Software Developer

Met Office; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organisation in Exeter seeks a Software Developer to join their Data Services team. In this role, you will develop scalable solutions using Python and AWS Cloud Computing to provide critical climate data. The position supports hybrid working arrangements and offers a full-time commitment of 37 hours per week. This role presents an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in environmental science and ensure accessible weather information for users worldwide. Competitive salary and benefits included.

Benefits

Outstanding Civil Service pension

Recruitment Retention Allowance

Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days

Qualifications

• Experience in programming and software engineering, collaborating with the team.
• Knowledge in optimising development processes and improving efficiency.
• Ability to support service processes and troubleshoot issues.
• Experience in systems design and documentation.
• Familiarity with systems integration and testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop scalable cloud-based solutions for weather and climate data.
• Work collaboratively with a team to engineer solutions.
• Handle and process large amounts of meteorological data.
• Provide operational support and ensure system performance.

Skills

Programming and build (software engineering)

Development process optimisation

Service support

Systems design

Systems integration

Collaboration and teamwork

Tools

Python

AWS Cloud Computing

Job description

We’re looking for an exceptional Software Developer to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Software Developer, 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. 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

We’re looking for an exceptional Software Developer who shares our amazing values to help us make a difference to our planet by using cutting edge technologies to provide world‑leading meteorological information to our customers around the world.

Join the Met Office’s Data Services team – an innovative, friendly group at the forefront of developing scalable cloud‑based solutions.

We’re responsible for the systems that deliver critical weather and climate data to users across the UK and beyond. Through scalable APIs and cloud‑native services, our team ensures fast, reliable access to forecast and observation data, supporting everyone from emergency responders and government to businesses and the public.

As a Developer in Data Services, you’ll be working with a highly collaborative set of squads and engineering solutions using Python and AWS Cloud Computing to bridge the gap between advanced scientific modelling and the platforms our users rely on every day. You’ll be getting hands on with the output of our cutting‑edge supercomputing capabilities, handling terabytes of data daily, and have opportunities to learn and understand weather data. You will be supporting and releasing into our live systems and making system performance, scalability, and reliability essential elements of your work.

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger – developing modern, cloud‑based solutions that have a wide‑reaching and positive impact, helping millions of people to stay safe and thrive.

We operate an on‑call roster in Technology to provide 24/7/365 support to respond to operational service requirements. This post may be part of an on‑call roster and the postholder would be required to participate in an on‑call roster where in operation.

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. We help everyone to understand their strengths and opportunities and tailor learning programmes that match their career. For us, this is world‑leading learning and development.

Rewards and benefits

Our reward package will be up to £51,648 annually, which includes:

• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,200 per annum as a market supplement
• Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 325 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

• Programming and build (software engineering): collaborate with others when necessary to review specifications, use the agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts of medium‑to‑high complexity, using the right standards and tools. (Lead Criteria)
• Development process optimisation: explain the importance of developing process efficiency and the common ways in which processes are optimised. Support specific activities to improve development processes. Spot or identify obvious deficiencies.
• Service support: help fix faults following agreed procedures. Carry out maintenance tasks on infrastructure.
• Systems design: translate logical designs into physical designs. Produce detailed designs. Effectively document all work using required standards, methods and tools, including prototyping tools where appropriate.
• Systems integration: build and test simple interfaces between systems. Work on more complex integration as part of a wider team.

How to apply

We encourage you to upload your CV and submit a supporting statement with evidence against the essential criteria (approx. 500 words). If you are shortlisted you will be invited to complete a technical challenge focusing on essential criteria 2, followed by an interview.

Closing date 08/02/2026 at 23:59. Interviews commence from 18/03/2026.

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 at [e-mail].

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.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, please contact us at [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Our typical recruitment process

1. Application – apply through our careers website.
2. Screening – sift panel assesses applications against essential criteria.
3. Assessment – may include a letter of application, technical challenge, or other assessment.
4. Interview – competency‑based interview.
5. Offer – successful candidates receive offer.
6. Onboarding – completion of security clearance and reference checks.

Established hybrid working

We have bases all over the UK and some roles allow for you to work abroad. We have established huge hybrid working practices and enhanced technology to enable office and home‑based meetings. We work with employees to agree on a suitable working pattern that works for both parties.

Lifestyle support

Whether you wish to utilize our excellent family‑friendly schemes, be paid up to 3 days for volunteering with your chosen organisation, enjoy a generous sickness pay scheme, or discuss flexible working, the Met Office offers a great work‑and lifestyle balance.