Foundation Scientist Post-processing Applications

Met Office; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A national meteorological service in the UK is seeking a Foundation Scientist to develop and support advanced weather forecast services. You would work in a hybrid environment, combining scientific expertise with technology to deliver timely data to various industries. The ideal candidate will have a degree in physical science, strong programming skills in Python, and the ability to communicate complex information effectively. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Civil Service pension with high employer contribution

Generous annual leave starting at 27.5 days

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Experience in a physical science, mathematics or statistics at a graduate level.
• Good scientific computing skills, preferably in Python.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Proactive problem-solving and project planning skills.
• Interest in weather or climate science and solutions for industry.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely delivery of operational services for customers.
• Develop high-quality scientific computing code for data analysis.
• Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary team to deliver projects.
• Research to utilize weather data for diverse industry outputs.
• Communicate scientific findings clearly to stakeholders.

Skills

Scientific computing skills (e.g. in Python)

Effective written and oral communication

Team collaboration

Independent thinking

Interest in weather or climate science

Education

Graduate level in a physical science, mathematics or statistics

Job description

We're looking for an exceptional Foundation Scientist to help us make a difference to our planet.

As a Foundation Scientist, 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. 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 Post Processing Applications (PPA) team is made up of a mix of Scientists and Scientific Software Engineers who work together to make the right weather data and information available to decision makers in a range of industry sectors. If successful you will develop an excellent understanding of how weather information is used in industry across the surface transport, energy, retail and infrastructure sectors. Your work will combine this with your relevant scientific and technical background to develop and support the next generation of weather forecast services and applications for new and existing Met Office customers, for example in helping rail network operators to run a safe and efficient railway system or supporting the UK's clean energy transition.

• Carry out the scientific and technical activities to ensure timely delivery of operational services for the benefit of our customers.
• Developing high quality scientific computing code to perform data analysis and to build forecast production systems.
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to successfully deliver a diverse range of projects.
• Researching cutting edge science and technology to utilise weather and climate data, alongside relevant industry data, to produce outputs that benefit our industry customers.
• Clearly communicating science through reports and presentations to customers and peers.

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.

As a Foundation Scientist, your total reward package will be up to £40,524 annually, which includes:

• 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:

• Experience and knowledge in a physical science, mathematics or statistics at a graduate or equivalent level - (we're experts by nature).
• Good scientific computing skills (e.g. in Python) and a demonstrated ability to learn and apply software tools and/or programming languages to address scientific problems and perform scientific analysis.
• Evidence of effective written and oral communication skills with the ability to understand user or customer needs and communicate complex scientific or technical information to a range of audiences.
• Strong team player with the ability to work and collaborate as a dynamic and productive member of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver a range of projects - (we're better together).
• An independent thinker, able to proactively take ownership of work, to identify and address knowledge gaps and to plan your own work - (we keep evolving).
• A demonstratable interest in weather or climate science and in developing solutions for industry and seeing scientific solutions through to delivery.

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 18/01/2026 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 .

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.