Observations Research & Development Industrial Placement 2026

Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PBJob SummaryThe Met Office is delighted to open our advertising for Industrial Placements 2026.This is an exciting opportunity to join the Met Office on a 12-month Year in Industry placement, commencing at the start of July 2026, developing your skills and knowledge and ensuring you gain the most value possible from your experience with us. You will have the opportunity to network with our cohort of Industrial Placements all over the Met Office and understand what career opportunities are on offer at the Met Office after you graduate.We’re looking for an Observations Research and Development (R&D) Industrial Placement 2026 to help us make a difference to our planet.As our Observations R&D Industrial Placement 2026, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work. As an Industrial Placement, we would expect you to attend the office once a week as a minimum.Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week.  Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.World changing work From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers Job DescriptionYour world of expertise Our Industrial Placement scheme offers ambitious and capable undergraduates the opportunity to gain valuable experience working alongside diverse and highly skilled experts in their field.  You’ll be working on projects that really matter and will make a difference.Observations of the atmosphere, oceans and land underpin everything we do at the Met Office. You'll be working in the Observations Research & Development team to support the application of scientific research to enhance our Observations Capability. This will involve a mixture of working with sensors, processing techniques and environmental data from our own networks and those of third parties to help deliver our Advanced Observations strategy. Additionally, there may be the opportunity to get involved in field trials.Your key duties Work with observations scientists and engineers to understand new and existing forms of observation data and investigate quality control measures. Apply statistical, data science and visualisation techniques to a variety of datasets to extract meaningful information. Develop knowledge and skills associated with observations data analysis.Produce written and verbal briefings for internal colleagues on the findings and recommendations. Your world of expertise Our Industrial Placement scheme offers ambitious and capable undergraduates the opportunity to gain valuable experience working alongside diverse and highly skilled experts in their field.  You’ll be working on projects that really matter and will make a difference.Observations of the atmosphere, oceans and land underpin everything we do at the Met Office. You'll be working in the Observations Research & Development team to support the application of scientific research to enhance our Observations Capability. This will involve a mixture of working with sensors, processing techniques and environmental data from our own networks and those of third parties to help deliver our Advanced Observations strategy. Additionally, there may be the opportunity to get involved in field trials.Your key duties Work with observations scientists and engineers to understand new and existing forms of observation data and investigate quality control measures. Apply statistical, data science and visualisation techniques to a variety of datasets to extract meaningful information. Develop knowledge and skills associated with observations data analysis.Produce written and verbal briefings for internal colleagues on the findings and recommendations. Person specificationEssential Criteria, skills and experience:  You have effective analytical and problem-solving skills (Expert by nature) You are able to draw on appropriate statistical and/or data science tools to analyse datasets and communicate the findings.(Lead criteria)You can write code in python or a similar coding language, with a desire to enhance your skills and/or learn new languages as needed (Keep evolving).You have an interest in the collection and use of real world environmental data and appreciation of the need for quality assurance (Force for Good).You can plan and organise work using your own initiative as well as working affectively as part of a wider team (Better Together).The panel may perform a preliminary sift of the lead criteria as indicated above.Alongside your salary of £27,170, Met Office contributes £7,871 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Why join us Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.Your Package IncludesYour salary will be £27,170Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days Access to discounted shopping, inclusive of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands  Whilst this is a temporary position until July 2027, there may be an opportunity to apply for our Graduate Development scheme upon completion of your university studies. However, this is not guaranteed and would be subject to programme availability and a successful application.Selection process detailsHow To ApplyIf you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills. Please also look at the Early Careers Programmes Application Guidance at the bottom of this advert.Closing date: 23:59 7th December 2025. Please note we often receive a high volume of applications, but we will contact everyone who applies once the closing date has past.  Interviews will be completed by February 2026.Using AI in your application We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.How We Can HelpIf you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.  If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.MedicalSuccessful candidates will be expected to have a medical.Nationality requirementsThis Job Is Broadly Open To The Following GroupsUK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicantsJob ContactName : Resourcing TeamEmail : careers@metoffice.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : careers@metoffice.gov.uk