Ocean Applications Scientist – European Space Agency

Description
Ocean Applications Scientist in the Research & Development Section, Data Applications Division, Science, Applications & Climate Department, Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes.

Duties
Provide scientific expertise and develop applications for ocean monitoring exploitation missions:

• fostering use of free, open EO oceanographic data for research and applications;
• enhancing scientific exploitation and data applications of EO ocean missions using the latest information technologies and platforms;
• engaging, expanding and building on existing and new ocean user communities, collecting user requirements to develop innovative and advanced EO products, tools and services;
• convening thematic workshops with EO ocean experts and user communities to review how state-of- the-art EO applications can respond to their priority needs, developing the agenda for new R&D activities;
• cooperating with international conventions, UN agencies and international organisations to leverage the take-up, facilitating sustainable use of EO in key policy sectors;
• building strategic partnerships with key authoritative user organisations to contribute to international responses to global societal challenges;
• developing open-source algorithms and tools to stimulate growth of EO application developers, facilitating take-up of EO ocean applications by user communities;
• initiating and managing projects for development, validation (including Citizen Science) and stimulating user take-up of EO ocean application projects;
• demonstrating the upscaling potential of key EO ocean applications for wide user take-up, optimising use of collaborative cloud computing environments  and emerging big data analytics technologies;
• collecting and synthesising evolving user needs for future EO ocean missions;
• contributing to development of regional initiatives (Europe, neighbouring countries) to stimulate use of EO ocean data for public-sector benefit in the regions;
• fostering communication and scientific publications on project achievements;
• contributing to ESA communication efforts promoting EO ocean applications results, mission achievements and EO benefits for society;
• supervising and supporting the work of young graduate trainees and research fellows.

Technical competencies
Knowledge of international scientific community
ESA Earth Observation policies and programmes
Experience in remote sensing retrieval techniques
Experience in the management and monitoring of research and development activities

Behavioural competencies
Communication
Problem Solving
Teamwork

Education
Applicants should hold a PhD preferably in oceanography, physics or geophysics, or another appropriate scientific field, and have at least two years’ experience in related remote-sensing applications development and/or research.

Additional requirements

• Extensive experience of oceanographic processes with relevant oceanographic scientific exploitation activities either internationally or in ESA Member States
• Knowledge of product definition, calibration/validation, algorithm development and exploitation of Earth Observation data, particularly from ESA and Copernicus missions
• Some knowledge of climate-related activities in oceanography and marine meteorology
• Personal scientific ability, peer credibility and a demonstrated capacity for flexibility and adaptability are particularly important