Current Jobs at The South African Weather Service (SAWS)

Key Performance Areas 
The candidate will be required to: 

• Collaborate with the team to design, develop, and implement software solutions to support research and development. 
• Participate in designing, developing, and implementing software solutions to address complex and time-sensitive challenges of producing numerical weather forecasts and products. 
• Conduct research and experimentation to explore new technologies, algorithms, and methodologies relevant to our field. 
• Collaborate with the design and implementation of data management systems and software tools for acquiring, storing, processing, and analysing meteorological, environmental, and geographical. 
• Develop and maintain software applications, algorithms, and models for computing and visualising the fire danger index, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and scalability.
• Integrate software components with existing systems and data sources, ensuring compatibility and interoperability with relevant meteorological and environmental databases and platforms. 
• Employ best practices in software development, version control, and documentation to ensure the reproducibility and traceability of research and analysis activities. 
• Collaborate with senior scientists and researchers to understand software requirements, provide technical expertise, and contribute to the optimisation of systems. 
• Stay informed about advancements in software development, data management, and scientific computing to identify opportunities to improve process efficiency and effectiveness. 
• Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code, adhering to coding standards and best practices. 
• Document technical specifications, design decisions, and implementation details for future reference and knowledge sharing. 
• Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve software issues and performance bottlenecks in collaboration with the operations team. 

Minimum Requirements 

Education and Experience 

• An appropriate Degree (e.g., Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field). 
• Strong programming skills in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C/C++, JavaScript). 
• Experience or working knowledge optimising and upgrading existing operational systems, data flows, and codes. 
• Familiarity with supercomputing technologies and parallel computing concepts. 
• Proficiency in dashboard development using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Grafana. 
• Proficiency in code version control processes and systems (e.g. Git). 
• Knowledge of data management principles and practices, including storage, retrieval, and processing. 
• Experience with monitoring tools and techniques for tracking system performance and data quality. 

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Key Performance Areas 
The candidate will be required to: 

• Lead the research and development of a new fire danger index, including the formulation of algorithms, models, and data analysis techniques. 
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to integrate meteorological, environmental, and geographical data into developing the fire danger index. 
• Conduct thorough literature reviews and stay abreast of the latest fire weather science and technology advancements. 
• Design and conduct field experiments and validation studies to assess the fire danger index's performance and accuracy. 
• Analyse and interpret complex datasets to identify patterns, trends, and correlations relevant to fire danger assessment. 
• Develop and maintain documentation, including technical reports, research papers, and presentations, to communicate the methodology and findings of the fire danger index development. 
• Provide technical guidance and training to scientists, forecasters and stakeholders on the new use and interpretation of the new fire danger index. 
• Collaborate with stakeholders and end users to understand their needs and incorporate feedback into refining the fire danger index. 
• Represent SAWS and present research outputs, where appropriate, at national or international scientific events, e.g. conferences and workshops. 
• Ensure that the work environment complies with legislative requirements for Occupational Health and Safety. 

Minimum Requirements 

Education and Experience 

• MSc in a related field (e.g., Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Environmental Science, or a related field). 
• At least 5 years of experience in fire weather research, including developing fire danger indices or related methodologies. 
• Proven expertise in statistical analysis, data modelling, and programming languages commonly used in atmospheric and environmental research (e.g., Python, R, Fortran). 
• Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques for incorporating geographical and environmental data into fire danger assessments. 
• Demonstrated experience in leading research projects, including the design, execution, and analysis of field experiments and validation studies. 
• Familiarity with the practical application of fire danger indices in wildfire management and public safety. 
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals, with a minimum of three publications as the lead author related to fire weather, atmospheric science, or environmental research. 
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, or industry partners. 
• Experience working with government agencies involved in fire management, wildfire prediction, or emergency services will be advantageous.