Geomagnetism IT Specialist

🔍 Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland

New

📁: Science Support

📅   : Sep 05, 2024 Post Date

📅   : 240000U7 Requisition #

British Geological Survey

GEOMAGNETISM IT SPECIALIST

Grade: UKRI Pay Band C/S1 (or potentially Pay Band D/S1 depending on skills and experience)

Salary: C/S1 salary is £31,212 per annum (D/S1 salary, which is £42,840 per annum, may be payable to applicants who can also meet the Band D/S1 criteria set out in this advert)

A great benefits package is offered!, including an outstanding pension scheme, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and access to flexi-time

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time – 37 hours a week (some flexible working options may be available, including a small amount of remote working, in line with BGS policy)

Location: The Lyell Centre, BGS offices in Edinburgh (which are situated on the Heriot-Watt University campus)

Closing date: Wednesday 9 October 2024

About the team

The Geomagnetism Team undertakes long-term monitoring of the Earth’s magnetic field through the operation of magnetic observatories in the UK and overseas. We research the magnetic field changes in observatory and satellite data that result from space weather and solar activity and how this impacts modern technology.

We also use worldwide land, marine, airborne and satellite data to make global models describing how the Earth’s magnetic field changes in space and time and what that reveals about physical processes within the solid Earth.

We apply our science in precision navigation, including directional drilling as well as the effect of space weather on ground-based and near-earth technology. We collaborate with many organisations, including ESA (European Space Agency), National Grid, and the UK Met Office. The team also operate the Geomagnetic Information Node (GIN) and global data portal on behalf of INTERMAGNET as well as a World Data Centre for Geomagnetism.

About the role

The postholder will join a small team providing IT expertise for scientific applications within the Geomagnetism Team, such as required for Space Weather and Navigational services. These all have a dependency on pioneering IT developments. Some require provision of time-series data products and model outputs, in near real-time, and others require provision of services, which include access to databases, models and model outputs. The key duties and responsibilities in this role include:

Maintain and develop existing applications and systems, particularly in Fortran, C, Shell scripts and Java, including time series data delivery and display.
Design and implement web services that present science data (geomagnetic outputs that can vary both temporally and spatially) to a wide range of users including the public.
Provide Linux system administration skills to ensure the geomagnetism team-specific systems (Linux virtual machines and servers) are aligned with the wider BGS operations including security certification (Cyber essentials).
Take the lead in a particular area of IT development that is important to our future business (e.g. Containerisation, Cloud Computing, test frameworks and continuous integration).

The postholder will also be encouraged to:

Provide IT support to Geomagnetism science colleagues.
Update systems in response to security scan alerts and deprecation warnings.
Pursue a programme of Continuing Professional Development in IT.

And they will be given the opportunity to:

Take a leading role in the development and maintenance of one or more of our software products.
Undertake training to understand basic geomagnetism and space weather as a background to the IT work.

This role provides a rare opportunity to be involved in all stages of the software lifecycle, from design to deployment. Candidates should also note that there is latitude to develop this role around your own skills and you can expect to gain experience in:

Taking ownership for managing and solving sophisticated scientific and business problems under your own initiative.
Exposure to a wide range of technologies.
Assisting with the scientific output of the organisation, and the possibility of representing BGS at national and international meetings relevant to your role.

About you

This job could suit either a relatively recent graduate or someone further into their career with wider knowledge and experience . Applicants considered in the latter group would have a stronger case to be appointed at the higher pay band from the beginning. However, people in the former group would be given opportunities, on the job, to gain the wider knowledge and experience in order, over time, to progress and reach the higher band via the BGS personal promotion scheme.

Have you got experience of programming, have strong examples of technical problem solving and the ability to adapt and learn new skills?

Candidates should also be able to demonstrate a curiosity about Geomagnetism and/or Space Weather. Any basic background knowledge in these areas would be an advantage, however training will be provided.

The post would suit a self-motivated person with excellent communication skills and who is willing to be an active teammate. Attendance at the Edinburgh office during normal business hours is a requirement, but we also have a flexible hybrid working scheme in place.

The additional specific essential and desirable skills criteria for this post below will be assessed at Shortlist (S) stage, interview (I) stage, or both (S&I).

Essential

Degree in an IT related subject, or another subject, such as Space Science, Geophysics, or Physics with significant IT content, or significant equivalent work experience (S)
Experience in programming, including code testing, in at least one of (ideally more) Fortran (95 or later), C, Java, Shell scripts, Python, JavaScript (S&I)
Knowledge of Linux operating systems (S&I)
Good English communication skills – reading, writing (S), listening and speaking (I)
Able to work flexibly and proactively in a team, whilst managing your own time on multiple tasks to meet agreed targets (S&I)
A demonstrated interest in developing your area of expertise – having a good record of Continuing Professional Development in IT (S&I)
A commitment to a diverse and inclusive approach to work in the geosciences (S&I)

Desirable

A demonstrated ability to rapidly adapt to change, learning new or unfamiliar technologies as required (S&I)
Experience of programming under Linux and/or administering Linux (S&I)
Skills in IT development and maintenance, such as user interface design and/or client web applications and/or back-end web service developments – any or all Continuous Integration techniques; Git version control; GitLab; Containerisation; Maven build system; HTML5; CSS; Bootstrap; FastAPI; Java Servlet (S&I)

The following two criteria are essential to qualify for the higher UKRI Pay Band D/S1:

MSc or PhD or similar professional qualification in an IT related subject or significant equivalent work experience (S)
A demonstrated ability to take a business/scientific problem of significant technical complexity, identify and assess appropriate technologies, and design a software solution (I)

About us

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre that belongs to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is a world leading geological survey whose core mission is to advise government of science related to the subsurface and to undertake applied research to solve earth and environmental issues, both in the UK and globally. It is funded directly by UKRI, as well as through research grants and private sector contracts.

We strive to promote equality and diversity across our organisation in order to continuously improve our scientific and organisational efficiency! As such, we aim to have a workforce with employees from all backgrounds with people who are passionate about earth science and who share our dedication to work for the good of the environment and the benefit of society. BGS became a signatory of the Technician Commitment in July 2022.

How to apply

Applicants are required to include a CV, a covering letter outlining their suitability for the role and to state, in the cover letter, the programming language of choice, from one of: Fortran, Python, C or Java, that will be tested if selected for interview. We stress the importance of this paperwork in our selection process.

A well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential and desirable criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV.

If you experience any issues applying for this role, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 9 October 2024. Interviews are expected to be held in late October 2024 in Edinburgh.

About The British Geological Survey (BGS)

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre that is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).  It is a world leading geological survey that provides a core science mission to inform government of science related to the subsurface and its interfaces and also undertakes applied research for solutions to earth and environmental processes, both in the UK and globally.  It is funded directly by UKRI as well as through research grants and via private sector contracts.

BGS has an annual budget of approximately £60 million and employs 650 people.  It has two main sites, a head office in Keyworth near Nottingham and the Lyell Centre, which is a joint collaboration with Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh.  BGS works with more than 150 private sector organisations as well as having close links with 40 universities and sponsors approximately 100 PhD students each year.

How to Apply 

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit your CV and a covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for BGS and the role you’re applying for. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit your application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered.  You will only be assessed on the content of your CV and covering letter and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

About UKRI 

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to flourish and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.