Software Engineer – In Situ Atmospheric Composition Observations

Your role

ECMWF is seeking a motivated and highly skilled Software Engineer (A2) to join our Observations Team. The role will support the reliable acquisition, preparation and operational use of in situ atmospheric composition observations for ECMWF’s forecasting and environmental monitoring activities. You will play a central part in coordinating and improving the data workflows that make these observations available for assimilation, verification, diagnostics and emerging data-driven forecasting approaches.

This includes supporting the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) global production system and helping the observation processing pipeline evolve as data volumes, data types and technologies change. The role combines operational delivery, software and data engineering, and close collaboration with scientists, technical specialists and external data providers. It is an opportunity to contribute to robust production systems while helping ECMWF exploit observations more effectively across current and future forecasting approaches.

• Coordinate the acquisition, integration and ongoing management of in situ atmospheric composition observations from a range of providers, acting as a focal point for reliable data delivery.
• Prepare, maintain and monitor datasets for assimilation into the CAMS global atmospheric composition forecasting system, as well as for verification, diagnostics and quality assurance applications.
• Develop, test and implement improvements to operational data processing chains, including automation, monitoring and optimisation of observation handling workflows.
• Support the integration of new datasets, data formats and observing systems, ensuring quality, traceability and robustness in ECMWF’s production environment.
• Identify, analyse and resolve operational issues affecting observation processing, including contributing to on-call support when required.
• Work with scientists, software engineers, infrastructure specialists and external partners to improve data workflows and represent ECMWF in relevant technical coordination activities where appropriate.

The Observations Team sits within the Production Section of ECMWF’s Forecasts and Services Department. The team is responsible for the operational acquisition, handling and preparation of observational data used by ECMWF’s forecasting, monitoring, verification and service production systems. The team works closely with data assimilation, atmospheric composition, verification, AI and machine-learning, software engineering and infrastructure colleagues, as well as with external agencies, data providers and contractors.

Its work helps ensure that observational data are timely, reliable, traceable and ready for scientific and operational exploitation.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (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.

ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the Destination Earth Initiative, the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services (CAMS) and the Clima Change Service (C3S) of the Copernicus Programme as well as the Strengthening Early Earning in Africa (SEWA) Programme. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable…