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Consultant (Web Developer) ECMWF

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Reading, United Kingdom


FUNCTION:
Consultant (Web developer)
REFERENCE NO: AP12-08
LOCATION: ECMWF Headquarters at Shinfield Park, near Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

ENVIRONMENT:
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an international organisation supported by 34 States*.
ECMWF’s principal objectives are the development of numerical methods for medium-range, monthly and seasonal weather forecasting; the preparation, on a regular basis, of these weather forecasts for distribution to the meteorological services of the Member States; scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of these forecasts; and the collection and storage of appropriate meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and surface. For details see: www.ecmwf.int/research.

ECMWF’s main computing facility includes supercomputers, archiving and data handling systems. ECMWF is connected to the meteorological telecommunication system and to its Member States via efficient networks linking 44 countries. A detailed description is available at: www.ecmwf.int/services/computing/overview.

ECMWF has been successful in obtaining a four-year framework contract to operate the “Computational Centre of the European Flood Awareness System” (EFAS, http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu/; a European Commission initiative to increase preparedness for river floods across Europe by utilising medium-range atmospheric ensemble predictions). Under the framework contract, ECMWF is responsible for transferring the EFAS computational tasks from a research and development environment into operations with guaranteed 24/7 support, together with associated testing, and support for further research and development.

ECMWF has recently started a significant project to replace its existing external website with a Python-based website. This and the EFAS web service will run on ECMWF’s operational-class infrastructure, and both will continue to be developed.

MAIN DUTIES:

This vacancy is for a post in the Web team in the Computer Division. The ECMWF Web team is responsible for developing, maintaining and supporting ECMWF web services, including:

  • Internet and intranet websites;
  • an operational web service for forecasters (based on an advanced JQuery/JavaScript interface, Django web application and a Python-based service-orientated architecture);
  • an operational web service for the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS).

This position will complement the existing team consisting of four web developers.

The main duties of this post are:

  • Develop the functionality of the operational EFAS web service;
  • Contribute to other web developments within the ECMWF Web team;
  • Participate in web service general support, maintenance and 24x7 on-call support.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A university degree or equivalent in a computing-related discipline is required, along with a minimum of five years’ solid experience in JavaScript development. The ideal candidate will have sound knowledge in JavaScript and JQuery development under Linux. Experience with Python, Django or an equivalent python-based web framework, Geo-referenced developments in a hydrological or meteorological domain, SQL, MongoDB, Linux System Admin, PHP or the European Flood Awareness System would be an advantage.
The working languages of ECMWF are English, French and German. Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and a good knowledge of one of the other working languages would also be desirable. Interviews will be conducted in English.

REMUNERATION:

Typically within the range of £4,202.00 to £5,485.00 per month net of tax, depending upon qualifications, experience, personal situation and eligibility for expatriation allowance.
Full details are available at www.ecmwf.int/newsevents/employment/en/ on the ECMWF website.
A deduction of either £28.75 per beneficiary or 3.72% of the monthly remuneration will be made for the supplementary health insurance scheme.

STARTING DATE: 1 November 2012.
LENGTH OF CONTRACT: 18 months.
APPLICATIONS: Application forms can be downloaded from ECMWF’s website: www.ecmwf.int/newsevents/employment/en/.
CLOSING DATE: Completed applications for this post must reach the Personnel Section of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts not later than 15 May 2012.

* The ECMWF Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The ECMWF Co-operating States are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.