Senior Scientist/Team Leader - Atmospheric Composition Data Assimilation

ECMWF - European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Organisation/Company ECMWF - European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Research Field: Computer science, Environmental science, Mathematics, Earth science, Physics, Statistics

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1), Established Researcher (R3)

Country: Germany

Application Deadline: 27 Apr 2025 - 21:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract: Permanent

Job Status: Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Senior Scientist/Team Leader - Atmospheric Composition Data Assimilation
ECMWF - European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Bonn, Germany

Job reference: VN25-021
Salary and Grade: Grade A3 EUR 110,033 (Bonn/Germany) NET annual basic salary + other benefits
Deadline for applications: 27/04/2025
Department: Research
Contract type: STF-PL
Contract Duration: Approximately 3 years to 30th September 2028, with possibility of extension subject to funding

The role:

As part of the second phase of the CAMS programme, ECMWF is leading the development and implementation of exciting new Earth monitoring services to monitor anthropogenic emissions of CO2, CH4, and various atmospheric pollutants. Using satellite-based observations (retrievals) of atmospheric concentrations for deriving emission estimates requires the development, implementation, and testing of novel data assimilation techniques to extend the capabilities of the current ECMWF data assimilation system. Monitoring emissions is important by itself, but better observation-based emission estimates will also improve the CAMS atmospheric composition forecasts.

We are looking for a Team Lead of the Greenhouse Gas Aspects team in the Atmospheric Composition section. The section consists of two teams, the other being the Reactive gas & Aerosol Aspects team, which work closely together on the development of all atmospheric composition aspects of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System (IFS). The current primary focus of the Greenhouse Gas Aspects team, in collaboration with the rest of the section and other ECMWF staff, is to develop the operational system for the new emission monitoring capacity within the IFS.

Main responsibilities:

• Lead the Greenhouse Gas Aspects team within the Atmospheric Composition section of ECMWF’s Research Department, including the line management of the staff members in the team;
• Providing support to the Head of Section with the coordination and planning of the activities related to estimating emissions and surface fluxes of atmospheric composition in the IFS;
• Delivering the ECMWF strategy through external and internal developments of atmospheric composition modelling and data assimilation aspects of IFS and their successful implementation in the operational production;
• Contribute to the technical developments required for the implementation in the ECMWF IFS of new algorithms for the estimation of natural surface fluxes and anthropogenic emissions of atmospheric composition species;
• Contribute to the further development of the general data assimilation methodology for atmospheric composition observations;
• Provide technical input into the contractual management of external CAMS contracts that are within the expertise of the successful applicant.

What we're looking for:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to motivate and encourage teams to foster an environment where process enhancements can be raised and appropriately considered;
• Self-motivated, and able to work with minimal supervision;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive and constructive approach;
• Flexibility, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities;
• Attuned to the needs of the user, able to develop services and prioritise accordingly;
• Highly organised with the capacity to work on a diverse range of tasks to tight deadlines.

Your background and experience:

• An advanced university degree (EQF Level 8) in Meteorology, Physics, Mathematics or similar subject or equivalent experience is required;
• The ability to manage, motivate, and develop staff;
• Experience in working with scientists/researchers or technical specialists;
• Demonstrated experience with atmospheric data assimilation methodologies;
• Demonstrated scientific leadership in the area of atmospheric composition data assimilation and inverse modelling would be an advantage;
• Experience with developing and maintaining large scientific codes in Fortran90, Python and software lifecycle maintenance in High Performance Computing environments;
• Ability to work efficiently in a Linux environment is essential;
• Knowledge of tools and processes for software management and software quality is highly desirable;
• Ability to interact effectively with a range of different stakeholders (technical and non-technical audiences) across a wide range of activities;
• Excellent administrative, organisational, and planning skills.

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t feel you meet precisely all these criteria.

Candidates must be able to work effectively in English. Knowledge of one of ECMWF’s other working languages (French or German) would be an advantage.

About ECMWF

ECMWF is a world leader in Numerical Weather Predictions providing high-quality data for weather forecasts and environmental monitoring. As an intergovernmental organisation, we collaborate internationally to serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions, data and training activities that are critical to contribute to safe and thriving societies.

The success of our activities depends on the funding and partnerships of the 35 Member and Co-operating States who provide the support and direction of our work. Our talented staff together with the international scientific community, and our powerful supercomputing capabilities, are the core of a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions. We also hold one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world.

Our vision: The strength of a common goal.

Our mission: Deliver global numerical weather predictions focusing on the medium-range and monitoring of the Earth system to and with our Member States.

ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with its headquarters in Reading, UK, a data centre in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany, as a central location for our EU-related activities. ECMWF is internationally recognised as the voice of expertise in numerical weather predictions for forecasts and climate science.

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: ECMWF - European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Country: Germany

City: Bonn