Our reward package
We're hiring for a Space Weather Research Scientist based in Exeter HQ with hybrid remote working. Whilst this is a temporary position for 24 months, there is potential for it to develop into a permanent position.
As our Space Weather Research 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 £43045.00 annually, which includes basic salary, potential corporate bonus and employer pension contributions.
Your package includes:
– Outstanding Civil Service Pension
– Flexible hours and homeworking
– Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave
– Cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel
– Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure and lifestyle categories
Who we are
Space Weather is a well-established area of work at the Met Office, supported by UK Government funding. Met Office forecasters provide operational space weather alerts daily and space weather models (such as the WSA Enlil solar wind model) are being run operationally or are being transitioned into operations. Our work involves collaboration with a number of UK and International groups, such as many leading universities and the US NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
Our work has recently been boosted by our participation in the £20m Space Weather Innovation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk (SWIMMR) programme. SWIMMR includes work to develop an ionospheric data assimilation and forecast system which is planned to run pre-operationally from late 2022 and move into full operations probably in late 2023. This system currently only assimilates data from ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations and ionosondes, but first attempts at the assimilation of GNSS radio occultation (RO) from satellites will be developed during SWIMMR.
This post shall focus on an analysis of methods to retrieve ionospheric information from GNSS RO observations, and the development of improved methods. The activities shall be funded as part of the wider Radio Occultation Meteorology Satellite Application Facility (ROMSAF) programme. Earlier ROMSAF work included development of a method to retrieve electron density from RO and in this post improvements to the retrieval method shall be developed and analysed. If results are favourable, and time permits, the postholder may also add these improved RO products to an upgraded version of the ionospheric assimilation system developed in SWIMMR, and examine the potential for improved operational forecasts.
Job Purpose
Development of prototype code for variational retrieval of electron density from GNSS RO observations, building on earlier ROMSAT work, and possibly assessing the use of improved electron density datasets in a data assimilation system.
Job Responsibilities:
- Apply, or develop, knowledge of GNSS RO observations and methods to retrieve ionospheric electron density from these observations.
- Further develop the retrieval method produced in earlier ROMSAF work (eg by developing improved forward modelling) in order to produce improved electron density retrievals.
- Develop an understanding of the ionospheric data assimilation system used at the Met Office, and if necessary exploit this to assess, or add in, the new retrievals.
- Write papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals, give presentations at international conferences and take part in relevant international collaborations and working groups, as appropriate, to raise the visibility and reputation of the Met Office in this field.
Essential Qualifications, Skills & Abilities
A good background in a physical science or maths to at least degree level (2:1 or above), plus PhD in a relevant subject or equivalent experience.Demonstrated ability to acquire new scientific knowledge quickly. Evidence of good knowledge of GNSS RO observations, retrieval methods and/or ionospheric or atmospheric modelling or analysis (or equivalent experience) is also required.Evidence of effectively achieving major scientific goals with minimal supervision or guidance.Evidence of good oral and written scientific communication skills (e.g. writing reports, giving presentations).Demonstrated programming skills, including good working knowledge of a scientific programming language, for example Fortran or Python.Demonstrated ability to work positively in a team environment.
Desirable Qualifications, Skills & Abilities
A background in, or demonstrated interest in, space weather and/or ionospheric physics.
How to apply
Click Apply and attach your CV and a Cover Letter which evidences how you meet the essential criteria.
Closing date 22/05/2022 at 23:59 with interviews commencing from 06/06/2022 . You will hear from us once the closing date has passed. Our interviews are taking place remotely via Microsoft Teams.
If successful, you will occasionally need to work at our state of the art office in Exeter for team days and face to face collaboration as required, we are unable to offer expenses for travel to your normal place of work. Please ask at interview 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 . 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 before we confirm your employment.
