Global Coupled Model Development Scientist

We're looking for an exceptional Global Coupled Model Development Scientist to help us make a difference to our planet. 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 job share.

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.

Your world of expertise: The Met Office is a leader in weather and climate science, continually advancing its capabilities to deliver world-class predictions and advice. The GMED (Global Model Evaluation and Development) team plays a pivotal role in enhancing the Met Office's capability, impact, and quality of its predictions, products, and advice. The Global Coupled Model Development and Processes team in GMED plays a critical role in releasing and testing improved global coupled model configurations, diagnosing and addressing global model biases, developing innovative diagnostic techniques, and collaborating across teams to enhance model performance on multiple timescales.

Your key duties:

• Develop improved global coupled model configurations for predictions on timescales from days to centuries.
• Improve understanding of ocean-atmosphere coupling processes and their representation in models.
• Conduct analysis to understand and reduce biases in coupled model systems across timescales.
• Provide support to downstream users of coupled global model configurations.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of shared evaluation tools.

Why join us: 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. Your total reward package will be up to £65,118 annually, which includes:

• £35,145 base pay.
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave.

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

• A proven track record of delivering high quality research, in a mathematical or physically based science, equivalent to a PhD level of research experience.
• Experience and knowledge of Earth System modelling.
• Proven track record of working independently on technical and scientific challenges to deliver quality scientific outputs and outcomes, ensuring timely delivery through effective planning.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a developing scientific publication record and the ability to communicate scientific and/or technical concepts to a broad range of audiences.
• Experience in the development and use of scientific software and scientific programming languages.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others sharing own knowledge and expertise to successfully deliver common goal.

The panel may perform a preliminary sift of the lead criteria as indicated above. Closing date 09/08/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 24/08/2026. 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.

How we can help: If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us. 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 your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.