Senior Software Developer

We are looking for two exceptional Senior Software Developers to join our team in Transport. Currently our focus is on delivering new services to the global aviation community as part of our responsibility as a World Area Forecast Centre (one of only two in the world). This is extremely exciting as you will be able to work with cutting edge technology on some unique projects which helps to ensure safe flight operations. When you join us, you will be fully supported by your team to enable you to succeed and further develop your career at the Met Office.

Our team uses a diverse set of cutting-edge technologies. We work mainly with Python and JavaScript programming languages for a wide range of applications, from scientific computing to web development. Our cloud infrastructure spans AWS and Azure, where we embrace containerization using Docker and serverless architectures to ensure scalability and efficiency. Additionally, we are making ever greater use of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies across the organisation to enhance our weather and climate predictions. Join us to work with these exciting technologies and more, as we push the boundaries of weather and climate science.

To find out more about Technology at the Met Office, please take a look here.

Why work for the Met Office

As our Senior Software Developer, your total reward package will be up to £63,719 annually which includes;

• £41,725 base pay
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Recruitment Retention allowance (RRA). You will be paid £5,300 per annum as a market supplement to reflect the demand for your skills. Whilst in post, you will be paid this market driven allowance from April 2024 to September 2025 in your monthly pay.
• Annual leave starting at 27.5 days (plus bank holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus bank holidays) after 5 years and the option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave.

What You'll Bring to the Role

We're looking for someone who meets the following Essential Criteria for this role:

1. Modern standards approach. You can:
   • can apply a modern standards approach and guide others to do so
2. Programming and build (software engineering). You can:
   • 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.
3. Systems design. You can:
   • design systems characterised by medium levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity
   • select appropriate design standards, methods and tools, and ensure they are applied effectively
   • review the systems designs of others to ensure the selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology
4. Team Leadership. You can lead and mentor a multi-disciplinary team across geographically dispersed environments.

Our Working Arrangements

As our Senior 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.

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 mentioned in the 'What You'll Bring to the Role' section in the supporting statement questionnaire.

We recommend candidates use the CARL (Context, Action, Result and Learning) method the help best demonstrate your experience and skills. When providing examples, you should include the context of the example, The action you took, what the result was and any learning you took from this example and how you applied it going forward.

Closing date 21/04/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 28/04/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

How we can help

If you would like to better understand the organisation, the role or have any questions 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 will be a selection exercise which is a presentation and Codility test. 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. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.