Junior Developer

Met Office; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading meteorological organization in the UK is seeking a Junior Software Developer to join their Data Services team. You will work with technologies like Python and Java to develop scalable cloud-based solutions that provide essential weather data. This role supports hybrid working and offers a thorough training environment. The starting salary is up to £40,480 annually, including additional benefits like a civil service pension and annual leave.

Benefits

Civil Service pension

Recruitment Retention Allowance

Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days

Qualifications

• Experience with Python/Java deployed on cloud native technologies.
• Ability to apply modern development principles under guidance.
• Experience in working collaboratively within a multi-discipline team.

Responsibilities

• Develop skills while working under supervision on software solutions.
• Participate in an agile team to deliver critical weather services.
• Engage in testing and support tasks as required.

Skills

Programming and build (software engineering)

Modern development standards

Service support

Team Membership

Tools

Python

Java

AWS Cloud Computing

Job description

We're looking for an exceptional Junior Software Developer who shares our amazing values to help us make a difference to our planet by using cutting edge technologies to provide world-leading meteorological information to our customers around the world.

As our Junior Software Developer, 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. 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

Join the Met Office's Data Services team - an innovative, friendly group at the forefront of developing scalable cloud-based solutions.

We're responsible for the systems that deliver critical weather and climate data to users across the UK and beyond. Through scalable APIs and cloud-native services, our team ensures fast, reliable access to forecast and observation data, supporting everyone from emergency responders and government to businesses and the public.

As a Software Developer in Data Services, you'll be engineering solutions using Python, Java and AWS Cloud Computing to bridge the gap between advanced scientific modelling and the platforms our users rely on every day. You'll be getting hands on with the output of our cutting-edge supercomputing capabilities, handling terabytes of data daily, and making system performance, scalability, and reliability essential elements of your work.

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger - developing modern, cloud-based solutions that have a wide-reaching and positive impact, helping millions of people to stay safe and thrive.

Your key duties

As a Junior Software Developer, you will have space to work with other developers in an agile team building and implementing technical solutions providing critical weather services to Met Office customers.

The key duties include:

• Develop skills while working under supervision to deliver stories in a multidisciplinary team.
• Understand and be proficient in different types of testing.
• Be aware of but not responsible for security.
• Coach and mentor more junior colleagues.

You’ll be the sort of person that is passionate about technology, loves solving problems and is enthusiastic to grow your technical skills.

This role is aligned to the DDaT Junior Software Developer role level. For further information on these please refer to the relevant GDaD Software developer - Capability Framework (ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk) on the GOV.UK website.

We operate an on-call roster in Technology to provide 24/7/365 support to respond to operational service requirements. This post may be part of an on-call roster and the postholder would be required to participate in an on-call roster where in operation.

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 and 2024 lists, as well as their '54 Best Workplaces for Women' 2023 list.

As our Junior Software Developer, your total reward package will be up to £40,480 annually, which includes:

• £26,954 base pay
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) you will be paid £2,200 per annum as a market supplement to reflect the demand for your skills. Whilst in post, you will be paid this market driven allowance from April 2024 until March 2026 in your monthly pay
• 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

1. Programming and build (software engineering) (Expert by nature). Design, code, test, correct and document simple programs or scripts under the direction of others. We use Python/Java deployed on cloud native technologies. (Lead Criteria)
2. Modern development standards (Keep evolving). Explain the most important principles of modern development standards and how they apply to your work. Apply modern development standards principles under guidance
3. Service support (Force for good). Help fix faults following agreed procedures. Carry out agreed maintenance tasks on infrastructure.
4. Team Membership (Better together). You approach your work as a team activity, actively working with others across multi discipline and geographically dispersed teams.

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

How to apply

If you share our values, we'd love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.

Closing date 19/10/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 10/11/2025. 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.