EUMETSAT uses data from its growing Earth observation fleet, as well as data from other agencies, to support climate information services by rescuing, recalibrating and reprocessing long series of satellite observations and validating the resulting climate datasets.

Within the Climate Services Team of the User Support and Climate Services Division (USC), the Climate Product Expert leads specific scientific developments for the generation and validation of climate data records, focusing on the rescue, recalibration and reprocessing of satellite observations to Level 1, including relevant EUMETSAT contributions to cooperative European research projects and to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

The Climate Services team consists of staff with a wide range of expertise from climate applications of Earth Observation data to informatics that produce climate data efficiently. The team uses the latest technologies that can be applied to cloud/bulk data processing systems to generate and validate the datasets. The team also supports the further development of these systems. Joining EUMETSAT in this role offers a unique opportunity to develop a professional career in a highly motivating environment.

Duties

The main duties of the post will be as follows:

Lead agreed scientific developments for the rescue, recalibration, uncertainty characterisation, and reprocessing of observations into Level 1 products and the validation of the resulting Fundamental Climate Data records for instruments operating in the visible spectrum including:

Development and application of quality control methods for metadata and raw data;

Development and validation of instrument corrections and re- and cross-calibration methods;

Development of appropriate uncertainty estimates for Level 1 products.

Coordinate the implementation and validation of calibration and inter-calibration activities together with the corresponding experts within EUMETSAT;

Support the implementation of all developed methods in the operational systems and environment; Compile relevant documentation, reports and peer reviewed scientific publications;

Support the definition and maintenance of product requirements for EUMETSAT climate data records and the evolution of climate data records and related interactions with Satellite Application Facilities.

Skills and Experience

In-depth knowledge and demonstrated experience in:

Scientific development for instrument calibration including external calibration, measurement corrections and validation of satellite products for satellite instruments measuring in the visible spectrum;

Use of radiative transfer models in the visible spectrum;

Metrological uncertainty characterisation;

Programming using C/C++ and/or Fortran 95 (and higher) programming languages as well as scripting languages, such as Python, Shell;

Management of small to medium scientific projects;

Good interpersonal skills and a proven ability to apply these to the interactions within a team and between teams in an international environment.

Employment Conditions

The initial contract will be of 4 years’ duration, with subsequent 5 year contracts being awarded thereafter, subject to individual performance and organisation requirements. There is no limit to the amount of follow-up contracts a staff member can receive up to the EUMETSAT retirement age of 63 and there are certainly opportunities to establish a long career perspective at EUMETSAT.
This post is graded A2/A4 on the EUMETSAT salary scales. The minimum basic salary for this post is EURO 6421 per month (net of internal tax but excluding pension contribution and insurances) which may be negotiable on the basis of skills and experience. The salary scale provides for increments on the anniversary of taking up employment, and scales are reviewed by the EUMETSAT Council with effect from 1 January each year. In addition to basic salary, EUMETSAT offers attractive benefits. Further information, including salary details, is available on the EUMETSAT web site.

EUMETSAT is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment for men and women.
Please note that only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply. The EUMETSAT Convention requires that Staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, account being taken of the international character of EUMETSAT.

About EUMETSAT

EUMETSAT is Europe’s meteorological satellite agency. Its role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.

EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.

As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT has 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.)

LOCATION

Darmstadt, Germany

QUALIFICATIONS

University degree in meteorology, remote sensing, or another relevant discipline.

LANGUAGES

The official languages of EUMETSAT are English and French. Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and have some knowledge of French.

DEADLINE

22 February 2023