Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB : Reading, South East England, RG6 6ET Job Summary We’re looking for an exceptional Foundation Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation to help us make a difference to our planet. As our Foundation Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation, 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, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a job share. 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. World changing work 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 Job Description Your world of expertise The Met Office has embarked on an exciting programme, to redesign its operational forecasting capability for future high-performance computing (HPC) platforms. The current Met Office Data Assimilation (DA) system is not expected to be efficient across the range of possible alternative HPC solutions likely to be available on the 2025 timescale. The new software is being developed within the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) framework from the Joint Centre for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA). The Met Office provides an opportunity for talented scientists to apply their skills to real-world problems, with impacts upon services that reach all our lives. Within the organisation, you will work in the team working on the Assimilation of Earth observations, part of the Satellite and Surface Assimilation (SSA) section of Weather Science. Data assimilation is the process of combining observational data with output from a numerical model to produce a statistically optimal estimate of the initial conditions for weather prediction. The Met Office is at the forefront of DA applications in operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and it is an exciting time to be working in this area. Perhaps the greatest challenge for modern DA is the need to consider how these complex DA algorithms will be run efficiently on the potentially radically different supercomputer architectures needed to maintain progress over the next decade. As part of our approach to growing expertise in DA and JEDI, the successful applicants will also have exciting secondment opportunities to spend time working in Boulder, Colorado, at the JCSDA. We are seeking talented and creative individuals to join our surface-based and upper-air observation team to contribute to the research and development on the assimilation of a wide range of weather observations (e.g. surface automated weather stations, upper-air instruments like radiosondes, and surface-based remotely sensed data such as weather radar) for initialising operational weather forecast models on the next generation of supercomputers. The successful applicants will become members of our research and development team and will apply scientific and technical knowledge to contribute to the success of the Met Office. Your world of expertise The Met Office has embarked on an exciting programme, to redesign its operational forecasting capability for future high-performance computing (HPC) platforms. The current Met Office Data Assimilation (DA) system is not expected to be efficient across the range of possible alternative HPC solutions likely to be available on the 2025 timescale. The new software is being developed within the Joint Effort for Data assimilation Integration (JEDI) framework from the Joint Centre for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA). The Met Office provides an opportunity for talented scientists to apply their skills to real-world problems, with impacts upon services that reach all our lives. Within the organisation, you will work in the team working on the Assimilation of Earth observations, part of the Satellite and Surface Assimilation (SSA) section of Weather Science. Data assimilation is the process of combining observational data with output from a numerical model to produce a statistically optimal estimate of the initial conditions for weather prediction. The Met Office is at the forefront of DA applications in operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and it is an exciting time to be working in this area. Perhaps the greatest challenge for modern DA is the need to consider how these complex DA algorithms will be run efficiently on the potentially radically different supercomputer architectures needed to maintain progress over the next decade. As part of our approach to growing expertise in DA and JEDI, the successful applicants will also have exciting secondment opportunities to spend time working in Boulder, Colorado, at the JCSDA. We are seeking talented and creative individuals to join our surface-based and upper-air observation team to contribute to the research and development on the assimilation of a wide range of weather observations (e.g. surface automated weather stations, upper-air instruments like radiosondes, and surface-based remotely sensed data such as weather radar) for initialising operational weather forecast models on the next generation of supercomputers. The successful applicants will become members of our research and development team and will apply scientific and technical knowledge to contribute to the success of the Met Office. Person specification Essential Criteria, Skills And Experience Hold a degree (2:1 or above) or demonstration of equivalent experience in a physical/mathematical/environmental science subject (Experts by nature) Strong analytical skills including a demonstrated ability to apply broad scientific knowledge to specific problems and scenarios relevant to the Weather Science portfolio. Experience or aptitude to learn and apply scientific software tools and/or programming languages (Keep evolving) Demonstrated ability to be a strong team player with an ability to contribute effectively to scientific group activities (Better together) Good communication skills (written, oral, presentation and listening). Desirable Criteria We encourage you to apply if you believe you meet our essential criteria, but we’re also keen to discover if you have: Evidence of development of observations' processing or data assimilation systems. Experience with working with a large, complex code base. Alongside your salary of £28,600, Met Office contributes £8,285 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 Foundation Scientist - Earth Observation Data Assimilation, Your Total Reward Package Will Be Up To £40,524 Annually, Which Includes £28,600 base pay An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97% 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 Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details How To Apply If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills. Closing date 29/01/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 12/02/2026. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed. Using AI in your application 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. How We Can Help If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk. If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. 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 with us. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact us at: careers@metoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. 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. 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. Medical Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical. Nationality requirements This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact Name : Resourcing Team Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk