Deployable Project Foundation Scientist in Exeter

We’re looking for three exceptional Deployable Project Foundation Scientists to help us make a difference to our planet. The Met Office’s Deployable Project Scientists team is recruiting a new cohort of exceptional scientists who want to make a real difference to our planet. As part of this team, you will undertake a series of short‑term placements across a variety of host teams, applying your scientific expertise to diverse challenges and gaining exposure to many areas of our organisation.

As our Deployable Project Scientist (EO), the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non‑contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work. Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a jobshare.

Our people are at the heart of what we do and we’ll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

World changing work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

We’re a force for good – focusing on our environmental and social impact

We’re experts by nature – always learning and developing to do things better

We live and breathe it – putting our purpose at the heart of decision‑making

We’re better together – understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater

We keep evolving – pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Your world of expertise

The Deployable Project Scientists team offers a unique route into the Met Office. You’ll join colleagues who strive every day to be a force for good, and you’ll work in a high‑achieving, collaborative environment where your growth is supported and encouraged. We are looking to appoint up to five scientists who show strong potential to thrive in this setting.

Are you looking for more than just a job? Are you seeking instead a meaningful career where your scientific skills can contribute to an organisation whose values align with your own? Are you excited by the opportunity to develop technically while working on real‑world problems that deliver impact for a wide range of customers and stakeholders?

As part of the Deployable Project Scientists cohort, you will work on a portfolio of projects spanning a broad range of scientific domains and applications, ranging from weather and climate science to international capacity building, defence, underpinning research and user‑focused applications. This model provides a rare opportunity to explore different scientific areas, learn new analytical and coding techniques, and build a wide professional network. Many scientists describe it as the ideal launchpad for becoming a well‑rounded scientific professional.

Although these are permanent positions, team members typically “graduate” into other roles across the Met Office after around two years, choosing a position that aligns with their preferred specialism. This makes the role perfect for people who are enthused by the breadth of Met Office science and want to avoid specialising too quickly.

You will receive tailored support and training based on your experience and the needs of the projects you undertake. Starting as part of a cohort also means you will immediately have a peer network for support, collaboration and shared development, both during your placement period and long after.

Our work is life‑changing, often life‑saving and always life‑enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023, 2024 and 2025 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience

• Experts by Nature - You will have practical experience and foundational knowledge in a relevant scientific or technical discipline. This may include (but is not limited to) physical, mathematical, statistical, environmental, behavioural or other science/technology areas. This may have been gained through relevant work experience, and/or a 2:1 undergraduate or postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related field.
• We’re a force for good - You are an inquisitive and motivated problem‑solver, with experience applying critical reasoning and analytical skills to scientific or technical challenges relevant to the work of the Met Office. You can demonstrate how you approach problems, evaluate evidence, and draw sound conclusions.
• You are a proactive professional - You take responsibility for your professional growth and development, showing the ability to reflect on your performance, identify training needs and manage your time effectively. You are able to learn and apply new concepts, tools and methods to support the delivery of project objectives.
• We’re better together - You can provide evidence of being a supportive and collaborative team member, with the potential to build strong working relationships, contribute constructively, challenge ideas appropriately and work effectively with scientific and technical colleagues to achieve shared goals.
• We live and breathe it - You are an inclusive, clear and effective communicator, able to adapt complex scientific or technical information for audiences with varying levels of expertise. You can present information concisely and confidently, both in writing and verbally.
• We keep evolving - You show aptitude and enthusiasm for coding and analytical work, with the ability to learn new programming languages or analytical techniques. Ideally, you have some experience handling, cleaning or analysing datasets to draw meaningful insights. You may already have experience with Machine Learning approaches, or you can demonstrate a clear interest in developing your skills in this area.

The panel may perform a preliminary sift of the lead criteria as indicated above.

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.

Closing date 21/01/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 02/02/2026. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

Using AI in your application

We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.

How we can help

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk. If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario‑based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code. We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK – please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of the application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact us at: careers@metoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.

Our typical recruitment process

• Application – Apply through our careers website. Each application will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the job advert. We recommend that you use the CARL or STAR method to answer the key questions. Evidence your answers and reference our values to bring your application to life.
• Screening – The sift panel will assess all applications against our essential criteria. Our screening process usually takes one to two weeks following the closing date of the advert. After which, we’ll be in touch to let you know whether your application has progressed to the next stage.
• Interview – Most recruitment processes will include a single‑stage interview, some of which are virtual interviews and some may be in‑person. Our interviews tend to blend competency questions, which focus on the essential criteria, with values‑based questions.
• Assessment – Some roles may require you to attend an assessment day. Any job‑specific assessments will be outlined in the job advert and more details will be provided at the interview stage.
• Offer – If you are successful following the interview, the hiring manager will contact you to offer the role. The Resourcing Team will then follow up with an offer letter and start your onboarding.
• Onboarding – Before we can confirm a start date, we will first need to complete security clearance and reference checks. These usually take between eight to ten weeks to complete. We’ll also discuss any workplace adjustments that you may need. So they are in place on your first day.

On your first day your new manager will introduce you to the team and you’ll start our online corporate induction. You’ll also be asked to update your details in our People Hub system including bank details ready for your first pay day. For those living outside of the UK, there are some roles where we can sponsor Skilled Worker visas. However, you will still need to pass security clearance which requires you to have resided in the UK for 30 months in the last three years.

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