Radar R&D - Scientific Software Engineer in Exeter

We’re looking for an exceptional Scientific Software Engineer in Radar R&D to help us make a difference to our planet. As our software engineer, 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 33 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.

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.

As a world-leading authority in weather and climate services, observations are fundamental to almost everything we do at the Met Office. Our network of weather radars measure the atmosphere, feeding data into high performance numerical models and are used by our forecasting teams to precisely predict the weather. To collect these underpinning observations, we utilise innovative technology that improves the quality and accuracy of our radar systems and helps us to deliver the most accurate forecasts to our customers.

Working with our upgraded Dual Polarisation radars, you’ll join our Radar Research and Development Team to develop techniques and processes to enhance the data collected through our observing network. The Radar R&D team are responsible for end-to-end upgrades of the UK Weather Radar capability. Your technical skills, combined with your scientific understanding, can help us develop the cutting-edge systems that will deliver reliable and timely weather information to our customers, which include the Flood Forecasting Centre, regional water companies across the UK and the Environment Agency.

Help to design and develop operational data services exploiting cloud computing technologies to efficiently produce radar products. Support Met Office scientists and engineers to develop high-quality code and implementations of their research, lead activities to develop their capabilities. Collaborate with a motivated team to deliver projects that solve real world challenges.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

• Experience and knowledge in a mathematical, physical or computational science or related discipline, equivalent to several years working post-graduate.
• Provide proactive scientific and technical insight into the solving of scientific software engineering tasks or problems.
• Experience in designing, writing and understanding Python code, in a cloud-based, Linux environment.
• Apply good Quality Assurance processes, best practice, standards and/or regulations to all aspects of your work to achieve the agreed standard.
• Communicate accurately and concisely with colleagues and/or wider stakeholders to develop trust and credibility, tailoring your method of sharing to a range of audiences.
• Develop your skills proactively, and provide support to others to develop their skills leading to beneficial impacts.

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 15/02/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 23/02/2026. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

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.

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 your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.

Our rewards and benefits are as varied as our customers and our people, depending on your role, and which part of the business you join. The one thing they have in common is that they’re designed to recognise your contribution to our success. Starting at 27.5 days and rising to 32.5 days after five years of service (both figures exclude bank holidays). As well as the flexibility to buy or sell annual leave annually. You’ll automatically qualify to join our alpha pension scheme, part of the Civil Service Pension arrangements.

We’ll invest in your training and personal development throughout your career to help you reach your potential. We provide you with the space and freedom to think, innovate and try new things and have professional frameworks aligned to each area. We encourage and support professional memberships, have an array of internal apprenticeship and qualification opportunities and a comprehensive mentoring and coaching programme to name just a few initiatives to create your world of development at the Met Office!

Cycle to work scheme: We can help towards the purchase of bicycles and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel via a salary sacrifice scheme.

Lifestyle support: Whether you wish to utilise our excellent family-friendly schemes, be paid up to 3 days for volunteering with your chosen organisation, have the reassurance of a generous sickness pay scheme or be part of an organisation that is happy to pro-actively talk about flexible working, the Met Office wants you to have a great work and lifestyle balance.

Established hybrid working: We have bases all over the UK and some roles allow for you to work abroad so there is the option to travel for work also, we have established amazing hybrid working practices across all of our offices and have enhanced technology to enable office and home-based meetings.

Onsite parking and EV charging: We offer onsite free parking at our main offices with disabled parking spots also available. We are ever expanding our eCharging stations and have these available for use at most sites.

Benefits platform: We offer an enhanced discount shopping portal and schemes for employees to make everyday savings including retail shopping such as your weekly food shops, technology products, DIY projects, travel and trips as well as active lifestyle options.

Commitment to our environment and biodiversity: Our force for good value aligns perfectly with our support for environmental impact improvements. We were the first public sector body to be awarded the prestigious Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark Award and have different initiatives across our sites from our beautiful biodiversity butterfly garden, toilet water provided from the cooling of our epic supercomputer, car share schemes, team beach clean events and extensive recycling facilities for our everyday use.

It’s good to talk: We have a fantastic group of employee volunteers who form our Mental Health First Aiders as well as Dignity & Respect at Work groups. Alongside our EAP they are in the office or a remote call away to support with a listening ear and can signpost you to helpful resources and support.

ED&I staff networks: We recognise the benefits that networks can offer to our employees not only in terms of better together peer support but also in raising awareness of the challenges some of our employees may experience, and we know that people perform better when they can be themselves.

Investing in your development: The world around us is constantly changing. New technologies, shifting climate patterns, artificial intelligence. These factors and more shape the need for us to develop our skills and knowledge as a business and as individuals. Our investment in learning and development is testament to this and we have partnered with external bodies in each profession to help shape the way we develop the incredible talent right across the Met Office.