Research Software Engineer - Forecast-in--Box Developer

Salary and Grade: Grade A2 EUR 91,754 ( Bonn/Germany) / GBP 76,384 (Reading/UK) NET annual basic salary + other benefits

Final date to receive applications: 17/03/2026

Department: Forecasts and Services

Location: Bonn, Germany or Reading, UK

Contract type: STF-PS

Contract Duration: 2 years up to 31 May 2028, with possibility of extensions

We are seeking a Research Software Engineer (A2) to contribute to the application of the Forecast-in-a-Box concept within the framework of the Destination Earth (Destin

E) initiative of the European Commission.

Destination Earth is developing Digital Twins of the Earth system, combining high-resolution numerical and machine learning (ML) models. In this context, the Forecast-in-a-Box encapsulates a portable, reproducible and scalable environment that supports experimentation, deployment and downstream product generation for a range of ML models, delivering a fully packaged ML-based modelling chain to users. This builds on ECMWF’s software stack, which also underpins Destination Earth’s Digital Twin Engine.

In this role, you will contribute to the development and implementation of the execution workflows that enable the Forecast-in-a-Box to interface seamlessly with ECMWF’s operational forecasting and post-processing pipelines. This includes ensuring robustness, scalability and performance across distributed high-performance computing and cloud environments and supporting the integration of new post-processing pipelines within the framework.

Working closely with ECMWF scientists, software engineers and Digital Twin Engine developers, you will support the integration of ML models and outputs into coherent, automated workflows. You will contribute to ensuring these workflows are reproducible, maintainable, operationally viable and integrate seamlessly within the Earthkit ecosystem.

The position sits in the Data Processing Services Team in the Development Section in the Forecast and Services Department. You will join a dynamic group working on AI/ML workflows, distributed computing and large-scale data processing. The team plays a central role in evolving ECMWF’s operational post-processing framework and in connecting research innovation with production-grade forecasting systems.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world leader in Numerical Weather Predictions providing high-quality data for weather forecasts and environmental monitoring. As an intergovernmental organisation, we collaborate internationally to serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions, data and training activities that are critical to contribute to safe and thriving societies.

The success of our activities depends on the funding and partnerships of the 35 Member and Co-operating States who provide the support and direction of our work. Our talented staff together with the international scientific community, and our powerful supercomputing capabilities, are the core of a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions. We also hold one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world.

ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the Destination Earth Initiative and the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the Copernicus Programme and the Strengthening Early Earning in Africa (SEWA) Programme. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.

Our vision:
The strength of a common goal
Our mission:
Deliver global numerical weather predictions focusing on the medium-range and monitoring of the Earth system to and with our Member States

ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with its headquarters in Reading, UK, a data centre in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany, as a central location for our EU-related activities. ECMWF is…