Python Job: Research Scientist

Our reward package

We’re looking for an exceptional Remote Sensing Scientist (Scientist) to help us make a difference to our planet.

Our Remote Sensing Scientist (Scientist) will work a hybrid pattern of homeworking and in Exeter HQ . The role will involve work in our instrument laboratory at Exeter HQ, nominally for one quarter of the post-holder's time, spread throughout the year.

Why join us?

We provide critical weather services and world-leading climate science to deliver extraordinary impact and benefit across the globe. Our work helps people make better decisions to stay safe and thrive.

As our Remote Sensing Scientist (Scientist) , your starting salary will be £30932.00 and you will have opportunities to progress to £33925.00 over time. New joiners to the Met Office will start on the salary band minima.

Your total reward package is potentially worth up to £43,045 annually, which includes basic salary, potential corporate bonus and employer pension contributions.

Who we are

We provide critical weather services and world-leading climate science, to help people make better decisions to stay safe and thrive.

Together:

• We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
• We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better
• We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
• We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
• We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Find out more about our values - https://bit.ly/3fokaRD

The Met Office Observation Based Research (OBR) group uses observations from airborne and ground-based field campaigns to deliver cutting-edge research aimed at improving environmental prediction systems used from weather forecasting to climate timescales. We work closely with the FAAM atmospheric research aircraft, a world-class facility dedicated to the advancement of atmospheric science, to perform innovative measurement campaigns both in the UK and abroad. This post is based in the OBR radiation group. Examples of active research projects in the group include: using airborne observations of snow surfaces at microwave frequencies to develop new methods to enhance the use of satellite data for weather forecast model initialisation in the Arctic; analysis of atmospheric radiative transfer at sub-millimetre frequencies using observations from an airborne demonstrator for the Ice Cloud Imager, that will fly on the next generation of European polar-orbiting weather satellites; and developing a new hyperspectral microwave radiometer that has the potential to improve the initialisation of temperature and humidity in weather forecast models.

Job Purpose

As a Remote Sensing Scientist (Scientist) , you will perform wide-ranging work which may include planning and participating in field campaigns, developing and evaluating prototype satellite instrumentation, using airborne observations to enhance model performance or improve satellite data use in Numerical Weather Prediction, and developing new radiative transfer methods.

You will work closely with the airborne instrument team on a range of remote sensing instruments including microwave and infrared radiometers, and with scientists from across the Met Office to pull-through research to operational improvements.

Over the coming years we expect significant opportunities to extend the use of remote sensing observations within OBR through the development of new airborne or ground-based instruments and enhanced exploitation of existing systems.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with an interest in remote sensing, instrumentation, and atmospheric radiative processes to join a multidisciplinary team focused on research that supports fundamental improvements to Met Office predictive capability. You will communicate your research both internally and externally through oral presentations, written reports, and peer-reviewed publications. You will also have the opportunity to build productive collaborations with scientists in the Met Office and UK and international academia.

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you. Apply below using your CV and Cover Letter/Supporting Statement (which must bullet point how you meet each of the essential criteria).

Closing date 10/07/2022 at 23:59 with interviews commencing from 25/07/2022 . You will hear from us once the closing date has passed. Our interviews are taking place remotely via Microsoft Teams.

If successful, please note we are unable to offer expenses for travel to your normal place of work. Please ask at interview if you would like extra clarity on how often this requirement is likely to be.

How we can help:

If you are considering applying and need assistance to do so, please contact us via [email protected]. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity.

You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident (Guaranteed Interview) Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

We are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.

We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.