The purpose of this job is to provide software engineering support for climate research. The HPC (High Performance Computing) project is set to deliver a new supercomputer and a new data storage system for the Met Office in 2009. Because of this project, the software engineering requirement for the team has grown and we are looking for skilled people to provide effort for both the new project and to work on existing projects to free up resources for the HPC project.

Main duties and responsibilities

The HPC project will include the following activities.

• Preparation of benchmark codes
  
• Performance measurement
  
• Design and implementation solutions for the new systems
  
• Code porting
  
• Code optimisation
  
• Code testing
  
• Code development for any new code requirements
  

Job holders may also get an opportunity to be involved in one or more of these existing activities within the team.

• Support and development of the modelling systems
  
• Development of a new architecture for the modelling systems
  
• Data processing applications
  
• MASS application support
  
• Metadata database development and management
  

Person specification

Essential

• Strong and proven technical ability with a significant overlap with the purpose and duties of the post
  
• Demonstrate the ability to become a technical expert in one or more of the duty areas for the post
  
• A broad experience in the elements of the software development lifecycle
  

Desirable

• An understanding of the user requirements for IT systems within climate research
  
• Knowledge of Fortran, Perl, Shell scripting, C and/or other high-level languages
  
• Knowledge of the Unified Model (our modelling systems) or other, similar scientific codes
  
• Knowledge of the relevant data access methods
  

Benefits and facilities

• A choice of final salary and stakeholder pension giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you the best
• Annual leave allowance of 25 days (plus 8 days public holiday and 2½ privilege days taken at fixed times during the year)
• Training opportunities
• Performance-related pay
• Met Office sports and social club
• The potential to work in different areas within the same organisation

Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants

To widen the pool of candidates on which to draw, we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the published minimum criteria for the post/entry level.

To qualify for a guaranteed interview, you do not have to be registered as a disabled person but you must have a disability or long term health condition that puts you at a substantial disadvantage in either obtaining or keeping employment. The disability must be likely to last for at least 12 months.

To apply for a guaranteed interview, please complete the appropriate section of the application form. When appropriate, you should provide details of any particular arrangements you will require for the interview, e.g. car parking, speech facilitator.

Any false declaration of disability to obtain an interview may invalidate any resultant contract of employment.

Nationality

In common with all United Kingdom (UK) Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, applicants for employment in the Met Office are required to satisfy certain nationality requirements. In general you must be either:

• a British citizen or
• a Commonwealth citizen or
• a British protected person or
• a national of the European Economic Area or a certain family member of an European Economic Area national; the European Economic Area is comprised of the member states of the European Union and certain member states of the European Free Trade Area.

Citizens from countries not included in the above list may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Again, in common with all United Kingdom (UK) Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, some posts in the Met Office are 'reserved' for UK nationals only. Applicants who are not UK nationals should be aware that further career prospects might be affected. Staff have a mobility commitment which means they may be required to serve at other UK mainland locations where posts are reserved.

How to apply

Application forms and further information:

HR Service Support Team
Met Office
FitzRoy Road
Exeter
EX1 3PB

Telephone: 01392 885000

E-mail: HR Enquiries@metoffice.gov.uk

Please mark your request or returned application form Software Engineer