Remote Sensing Scientific and Technical Support - Passive Microwave Imaging Specialist

Job Description

Within the Remote Sensing and Products (RSP) Division, the Passive Microwave Imaging Team is responsible for the scientific development of the MWI (MicroWave Imager) and ICI (Ice Cloud Imager) missions onboard the upcoming Metop-SGB platform, as well as the future CIMR (Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer) satellite mission. Following the imminent launch of Metop-SGB1, the team will focus primarily on the Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val) of the MWI and ICI products and the engagement with the user community. Transitioning into the operational phase for MWI and ICI the team will also implement continuous monitoring of the MWI/ICI product quality, provide user support, perform internal studies and contribute to the preparatory activities of upcoming programs and missions involving Passive Microwave and sub-millimetre (PMW) radiometers, such as CIMR. Within the team you will have the following responsibilities:

• Scientific and technical support on the in-house prototype development and maintenance of Level 1 and Level 2 product generation functions from passive microwave and sub-millimetre (PMW) radiometers;
• Scientific and technical support on calibration and validation activities (development of new tools, maintenance and evolution of existing tools, routine running of Cal/Val tests, preparation of Cal/Val reports) for the Level 1B and Level 2 PMW products;
• Generate and maintain test and auxiliary data sets for the development, verification, validation and running of the operational processors.
• Technical support on the operational implementation, validation, and evolution of the operational processors;
• Inter-compare results between the in-house prototypes and the operational processors;
• Support the PMW satellite missions in close cooperation with scientists, external agencies, and industrial partners (e.g. Science Advisory Group meetings);
• Contribute to any internal data analysis and its delivery, and to the review of external studies;
• Participating in ground segment and/or instrument reviews, progress and technical meetings;
• Extracting relevant information from the PMW processing chains to perform regular production and quality monitoring reports;
• Reporting anomalies in product services, contributing to their diagnosis and tracking their resolution;
• Updating design and other relevant documentation as needed (e.g. product processing facilities).

Qualifications

• University degree in remote sensing, meteorology, physics, engineering, IT/computational science, or another relevant discipline is required;
• Experience of processing of Level 1 and Level 2 data from passive microwave instruments is highly desirable;
• Strong experience in scientific software development (modularity, readability, adaptability) using configuration management is essential;
• Very good skills in Python;
• Fluency in Linux/Unix operating systems;
• Demonstrated experience in writing scientific and technical documents;
• Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of another European language is an advantage.

The following experience would be advantageous:

• Very good skills in at least one of the following high-level programming languages: C/C++, Fortran and, in particular, JAVA;
• Familiarity with MATLAB;
• Experience with microwave radiative transfer models;
• Familiarity with numerical weather prediction forecast data;
• Experience with calibration and validation of satellite data products;
• Experience with the specification, development and validation of satellite data processing chains;
• Experience in understanding and specifying requirements;
• Experience in quality control of satellite data, product monitoring and reporting;
• Experience in software unit, acceptance, system and integration testing

Additional Information

This job is located in Darmstadt.

If you think you have what it takes for this job, please send your CV (in English and in Word or PDF) by clicking on the button “Apply for this job” quoting job DE-HP-26185.

An exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!

Inclusive and committed employer, our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. That's why, committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity, we encourage all applications and profiles.

Inclusive and committed employer, our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. That's why, committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity, we encourage all applications and profiles.                        

Last apply date: 28/11/2026!