content and user guidance Supporting the reanalysis team as needed to maintain the highest scientific standards for the reanalysis effort 

Grade remuneration

The successful candidate will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Coordinated Organisations and the annual basic salary will be £54,776 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: Four years.

Location: The position will be based in the Reading area, in Berkshire, United Kingdom.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well in multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to communicate effectively to different audiences, both verbally and in writing
• Curiosity about climate science and related disciplines
• A university degree in a relevant subject.
• Excellent programming skills including C++ and Python.
• Experience working with large scientific datasets and data visualisation tools.
• Familiarity with observing systems and measurement data is highly desirable.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team of scientists.
• 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.

Please continue your application process by clicking the "Apply Through Website" button. You will be redirected to the institutional job board.  Please search for job reference VN15-30

ECMWF has an Equal Opportunities Policy and applications from all suitably qualified candidates are welcome. Staff are usually recruited from among nationals of the Member States and Co-operating States. Staff from non-ECMWF States may be considered in exceptional cases where there is a strong need for a particular competency. Interviews for this position are expected to take place week commencing 15 June 2015.

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 has been entrusted to operate the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on behalf of the European Commission until the end of 2020. Copernicus is the European Union (EU) flagship Earth-observation programme. The programme ensures operational monitoring of the atmosphere, oceans, and continental surfaces, and will provide reliable, validated information services for a range of environmental and security applications.