VN 23/12 Remote Sensing Scientist – Polarimetry (3MI)
JOB DETAIL
VN 23/12 Remote Sensing Scientist – Polarimetry (3MI)
The Remote Sensing and Products (RSP) Division is tasked with providing the scientific expertise required to develop, implement, validate, maintain and evolve the operational observational products for all EUMETSAT satellites and agreed third party missions, as well as establishing the user requirements for future EUMETSAT satellite programmes.
Within the Clouds and Aerosols Competence Area (ClA-CA) of the Remote Sensing and Products Division (RSP), the Remote Sensing Scientist –Polarimetry (3MI) will work on the extraction of radiance, polarisation, aerosol and cloud products from observations of the Multi-viewing, Multi-channel, Multi-polarisation Imager (3MI) instrument to be flown on future EUMETSAT Metop-SG satellites.
With the 3MI instrument, having the capability to measure the Earth-Atmosphere radiance for many spectral bands in the reflective spectral domain but also for many viewing angles and polarisation, a unique characterisation of the optical and microphysical particles of the atmosphere, namely aerosols and clouds, becomes possible.
- Provide scientific and technical expertise on the processing and analysis of 3MI instrument data, including the co-registration and radiometric correction of 3MI images, in support of environment monitoring, forecasting applications, and climate applications;
- Support the development, prototyping and validation of agreed “Day 1” 3MI radiance and polarisation Level-1 products, as well as cloud Level-2 products. Continuation toward aerosol products is also considered;
- Contribute to calibration, validation, and monitoring of 3MI radiance, polarisation, cloud, and aerosol products, in collaboration with mission partners and the scientific and user communities;
- Contribute to the detailed formulation of requirements for new or enhanced 3MI cloud and aerosol products in response to the needs of user communities;
- Support the development, prototyping and validation of new or enhanced 3MI cloud and aerosol products;
- Based on interactions with the scientific and user communities, contribute to the advancement of the understanding of innovative measurements of cloud and aerosol properties and related products and to the preparation and development of their applications;
- Support interactions with mission and international partners.
LOCATION
QUALIFICATIONS
University degree or equivalent in remote sensing of atmospheric composition parameters, meteorology, physics or another relevant discipline.
LANGUAGES
The official languages of EUMETSAT are English and French. Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and have some knowledge of French.
DEADLINE
16 May 2023
- Provide scientific and technical expertise on the processing and analysis of 3MI instrument data, including the co-registration and radiometric correction of 3MI images, in support of environment monitoring, forecasting applications, and climate applications;
- Support the development, prototyping and validation of agreed “Day 1” 3MI radiance and polarisation Level-1 products, as well as cloud Level-2 products. Continuation toward aerosol products is also considered;
- Contribute to calibration, validation, and monitoring of 3MI radiance, polarisation, cloud, and aerosol products, in collaboration with mission partners and the scientific and user communities;
- Contribute to the detailed formulation of requirements for new or enhanced 3MI cloud and aerosol products in response to the needs of user communities;
- Support the development, prototyping and validation of new or enhanced 3MI cloud and aerosol products;
- Based on interactions with the scientific and user communities, contribute to the advancement of the understanding of innovative measurements of cloud and aerosol properties and related products and to the preparation and development of their applications;
- Support interactions with mission and international partners.
- Demonstrated expertise in the physics of optical remote sensing of cloud and aerosol properties including experience in the use of radiative transfer models;
- Knowledge of the most relevant imagery missions, including multi-viewing, multi-polarisation, multi-spectral imaging missions, their products, applications and user communities;
- Detailed knowledge of the functioning, operation, and data processing of multi-viewing, multi-polarisation, multi-spectral imaging instruments;
- Experience of multi-viewing, multi-polarisation, multi-spectral imaging instrument calibration and characterisation, and development of radiance, polarisation, aerosol and cloud products, including long-term monitoring and validation would be an advantage;
- Experience of satellite data processing systems and very good skills in a higher programming language (e.g. C++, Fortran);
- Familiarity with Python, IDL and/or MATLAB, and Java is an advantage;
- Strengths in analysis, synthesis and presentation, coupled with good interpersonal skills and a proven ability to apply these to the interactions within a team and between teams.
Employment Conditions
The initial contract will be of 4 years’ duration, with subsequent 5 year contracts being awarded thereafter, subject to individual performance and organisation requirements. There is no limit to the amount of follow-up contracts a staff member can receive up to the EUMETSAT retirement age of 63 and there are certainly opportunities to establish a long career perspective at EUMETSAT.
This post is graded A2/A4 on the EUMETSAT salary scales. The minimum basic salary for this post is EURO 6903 per month (net of internal tax but excluding pension contribution and insurances) which may be negotiable on the basis of skills and experience. The salary scale provides for increments on the anniversary of taking up employment, and scales are reviewed by the EUMETSAT Council with effect from 1 January each year. In addition to basic salary, EUMETSAT offers attractive benefits. Further information, including salary details, is available on the EUMETSAT web site.
EUMETSAT is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment for men and women.
Please note that only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply. The EUMETSAT Convention requires that Staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, account being taken of the international character of EUMETSAT.
About EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT is Europe’s meteorological satellite agency. Its role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation’s Member States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.
EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.
As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT has 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.)
