Computing and Software Support Specialist - Machine Learning

ECMWF is opening an exciting new position for Computing and Software Support Specialist (A2) in the User Services Section in the Forecast Department of ECMWF. In this role you will support users working with our machine learning models and data.

The Computing and Software Support Team provides technical advice and support to all users of ECMWF software and computing, including Member and Co-operating States, ECMWF users and public users. As part of a team of ten staff you will provide day-to-day 2nd line user support and work on continuous improvements of our services, processes and documentation.

With a growing user community and constant evolution in technologies we are looking for a dedicated individual with a genuine interest in helping others make the most of ECMWF’s software, data and platforms. The recent rise in machine learning for numerical weather prediction has brought new ways of working with software, data and computing, which in turn comes with a need for outstanding support processes.

We are looking for a highly organised individual with a keen interest inlatest technological developments and a capacity to manage competing priorities and a variety of tasks. In this role you will have a direct impact on our user community by solving technical issues and shaping our client services and technologies.

Hence excellent communication and collaboration skills are equally important in this role.

The User Services Section has 26 staff providing support and advice to all users of ECMWF computing, data and software services including Member States, Co-operating States, Commercial entities, ECMWF and public users. The section comprises a Computing and Software Support team, a User Solutions Team and Data Support team and is based in Bonn, Germany, and Reading, UK.

ECMWF is operating and developing world-leading, machine learning-based probabilistic weather forecasting systems, which complement our existing physics-based system. A range of novel ML approaches are being investigated for improved quality and efficiency of forecasts as part of ECMWF’s contribution to the Destination Earth initiative. A team of scientists and engineers in ECMWF are working collaboratively across the Centre and in our Member and Cooperating States to undertake this challenge, including through the Machine Learning Pilot Project (MLPP).

Together with our Member States; we are co-developing Anemoi, an end-to-end framework for training and ope rationalising data-driven weather forecasting models. The Computing and Software Support Specialist will focus on support for users and developers working in this domain.

• Provide day-to-day computing and software support services, working with colleagues to respond to user queries and resolve technical issues
• Provide technical advice and support to users of ECMWF machine learning models and their output data, helping users access and make use of ML models, products and datasets
• Provide specialised expertise and user support in the use of DestinE and ECMWF HPC computing infrastructure and software for machine learning, with a particular focus on the Anemoi software framework
• Review, improve and develop support processes and workflows for users and developers within ECMWF Machine Learning (ML) projects such as the DestinE Initiative and Member States' ML Pilot Project
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of documentation and self-service resources for users of ECMWF machine learning services
• Collaborate closely with other teams in the section and other departments, representing the viewpoint of users of new and existing ML services, including AI forecast model upgrades

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate complex technical issues and identify practical solutions
• Take ownership of issues and follows through to deliver practical outcomes
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Outstanding interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams, departments and external organisations
• A genuine interest in helping users succeed and improving their experience
• A hands-on approach, with the willingness to engage directly in technical investigations, testing and implementation activities where appropriate
• Interest in new…