CEDA Technical Manager

RAL Space: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (minimum 30 hours per week) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

CEDA - the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis - develop and run innovative data services and computational infrastructure to support environmental sciences research programmes in the UK and internationally. We operate the high-performance, globally unique JASMIN data analysis facility, providing storage and processing facilities to enable data-intensive computing. We manage the Earth Observation (EO), Atmospheric and climate data for the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Environmental Data Service that supports tens of thousands of scientists around the world. Highlights include a multi-petabyte archive of Sentinel Satellite data and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) multi-model data archive which underpins the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) global assessments.

We play an influential role in international high-profile activities in our domain, including the Earth System Grid Federation and the Infrastructure for the European Network for Earth System Modelling (IS-ENES). We develop web-based applications and services - primarily in the Python programming language - and employ technologies such as OpenStack, Kubernetes, and ElasticSearch, as well as utilising and integrating a variety of storage technologies from fast disk to tape and S3-compatible object store. We are regularly involved in work for the European Space Agency with examples including the data access and discovery systems for their Climate Change Initiative Open Data Portal and supporting the work of UK partners harnessing AI technologies in the development of a climate information system demonstrator for ESA Digital Twin Earth Precursor project.

About The Role

We have an exciting new vacancy for a Technical Manager to join our senior management team. The successful candidate will lead the technical development of software and services and head up a team of around ten developers making up the software development group within CEDA. The candidate will need skills for software system design as well as significant software development experience.

In leading new projects, the Technical Manager will connect with a range of customers, collaborators and end-users from major research labs internationally, to representatives from partners in industry. They will need to collect requirements and ensure interoperability with external interfaces based on accepted software standards used in the communities we work with. The job holder will work closely with the developers and data scientists within CEDA to lead all technical aspects of project activities and ensure that milestones are met within agreed timelines.

Experience in the EO, atmospheric science and/or environmental science data domain would be valuable for this role. Equally, experience of working with big data and cloud technologies is welcomed.

The main responsibilities of the role will be to:

• Provide a technical vision to support the CEDA Strategy
• Lead the work of the CEDA Developer Team
• Provide leadership on the design, development and delivery of software solutions
• Interact with stakeholders across a range of projects to identify requirements and report on activities
• Participate in local, national and international collaborations related to service and software development
• Participate in the day-to-day management as part of the CEDA Management Team

You will need:

• Degree in a scientific or numerate discipline OR considerable relevant experience
• 5+ years of experience in software development and design
• Extensive track record of problem-solving and developing programming solutions
• Experience and competence in Linux usage and Python programming
• Strong communication skills and ability to persuade others of technical direction
• Outgoing approach - keen to connect with external customers and collaborators
• Awareness of cloud technologies (such as Docker and Kubernetes) and cloud computing systems
• Experience of continuous integration systems connected with version control systems
• Knowledge and experience of scientific computing environments
• Experience of developing web services, data services and web applications

STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 07710 115815.

The closing date for applications is 26th February 2023.