The role

ECMWF is looking for an Network Analyst who will be responsible for the provision of data centre and office networks, auxiliary network services, and network security appliances and services. They will also take part in evaluating and implementing new network and network security technologies, standards and techniques to enhance the computing infrastructure, as well as participating in a variety of other network-related projects.
The duties will change and evolve over time in response to the needs of the computing environment at ECMWF, in particular regarding the high-performance computing facility and the dissemination of weather products to ECMWF’s partners around the world.

The ideal candidate will have the expertise and in-depth knowledge to plan, design, deploy, operate, optimise and support the network and security infrastructure as well as adopt and develop standards and new techniques for computer networks such as automation and virtualisation. The role will involve working with both internal and external stakeholders to introduce these into operations.

About Core Infrastructure Section

The Core Infrastructure Section forms part of ECMWF’s Computing Department and is responsible for delivering the network support for the Bologna datacentre as well as Reading, Bologna and Bonn offices and the storage and general purpose servers of ECMWF. This section is also responsible for the mechanical and electrical aspects of ECMWF’s Bologna datacentre, which is a key facility supporting the Centre’s 24/7 time-critical production services.

Within the Core Infrastructure Section, the Network Team is responsible for designing, procuring, deploying and day-to-day management of the Networks and Security infrastructures and their associated Operational Security services. The participation to and executions of Network Security Operations also takes place within the team, in close cooperation with the Infosec Team reporting to the Centre’s Director of Computing. ECMWF’s network environment includes cutting-edge technologies and products from well-known vendors, with data centre networks based on the latest 100+ Gbps technology. The LAN and WAN systems use OSPF, MP-BGP, VXLAN/EVPN, Multicast and IPv6 in production.

For additional details, see www.ecmwf.int/en/computing/our-facilities/networks

Your responsibilities

• Configuring and operating the network infrastructure used to support ECMWF’s High-Performance Computing Facility
• Configuring and operating network equipment: switches, routers, firewalls, ADC, wireless
• Working towards the simplification and automation of networks to achieve quicker and safer deployments, changes and upgrades using APIs and templates
• Configuring and operating network services: DNS, DHCP, RADIUS, NTP, Web Proxy running on a variety of platforms (proprietary, Linux, Windows)
• Isolating and repairing network faults in a timely and efficient manner in coordination with internal stakeholders and 3rd parties (providers, suppliers and support companies)
• Recommending and implementing changes and improvements to all services
• Evaluating and installing new network hardware and software
• Creating and maintaining up-to-date low and high-level documentation and diagrams
• Monitoring of the availability, performance and reliability of the network infrastructure and services
• Providing day-to-day support for the services provided by the team, including, on a rota basis, 24-hour on-call support

What we are looking for

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to maintain effective communication and documentation with the rest of the team and a distributed user community
• Dedication and enthusiasm to work in a team
• Ability to work efficiently and complete diverse tasks in a timely manner

Your profile

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t feel you meet precisely all of the these criteria.

Education

• A university degree (EQF Level 6) or equivalent industry experience is essential

Experience required in the following areas

• Experience of configuring network hardware including switches, routers and firewalls
• Experience of working with infrastructure automation and virtualisation technologies
• Experience of network monitoring tools and techniques
• Experience of troubleshooting a network environment
• Experience of configuring and operating services such as DNS, DHCP, NTP and RADIUS
• Experience of working with Juniper, Arista, Fortinet, Infoblox, F5 or Cisco platforms
• Experience in developing code for network system management and monitoring solutions using REST APIs, Python, Ansible and similar tools, in a structured CI/CD Pipeline environment
• Experience of implementing the networking stack for cloud-native technologies (desirable)
• Experience of working in an international environment (desirable)

Knowledge and skills required

• In-depth knowledge of standard OSI layer 2/3/4 protocols, such as Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6, ICMP, UDP and TCP
• Knowledge of network technologies including several of the following in practice: STP, LACP, MLAG, VRRP, VXLAN, EVPN, BGP, OSPF, L2VPN & L3VPN, LLDP, SNMP, DNS, DHCP, Unified Communications
• Good working knowledge of a modern scripting language such as Python
• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and interviews will be conducted in English
• Fluency in Italian would be advantageous as would knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German)

About ECMWF

ECMWF is the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. It is an intergovernmental organisation created in 1975 by a group of European nations and is today supported by 34 Member and Co-operating States, mostly in Europe. The Centre’s mission is to serve and support its Member and Co-operating States and the wider community by developing and providing world-leading global numerical weather prediction. ECMWF functions as a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions and holds one of the largest meteorological archives in the world. The success of its activities relies primarily on the talent of its scientists, strong partnerships with its Member and Co-operating States and the international community, some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the use of innovative technologies such as machine learning across its operations.

ECMWF has recently become a multi-site organisation, with its headquarters based since its creation in Reading, UK, its new data centre in Bologna, Italy, and new offices in Bonn, Germany. It has also recently adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows its staff to mix both office working and teleworking. This generous and flexible model provides our staff with considerable flexibility to spend time outside or away from their duty station and decide how they wish to manage their professional working time at ECMWF. ECMWF is an organisation that values the whole being and both understands and values the need for flexibility in the way its staff work.

For additional details, see www.ecmwf.int.

Other information

Grade remuneration: The successful candidates will be recruited according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. ECMWF also offers a generous benefits package as defined in the ECMWF Staff Regulations. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.

Starting date: as soon as possible

As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model that allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking. Staff are expected to relocate to the duty station. Staff can telework up to 10 days/month, including up to 80 days/year away from the duty station country (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).

Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions. Interviews will take place via videoconference (MS Team). If you require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment process, please contact us via email: jobs@ecmwf.int

Who can apply

Applicants are invited to complete the online application form by clicking on the apply button below. Please note the vacancy will close for applications at midnight UK time on the closing date.

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive and diverse environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion.

Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States, as well as from all EU Member States. ECMWF Member States and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy. Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.