VN 24/10 Additional Data Services Engineer

This position will be in the Additional Data Services (ADS) Team, within EUMETSAT’s Real-time services and System Operations (RSO) Division, which is in the Operations and Services to Users Department. The ADS Team is responsible for maintaining several important services related to getting critical additional and third party data to users in a complete and timely manner.

One of these critical services is EUMETSATs Data Collection Service (DCS). The DCS supports the transmission of environmental data from the Data Collection Platforms (DCP) to the Meteosat satellite, the immediate relay of data to the ground station, and the subsequent basic processing and onward transmission of selected data to the users. The type of environmental data depends on the category of the installation (DCP) including automatic weather stations, hydro-meteorological stations, ocean buoys, tsunami tide gauges and ships. These data are crucial for feeding near-real time observational data into numerical weather prediction models, from sparsely inhabited parts of the world. They are also critical for ensuring forecasters and emergency responders across the world have the in-situ observational information they need to issue life-saving warnings related to weather and ocean disasters, such as tropical cyclones and tsunamis. 

As part of EUMETSAT’s commitment to operating and developing this critical service, we are looking to recruit a talented engineer to join the ADS Team to ensure that the quality of service is maintained for our wide and varied user base. As a member of the ADS team, you will develop your knowledge of the DCS and will become the main technical focal point for the DCS, with the rest of the team also cross-trained to support you. You will lead the engineering activities to deliver this service and guide its evolution in line with the user requirements and in line with the strategic direction of EUMETSAT and also in coordination with other international satellite agencies also operating similar Data Collection Services. You will also have the opportunity to cross-train in other additional data and third party services that are under the responsibility of the ADS Team, such as the EUMETSAT Advanced Retransmission Service (EARS).   

The main duties will be:

• Manage the day-to-day operations and related interfaces of the DCS;
• Raise Anomaly Reports and lead trouble shooting diagnostics related to the DCS and its related ground infrastructure;
• Lead activities related to the further development of the DCS, including the Platform itself, the Ground Stations systems, Data Processing systems and Data Access mechanisms;
• Participate in the validation of new or upgraded DCS-related systems, in particular for the Meteosat Third Generation satellites;

• Take leading role in the scheduling of all DCS-related maintenance and upgrades;
• Provide expert information on the DCS to EUMETSAT’s partners and users;
• Lead activities to promote the use of DCS and increase uptake of the service;
• Participate in the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites on DCS topics;
• Develop documentation and provide training for the DCS;
• Provide support to the other additional and third party data services under the responsibility of the ADS Team.

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 7146 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.)