Global Coupled Model Development Scientist

Met Office; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Met Office seeks an exceptional Global Coupled Model Development Scientist to advance climate predictions and model development. Hybrid working is considered; location is UK-based with a flexible weekly pattern.

This full-time role involves 37 hours per week, with options for 30 hours and potential job sharing, aiming to balance work with personal needs. The GMED team develops and evaluates global coupled model configurations, diagnosing biases, and creating innovative diagnostic techniques

Qualifications

• Lead Criteria: PhD-level research experience in a mathematical or physically based science.
• Experience and knowledge of Earth System modelling.
• Proven ability to work independently on technical and scientific challenges.
• Excellent written and oral communication, with publication record emerging.
• Experience in development and use of scientific software and programming languages.
• Ability to collaborate and share knowledge to deliver common goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop improved global coupled model configurations for timescales from days to centuries.
• Improve understanding of ocean-atmosphere coupling in models.
• Conduct analysis to understand and reduce biases in coupled systems.
• Provide support to downstream users of coupled model configurations.
• Contribute to development and maintenance of shared evaluation tools.

Skills

PhD-level research

Earth System modelling

Scientific software development

Scientific publication

Collaborative teamwork

Effective planning

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Scientific programming languages

Job description

We're looking for an exceptional Global Coupled Model Development Scientist to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Global Coupled Model Development Scientist, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.

Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a job share. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

World changing work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

• 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

Your world of expertise

The Met Office is a leader in weather and climate science, continually advancing its capabilities to deliver world-class predictions and advice. The GMED (Global Model Evaluation and Development) team plays a pivotal role in enhancing the Met Office's capability, impact, and quality of its predictions, products, and advice. The Global Coupled Model Development and Processes team in GMED plays a critical role in releasing and testing improved global coupled model configurations, diagnosing and addressing global model biases, developing innovative diagnostic techniques, and collaborating across teams to enhance model performance on multiple timescales. As part of the Global Coupled Model Development and Processes team in GMED, you will deliver or apply scientific research to enhance the Met Office's capability, impact or quality of its predictions, products or advice.

Your key duties:

• Develop improved global coupled model configurations for predictions on timescales from days to centuries
• Improve understanding of ocean-atmosphere coupling processes and their representation in models
• Conduct analysis to understand and reduce biases in coupled model systems across timescales.
• Provide support to downstream users of coupled global model configurations.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of shared evaluation tools.

Why join us

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their 'Best Workplaces in Tech' 2023, 2024 and 2025 lists, as well as their '54 Best Workplaces for Women' 2023 list.

As our Global Coupled Model Development Scientist, your total reward package will be up to £65,118 annually, which includes:

• £35,145 base pay
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• 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

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

• Lead Criteria: A proven track record of delivering high quality research, in a mathematical or physically based science, equivalent to a PhD level of research experience (We're Experts by Nature)
• Experience and knowledge of Earth System modelling (We're a Force for Good).
• Proven track record of working independently on technical and scientific challenges to deliver quality scientific outputs and outcomes, ensuring timely delivery through effective planning (We Keep Evolving)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a developing scientific publication record and the ability to communicate scientific and/or technical concepts to a broad range of audiences (We Live and Breathe it).
• Experience in the development and use of scientific software and scientific programming languages (We're Experts by Nature).
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others sharing own knowledge and expertise to successfully deliver common goal (We're Better Together).

The panel may perform a preliminary sift of the lead criteria as indicated above.

Closing date 09/08/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 24/08/2026. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

Using AI in your application

We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.

How we can help

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at .

If you're considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. 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 Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

We understand that great minds don't always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome 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, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact us at: If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: