We're looking for an exceptional Senior Application Operations Engineer - Corporate Database to help us make a difference to our planet. You will be joining the Corporate Database Team, which is part of the wider Infrastructure Technology team in the Met Office. Our on‑premise database estate underpins a variety of weather services that are delivered to customers worldwide so they can stay safe and thrive. We also provide data repositories for our scientists. These help them to deliver the world‑class science associated with the Met Office.
Working in the small team of database administrators, your focus will be on managing and maintaining our on‑premise databases, alongside some development work.
We look for ways to improve the services we deliver and innovative ways to use the latest technology across all that we do. We also work alongside projects that require our knowledge and expertise, helping the Met Office deliver its goals.
Your key duties:
* Employ your knowledge and skills with database technologies. Managing and maintaining the database estate at the Met Office. This also includes keeping the estate secure and compliant.
* Use the Service Management toolset to resolve incidents, manage changes and investigate problems to a satisfactory conclusion, thereby minimising disruption to services and ensuring service continuity of the database estate.
* Work with team members, offering help and assistance so that the team meets their goals. Engage with the wide range of project and technology teams to improve and widen database services.
* Look for opportunities to enhance the level of service delivered to users of the database services. Represent the database team within the Met Office. Communicate with users to ensure the delivery of an excellent level of service.
We operate an on‑call roster in Technology to provide 24/7/365 support to respond to operational service requirements. This post may be part of an on‑call roster and the postholder would be required to participate in an on‑call roster where in operation.
We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Qualifications
1. A strong grasp of database technologies, primarily Oracle RDBMS as well as knowledge of PostgreSQL.
2. Good working knowledge of APEX implementation and development on a Linux platform.
3. Work as part of a team. Share your knowledge of database technology with others and where appropriate mentor colleagues.
4. Strong communication skills with the ability to tailor your approach depending on the audience.
5. The ability to solve problems and manage issues, using a structured and customer‑focused approach.
Desired additional skills
1. A working knowledge of Oracle RMAN.
2. The ability to write and develop PL/SQL.
As our Senior Application Operations Engineer, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non‑contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.
Our opportunity is full‑time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we’ll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.
About the Met Office
From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.
* We’re a force for good – focusing on our environmental and social impact.
* We’re experts by nature – always learning and developing to do things better.
* We live and breathe it – putting our purpose at the heart of decision‑making.
* We’re better together – understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater.
* We keep evolving – pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers.
Alongside your salary of £35,145, the Met Office contributes £10,181 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Why join us
Our work is life‑changing, often life‑saving and always life‑enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their 'Best Workplaces in Tech' 2023, 2024 and 2025 lists, as well as their '54 Best Workplaces for Women' 2023 list.
As our Senior Application Operations Engineer, your total reward package will be up to £51,648 annually, which includes:
* £35,145 base pay
* An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
* Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) – you will be paid £2,200 per annum as a market supplement to reflect the demand for your skills. Whilst in post, you will be paid this market‑driven allowance from April 2024 until March 2026 in your monthly.
* Annual leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave.
For more information, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.
If you're considering applying and need support to do so, you can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario‑based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.
We understand that great minds don't always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.
We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK – please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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