Background information

The Analysis, Visualisation and Data (AVD) Team is a new team which will develop, maintain, and support the principal graphical scientific visualisation and analysis software used throughout the Met Office. The team will provide expertise in software development, data formats and programming methods for analysis and visualisation.

Purpose of the job

You will employ ITIL-based principles to refresh the tools and libraries currently available to Met Office scientists. In addition you will be providing support and advice in data processing and programming methods to ensure best practice and governance.

Principal accountabilities

• Programming/coding and software development for users, to enable them to best visualise and analyse Met Office data across a range of languages.
• Provide programmer support and technical consultancy for existing PV-Wave, IDL, Metview and ArcGIS applications.
• Apply abstract problem-solving methods to solve contextual programming challenges to provide the best solutions for our customers.
• Be involved in the full software development lifecycle including: initial analysis and design of new concepts; devise innovative solutions involving APIs, data structures, and methodologies; assimilate user contributed code into Met Office libraries; documentation and formal testing.
• Manage, assign and resolve support incidents to meet Service Level Agreements. Problem identification and root-cause analysis.

Qualifications, skills and abilities required

 

Essential

• Software development experience and established competence in at least two well-founded programming languages.
• The demonstrable ability to solve abstract problems.
• An ability and a willingness to learn quickly and grasp fresh concepts, to devise and implement efficient and effective solutions in a dynamic and challenging programming environment.
• An organised and structured approach to work.
• A proven ability to communicate easily, enthusiastically and professionally with a range of customers.
• Good team-working skills and also the ability to work to your own initiative.
• Hold a degree in computer science or a strongly numerate subject such as mathematics or physics.

Desirable

• An understanding of business processes and commercial motivations.
• Experience in: PV-Wave, IDL, Metview, ArcGIS software. NetCDF or GRIB data formats. Linux or Unix.
• Knowledge and understanding of coding across various programming paradigms; procedural, object and vector.
• Experience in working in parallel with emerging standards and RFC specifications.
• An interest in formal algorithms, formal computer graphics, mathematical methods, n-dimensional modelling, or code optimisation.
• Current participant of the British Computer Society Professional Development Scheme, or willing to become a participant.

Additional supplementary information

The vacancies will be spread over the specialist subgroups within the team which are: Support; Research & Development; and Governance. The job holder would be expected to contribute to some of the activities below, depending on their specific role, individual skills, personality and aptitude.

• User liaison and requirements gathering; developing an understanding of the scientific community’s terminology and working practices.
• Research and assimilation of new tools and applications.
• Engage and influence the third-party development of new tools and methods.
• Precise, structured and meticulous attention to detail in code library API administration.
• Project management.
• Technical authoring.
• Provide user training, authoritative best practice guidance in programming, and evangelise the use of standard Met Office tools, data formats, APIs and applications.
• Be prepared to participate in an on-call roster should the need arise in the future.

Commitment to diversity

The Met Office values diversity and recruits on merit.

Minimum time in post

Once appointed into post, job holders are expected to remain in that post for a minimum of two years before being given the opportunity to apply for other relevant internal roles that may become available within the Met Office.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants

To widen the pool of candidates on which to draw, we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the published minimum criteria for the post/entry level.

To qualify for a guaranteed interview, you do not have to be registered as a disabled person but you must have a disability or long-term health condition that puts you at a substantial disadvantage in either obtaining or keeping employment. The disability must be likely to last for at least 12 months.

To apply for a guaranteed interview, please complete the appropriate section of the application form. When appropriate, you should provide details of any particular arrangements you will require for the interview, e.g. car parking, speech facilitator.

Any false declaration of disability to obtain an interview may invalidate any resultant contract of employment.

Civil Service Recruitment Code

The Met Office's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Code and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk or telephone 01392 885000 in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Met Office, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Benefits and facilities

• As an employee of the Met Office you will be eligible to join the Nuvos Civil Service Pension Scheme with a low employee contribution. This is a defined benefit scheme which the Met Office, as an employer, contributes to. You also have the option to join a partnership scheme where the employer can contribute and the employee can contribute if you wish. For more details please see the Civil Service Pensions website.
• Annual Leave allowance of 25 days (plus 8 days public holiday and 2½ privilege days taken at fixed times during the year).
• Training opportunities.
• Performance-related pay.
• The Met Office sports and social club.
• The potential to work in different areas within the same organisation.

Starting salaries

The pay range is stated at the top of the job description. Entry to the Met Office is normally at the pay band minimum with minimal scope for negotiation. Where a range is advertised, only exceptional candidates with proven experience and skills will be appointed above the minimum of this range. Packages and ranges offered above the pay band minimum may consist partly or wholly of elements of non-consolidated (non-pensionable) pay.

Relocation

Unless stated in the job advert and job description, financial support is not available for candidates to move to the job location.

Mobility

Normally, staff appointed at Job Level 4 and above automatically have a mobility clause in their employment contract, which means they may be required to serve at other UK mainland locations. Some Job Level 5 staff may also have a mobility commitment, depending upon the job.

Nationality

In common with all United Kingdom (UK) Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, applicants for employment in the Met Office are required to satisfy certain nationality requirements. For full guidance see the Border & Immigration Agency's 'Working in the UK' website, where you will find information about working in the UK.

Again, in common with all UK Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, some posts in the Met Office are 'reserved' for UK nationals only. Applicants who are not UK nationals should be aware that further career prospects might be affected.

Application forms and further information

Download application form (PDF, 653 kb)

Guidance notes and information for applicants (PDF, 58 kb)

Download equal opportunities form (PDF, 922 kb - to be returned along with the application form)

If you require a Word version of the application form, please email HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk including the words 'application request' in the subject line. An automatic email will be returned to you immediately. If you have not received an email within 48 hours then please contact us.

Alternatively, you can call or write to:

HR Customer Services
Met Office
FitzRoy Road
Exeter
EX1 3PB

Tel: 01392 885000

Please mark your request or returned application form: Software Engineer – AVD 001479 (P)

Thank you for your interest if you apply for this position. However, due to the high numbers that apply for positions in the Met Office we are unable to reply to each applicant individually. Therefore, if you have had no response from us within four weeks of the closing date you may assume you have been unsuccessful.