Senior Scientific Software Engineer

Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB Job Summary We’re looking for an exceptional Senior Scientific Software Engineer in the International Sub-Seasonal and Seasonal Outreach team to help us make a difference to our planet. As our Senior Scientific Software 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, 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 impactWe’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things betterWe live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-makingWe’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greaterWe keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers Your world of expertise You will join a team of scientists and scientific software engineers (SSEs) to deliver international scientific projects and information-based services in the weather, seasonal forecasting and climate areas. As a Senior Scientific Software Engineer, you will be part of a large community of over 100 SSEs, supporting and enabling cutting-edge science at the Met Office. We are seeking a talented individual to join our efforts in advancing weather and climate science and its applications in international development contexts to help our global partners address their growing need for climate information and services. You will undertake research and development in the use of data science and climate modelling, including model evaluation and interpretation. You will contribute to projects with colleagues across the Met Office and with external partners across the world. Job Description You will be a key member of the International Sub-Seasonal and Seasonal Outreach team, supporting a range of international delivery across weather, seasonal and climate-change timescales, and on programmes such as WISER and WCSSP.You will carry out a substantial level of collaboration with scientists and SSEs across the Met Office and our international partners to maintain and develop both climate modelling systems and code for analysis and visualisation of weather and climate data.You will also play a role in helping team members to improve their coding and software QA skills.You will prepare and deliver training on using software and basic software development for colleagues and project partners which will involve international travel.You will be a key member of the International Sub-Seasonal and Seasonal Outreach team, supporting a range of international delivery across weather, seasonal and climate-change timescales, and on programmes such as WISER and WCSSP.You will carry out a substantial level of collaboration with scientists and SSEs across the Met Office and our international partners to maintain and develop both climate modelling systems and code for analysis and visualisation of weather and climate data.You will also play a role in helping team members to improve their coding and software QA skills.You will prepare and deliver training on using software and basic software development for colleagues and project partners which will involve international travel. Person specification Evidence of ability in designing and delivering complex software in the Python programming language when presented with a particular problem or use case. (Expert by nature)Evidence of ability to apply principles of software quality, adopting relevant working practices, and keeping abreast of software development and training opportunities. (Keep evolving)Evidence of strong communication skills with diverse technical and non-technical audiences and informally guiding the work of others. (Better together)Evidence of ability to prioritise and manage work to deliver outcomes to deadlines and according to requirements.A background in, or demonstrated interest in weather and/or climate science and its potential to help people make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. (Force for good)An ability and enthusiasm to travel overseas up to two times a year to support training of international partners (We live and breathe it) 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: Application or experience of AI/ML within a software engineering role, with the exception of LLMs. Alongside your salary of £43,081, Met Office contributes £12,480 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window). 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 Scientific Software Engineer, your total reward package will be up to £62,968 annually, which includes: £43,081 base payAn outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) you will be paid £2,700 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 2026 until March 2027 in your monthly payAnnual 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 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 02/09/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 14/09/2026. 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 nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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 2020Turkish 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 TeamEmail : careers@metoffice.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : careers@metoffice.gov.uk Further information careers@metoffice.gov.uk