1. Position information
Vacancy No.: VN15-12
Department: Forecast
Grade: A2
Section: Production Section
Job Ref. No.: STF-PL/15-12
Reports to: CAMS Production Team Leader
Closing Date: 21 April 2015
2. About ECMWF*
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.
3. Summary of the role
This position will be part of a multidisciplinary team working on the Copernicus Atmosphere
Monitoring Service (CAMS) operational systems. The Analyst will be responsible for the production
of atmospheric composition analysis and forecast products, and will support their dissemination,
using tools and procedures consistent with ECMWF’s operational environment.
4. Main duties and key responsibilities
The Analyst will work on the technical aspects of the production of analysis and forecast products in
an operational environment. The work will involve developing and implementing an efficient suite of
codes and scripts that can reliably run atmospheric monitoring and forecasting systems on ECMWF’s
high-performance computing and data handling systems. In addition, the duties will involve
supporting the dissemination of CAMS data products.
Key responsibilities:
- To develop and maintain atmospheric composition production suites on ECMWF’s highperformance computing and data handling systems, including the dissemination of CAMS data products
- To monitor the progress and performance of the suites and solve problems as they arise, using operational tools, procedures and internal expertise. This can include out-of office hour on-call support.
- To support the team in other tasks related to enabling the provision of CAMS data products to users
5. Personal attributes
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Dedication and enthusiasm to work as part of a team
- Adaptable and flexible in approach
6. Qualifications and experience required
Education
University degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
Experience
At least three years of experience dealing with complex computational systems in an operational environment.
Experience of serving large scientific data sets would be useful
Advanced level of programming with scripting languages, such as Shell or
Python on UNIX systems.
Familiarity with environmental data format standards for international exchange,
such as NetCDF CF or WMO GRIB, would be advantageous.
Language
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.
7. Other information
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.
8. 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 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 18 May 2015.
* The ECMWF Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
The ECMWF Co-operating States are Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania and Slovakia.