Research Software Engineer – ML Framework Development

The role

We are in search of a highly motivated Research Software Engineer (A2) to work with ECMWF’s Member States on the next generation of machine-learned weather forecasting models. This role is an integral part of a dynamic team, consisting of scientists and software engineers contributing to building ECMWF’s next generation of weather forecasting systems. 

At ECMWF, you will join a passionate community collectively aiming to bring novel technology and science to the cutting-edge of numerical weather prediction. With the recent breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the progress made in AI-driven weather forecasting, it becomes clear that AI will play a key role in the next generation of forecasting systems. To this end, ECMWF built a dedicated multi-disciplinary group to tackle these challenges. ECMWF has been the first operational weather centre to publish results of its own global machine-learned weather model – the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS). 

We are working with our Member States to build a high-level machine learning framework to train data-driven weather forecasting models, called Anemoi . For ECMWF, the AIFS is one possible product from this system, which will enable meteorological organisations to provide data sources and recipes to train forecasting models. This concept has already been demonstrated . 

In this role, you will work closely with our Member States and provide them with support to build machine-learned forecasting models tailored to their needs. You will also gather feedback and requirements to improve the ECMWF software stack. The position may require frequent travels to our Member States and work closely with their teams to develop and improve their machine-learned tools and workflows. 

The team

The role sits in the Data Processing Services Team, within the Development Section in the Forecasts and Services Department. The team ensures the scalability, performance, and robustness of the operational weather forecasting pipeline. Effort is dedicated to navigating challenges posed by future model upgrades. This is done by exploring new technology, such as accelerators and novel storage hardware, and new algorithmic methodologies, including machine learning. We aim to be ahead of the curve, in order to maintain ECMWFs world-leading position for global weather prediction. 

About ECMWF

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world-leader in weather and environmental forecasting. As an international organisation we serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions and data that is critical for understanding and solving the climate crisis. We function as a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions, holding one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world. The success of our activities builds on the talent of our scientists and experts, strong partnerships with 35 Member and Co-operating States and the international community, some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the use of innovative technologies and ML across our operations. 

ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the EU Copernicus Programme. We also contribute to the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.

ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with a main office in Reading, UK, a data centre/supercomputer in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany. While we expect staff to relocate to the duty station we appreciate the need for flexibility in the way our staff work – and allow a staff to alternate office and telework up to 10 days/month. 

See  for more info about what we do. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Actively contribute to the ECWMF open-source software stack, with a big focus on machine learning
• Be a contact point with our Member and Cooperating States for machine-learning software and workflows
• Promote the ECMWF software stack to Member States and continuously gather requirements for future releases
• Provide support to Member States to build their machine learned weather forecasting models

What we are looking for

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive, continuous improvement approach
• Initiative and ability to work collaboratively, with other ECMWF teams and external collaborators, but also able to work independently
• Ability to maintain a supportive and user-focused approach
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Willingness to frequently travel across Europe
• Dedication, passion, and enthusiasm to succeed both individually and across teams of developers
• Highly organised with the capacity to work on a diverse range of tasks to tight deadlines

Education

• Advanced university degree (EQ7 level or above) or equivalent professional experience in computer science or engineering, computational science, physics or natural sciences, mathematics, or a related discipline.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience developing object-oriented software in Python
• Experience with dealing with users, gather feedback and plan developments
• Experience contributing to large-scale software projects, preferably open-source and/or involving multiple software components
• Capability to develop scientific software to process large datasets would be desirable
• Experience in machine learning workflows would be an advantage
• Experience developing software for high-availability operational environments would be an advantage

Knowledge and Skills 

• Competence in Object-Oriented Analysis and Design, preferably in Python
• Strong knowledge of software lifecycle maintenance
• Demonstrated ability programming in UNIX/Linux systems
• Ability to write software in a distributed computing or scientific computing environment

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t feel you meet precisely all these criteria.

Candidates must be able to work effectively in English . A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German) is an advantage.

Other information

Grade remuneration:  The successful candidates will be recruited according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at . 

Starting date:   as soon as possible

Candidates are expected to relocate to the duty station. As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking, including away from the duty station (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).

Interviews by videoconference (MS Team) are expected to take place shortly after the closing date. 

Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions.

Who can apply

Applicants are invited to complete the online application form by clicking on the apply button below.

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion.

Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States as well as nationals of European Union member states. 

ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. 

In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy.

Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.