Oceanographer position – Mercator Ocean

Mercator Ocean is the French ocean analysis and forecasting centre.  It designs, develops, operates and maintains state-of -the-art scientific numerical-modelling systems that are able to  describe,  analyse  and forecast  the  state  of  the  ocean  in  3D,  continuously  and  in  real  time.  Mercator  Ocean  is  a  subsidiary  of  five  major  French  institutions  involved  in  the  development  of  operational  oceanography  –  CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, Météo  France  and  SHOM.  Mercator  Ocean’s  activities  include  R&D,  operational  systems,  expert  forecasting  and  the  services  it  provides  to  users  around  the  world  (scientists,  public  agencies,  industry, etc.). The company is located at Ramonville Saint-Agne, near Toulouse.

In  November  2014,  the  European  Commission  delegated  the  setting-up  of  the  Copernicus  Marine  Environment  Monitoring  Service  to  Mercator  Ocean.  The service has now been provided since spring 2015.

We currently have a 12-month fixed-term contract position open for an:

Oceanographer in Altimetry Observations Impact Studies (M/F)

to take part in developing our international projects. In the “Research and Development” department,  you  will  develop  methods  to  quantify   the  impact  of  large swath altimetry into an Atlantic and European analysis and forecasting system:

• You will contribute  to  the  development  of  existing  diagnostic tools designed  to  measure  the impact  of  satellite  observations  in  the  analysis  and  forecasts. These diagnostics  will  specifically allow for  measuring  the  contribution  of  large  swath  altimetry  compared  to  conventional  radar altimeters (nadir) onto the mesoscale oceanographic circulation.
• You will contribute  to  the  scientific  promotion  of the  impact  studies  through writing  scientific  publications  and participating  in  project  meetings,  workshops and  conferences  at  the  national  and international levels

After  five  years  of  higher  education  or  a  PhD  with  a  minimum  of  3 years  of  professional  experience  (including  your  thesis)  in  data  assimilation  and/or  modelling  of  the  physical  ocean, you  have  strong expertise  in  oceanic  modelling  and/or  data  assimilation  methods  (NEMO  being  the  modelling  platform  and  SAM2  being  the  data  assimilation  system  used  at  Mercator  Ocean).   Your  advanced  skills  in  oceanography  include  experience  working  in  a  Linux  environment  and  a  background  using  Fortran  programming. You are rigorous, well-organised and responsive, and your skills and ideas will contribute to ambitious projects. Your  ability  to  innovate  and  your  findings  will fit  in  the  team’s  work  plan  to optimize methods and systems. You speak and write English fluently.

Send  your  letter  stating  your  reasons  for  applying,  including  a  detailed  CV  as  well  as  letters  of  recommendation  with  the  reference  2016-05/RD/OAAL to: recruitment@mercator-ocean.fr no later than May 20 2016.