Climate Data Engineer
JOB DETAIL
Vacancy in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.
This is a non-renewable post for a limited duration of four years and is classified A2-A4 on the Coordinated Organisations’ salary scale.
Location
ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom
Description
Climate Data Engineer in the ESA Climate Office, Science, Applications and Climate Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.
The ESA Climate Office is the focal point for the Agency’s climate-related activities and is based at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
The ESA Climate Office aims to increase the availability and use of global, satellite-based Earth observation data for decision-making. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is driving international efforts to combat climate change by limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as set out in the Paris Agreement. In response to UNFCCC requirements for systematic monitoring of the climate system, ESA launched the Climate Change Initiative (CCI) research programme in 2008. Through CCI, ESA is developing a suite of global data records of key components of the climate system, known as Essential Climate Variables (ECVs).
The climate-quality datasets produced by the CCI constitute a major contribution to the evidence base used to understand climate change, which drives international action. Climate modellers use the ECVs to study drivers, interactions and feedbacks due to climate change, as well as reservoirs, teleconnections, tipping points, and fluxes of energy, water, carbon, and predict future change. A total of 55 ECVs have been identified by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). Information derived from satellite data can contribute to more than half of the ECVs, and the CCI research programme addresses 27 of them.
ESA Member States confirmed their financial support of CCI at the recent ESA Council meeting at ministerial level, thus expanding the activities that will be addressed over the coming years to include R&D to support the specific requirements of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement, further enhancing the link between climate observation, climate science, and modelling communities, and the use of Earth observation data for Tipping Points Research.
For further information, see www.climate.esa.int
Duties
You will lead on all aspects of data management for the ESA Climate Office, including activities to archive, catalogue and provide public access to the database of global climate data records produced by the CCI, as well as maintaining CCI data standards specification.
You will report to the Head of the ESA Climate Office.
The main tasks are:
- the definition of the data management needs for the ESA Climate Office’s portfolio of satellite-based climate data records, including a service coordinated interface, core-infrastructure, analysis and reporting, and quality control;
- the analysis, definition, initiation and management of industrial activities focussing on all aspects of data management for the ESA Climate Office, including:
- the evolution of the CCI Open Data Portal, a dedicated web portal set up to provide a single point of access for all CCI data products;
- the evolution of the CCI Toolbox software, CATE, incorporating generic functions applicable to all ECV data products in order to simplify analysis of multiple ECVs in parallel;
- the evolution of the climate.esa.int website, its content and functionality;
- the evolution of the Climate from Space App, its content and functionality.
- to support the development of climate services based on the CCI data sets, especially in an international and intergovernmental context, including climate data visualisation, interoperability of data portals and harmonisation of data standards.
- to work closely, in doing the above, with stakeholders from the international climate network (including GCOS, WCRP, WMO, UNFCCC, IPCC, GEO), in particular with ECMWF, the European Commission’s Copernicus services and EUMETSAT;
- to promote the use of EO data in climate applications and for supporting climate policies such as the UNFCCC and its Global Stocktake process;
- to cooperate with other ESA departments and external partner organisations to transfer capabilities developed under a research and demonstration context into operational and policy driven frameworks;
- to maintain links and ensure coherence with relevant activities of ESA’s Member States and international partner organisations.
- to support the preparation of future ESA programmes;
- to contribute to the Agency’s public communications on Earth observation (EO);
- to support the work of ESA’s Young Graduate Trainees and Research Fellows.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
Education
A master’s degree in physics, engineering or a relevant Earth science discipline is required.
Additional requirements
You should have at least five years of experience working in climate data management.
Particular importance will be attached to a candidate’s personal scientific ability and credibility among their peers, as well as their flexibility and adaptability. The candidate should be capable of working effectively in a team with minimum supervision and have excellent communication and presentation skills.
Interaction with the various stakeholders relevant to this position will involve a certain amount of travelling. The candidate should be prepared to travel on a frequent basis.
Other information
For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.
For further information please visit: Professionals, What we offer and FAQ
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
The Agency may require applicants to undergo selection tests.
At the Agency we value diversity and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further please contact us at [email protected].
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
According to the ESA Convention, the recruitment of staff must take into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the ESA Member States*. When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates and secondly to external candidates from under-represented Member States*.
In accordance with the European Space Agency’s security procedures and as part of the selection process, successful candidates will be required to undergo basic screening before appointment conducted by an external background screening service.
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.
*Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States.
