Missions

Deep convection plays a central role in the functioning of the global climate system. It is a key driver of intense rainfall events and contributes to the vertical transport of heat, moisture, and energy in the atmosphere, particularly through the high-level clouds it generates. These processes are organized into large-scale convective systems (e.g., mesoscale convective systems), which are observable from space.
Despite scientific progress, these systems remain poorly represented in climate models, especially in the context of global climate change.
The recruited research engineer will provide technical and methodological support to the team's scientific work on deep convection. The engineer will contribute in particular to the analysis of convective systems using satellite observations.
This work is part of a broader international scientific effort, involving the development of high-resolution climate models (e.g., Digital Twin Earth, DestinE) and the preparation of upcoming satellite missions, such as AOS/C2OMODO and WIVERN, which will provide unprecedented observations of convective systems in the next decade.

Activities

The research engineer will support the scientific activities of the EMC2 team, with a primary focus on advanced satellite data processing, the development of structured scientific databases, and technical support for climate and convective storm studies.

Key activities include:
- Processing infrared satellite data, particularly from the new Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellite.
- Applying cloud-tracking algorithms to geostationary satellite imagery and high-resolution simulations to identify and monitor both observed and simulated convective systems.
- Managing, maintaining, and enhancing existing long-term storm climatology datasets (e.g., 40 years of METEOSAT data over Africa, the tropical Atlantic, and India).
- Contributing to storm predictability studies using machine learning techniques.
- Maintaining and improving the team's scientific software tools, primarily developed in Python and C.

Skills

- Engineering degree or PhD in Earth/Atmospheric Sciences or related fields, with experience in scientific computing and image processing;
- Excellent skills in scientific programming (Python, C; IDL appreciated) and in version control (Git);
- Good working knowledge with the Linux environment;
- Experience handling large datasets and applying statistical methods (satellite data experience is a plus);
- Knowledge of machine learning techniques;
- Strong attention to detail and rigor in technical documentation; ability to maintain and structure shared research tools;
- Good communication skills, both written and spoken;
- Proficiency in English (written and oral) at B2 to C2 level;
- Autonomy, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively in a team.

Work Context

The position will be hosted at LEGOS (Laboratory for Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies), located on the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées campus in Toulouse, France. LEGOS includes approximately 130 staff members and conducts cutting-edge research in oceanography, climate science, and satellite remote sensing.
The recruited engineer will join the EMC2 team, which focuses on understanding variations in the global water and energy cycle in response to ongoing climate change. The engineer will benefit from a dynamic national and international research environment and will collaborate closely with researchers, engineers, and PhD students in the team.