VN 23/26 Remote Sensing Scientist – Optical Instrument Performance
JOB DETAIL
VN 23/26 Remote Sensing Scientist – Optical Instrument Performance
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. RSP offers the opportunity for top-level scientists to work in an unparalleled environment combining interdisciplinary collaboration and full end-to-end perspective of satellite missions. The activities encompass the space segment and ground segment development, integration, on-ground and in-orbit testing, monitoring during operations and support to end-users.
Within the Image Navigation, Registration, and Calibration (INRC) Competence Area of the Remote Sensing and Products Division (RSP), the Optical Instrument Performance Scientist will be responsible for, and contribute to, the scientific development, maintenance, validation and quality monitoring of METimage instrument level-1 products, in particular with respect to performance and calibration. METimage is the next generation multi-spectral (visible and IR) imaging passive radiometer from the EUMETSAT Polar System-Second Generation mission (EPS-SG).
Duties
The main duties will be as follows:
- Acquire and maintain an in depth understanding of the instrument design, performances and calibration of the visible infrared imager mission (METimage) of the EPS-SG mission;
- Support the prototyping, operational implementation and maintenance of advanced algorithms for METimage Level-1 processing;
- Support industrial activities for operational processor development, as well as METimage instrument ground-calibration campaigns;
- Work closely with technical and scientific teams to support non-conformance analysis and performance assessments;
- Plan, develop and perform product calibration and validation activities, with respect to METimage in-orbit instrument performance and Level-1 products quality, including development of required tools and methods;
- Provide product quality analysis and long-term monitoring of METimage level-1 products, including development of required tools and methods;
- Take an active role including assessing requirements and sensor capabilities in the preparation and development of visible infrared imagers, imaging passive radiometers and imaging spectrometers for future missions (e.g. Sentinel-4, Sentinel-5, CO2M, Sentinel-3 NG optical, and in the preparation of the next generation instruments on EUMETSAT’s future programmes).
LOCATION
QUALIFICATIONS
An advanced university degree (or equivalent) in physics, remote sensing, optical instrument engineering or another relevant discipline is required.
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
5 September 2023
Duties
The main duties will be as follows:
- Acquire and maintain an in depth understanding of the instrument design, performances and calibration of the visible infrared imager mission (METimage) of the EPS-SG mission;
- Support the prototyping, operational implementation and maintenance of advanced algorithms for METimage Level-1 processing;
- Support industrial activities for operational processor development, as well as METimage instrument ground-calibration campaigns;
- Work closely with technical and scientific teams to support non-conformance analysis and performance assessments;
- Plan, develop and perform product calibration and validation activities, with respect to METimage in-orbit instrument performance and Level-1 products quality, including development of required tools and methods;
- Provide product quality analysis and long-term monitoring of METimage level-1 products, including development of required tools and methods;
- Take an active role including assessing requirements and sensor capabilities in the preparation and development of visible infrared imagers, imaging passive radiometers and imaging spectrometers for future missions (e.g. Sentinel-4, Sentinel-5, CO2M, Sentinel-3 NG optical, and in the preparation of the next generation instruments on EUMETSAT’s future programmes).
Skills and Experience
- In-depth scientific knowledge and hands-on experience of optical calibration algorithms in remote sensing applications;
- Familiarity with the on-ground and in-orbit performance estimation of imagers/radiometers in the visible and short-wave infrared region and/or thermal infrared;
- Experience of working in a UNIX environment and with scientifically-oriented coding languages such as Python;
- Experience of processing of large-volumes of data from relevant space borne instruments is an advantage;
- Experience with remote sensing products, scientific development projects and working with user communities and researchers is an advantage;
- Strengths in analysis, synthesis and presentation, coupled with excellent 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. Applicants are required to disclose all nationalities they have held and currently hold in order to determine whether they can exercise the role as advertised in compliance with applicable export control regulations.
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.)
