Earth Systems Data Manager / Earth Systems Data Manageress

Earth Systems Data Manager Position at C2SM

The Center for Climate Systems Modeling (C2SM) at ETH Zurich is a dynamic, interdisciplinary center that fosters collaboration between ETH Zurich and partner institutions. We provide a technology and networking platform designed to support the development and application of Earth system, weather, and climate modeling, alongside data infrastructure and impact research.

With the increasing amount and diversity of Earth observations gathered from satellites, airborne instruments, in-situ measurement networks, and high-resolution climate modeling data produced at C2SM, effectively harnessing this data is crucial for enhancing our understanding of the Earth system. In partnership with the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), C2SM is expanding its data services and constructing a petabyte-scale data lake that encompasses a wide array of observational and model data.

Role Overview

To tackle the challenges of data management, we are seeking an Earth Systems Data Manager to play a crucial role in developing a robust framework that makes rapidly growing Earth-system datasets accessible and usable for the scientific community. This technical position will primarily focus on:

• Identifying observational datasets relevant to interdisciplinary Earth science research.
• Curating and documenting data collections to ensure their quality and scientific value.
• Establishing metadata and access standards to enhance data discovery and reproducibility.
• Collaborating with researchers and developers from C2SM, ETH, CSCS, and various national and international institutions.
• Contributing to the operation and advancement of the data platform.
• Supporting interdisciplinary projects that integrate various data sources.
• Utilizing high-performance computing resources to manage and process large environmental datasets for research readiness.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A degree in data science, computer science, Earth or atmospheric sciences, or a related field.
• Knowledge of satellite data and remote sensing techniques.
• Experience handling very large datasets (petabyte-scale), data management, and data quality control.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, R, or Julia, along with proficiency in scientific data libraries (e.g., xarray, netCDF4, HDF5, Zarr) and workflow automation on HPC systems.
• At least 3 years of interdisciplinary work experience (PhD not included).
• Excellent communication skills to facilitate collaboration across diverse scientific disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an interdisciplinary environment.
• A PhD in remote sensing or a related field.
• Experience with large atmospheric observational or model datasets.
• Leadership experience in managing projects across different domains.
• Familiarity with user support, data documentation, and FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Work Environment

As an Earth Systems Data Manager, you will engage at the forefront of Earth system modeling, high-performance computing, and data-driven science. Joining the Center for Climate Systems Modeling (C2SM) will connect you with a vibrant community of weather and climate researchers, computational scientists, and data experts across ETH Zurich and its partner institutions. This role offers an intellectually stimulating environment where you will collaborate with prominent groups in Earth system science and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS). You will have the opportunity to contribute significantly to the development of a modern data infrastructure for the Swiss climate and weather research community, supporting impactful scientific projects and researchers dealing with rapidly growing environmental datasets.

The position is initially limited to two years, with the possibility of extension.

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For further information, visit our website or contact Dr. Christina Schnadt Poberaj at +41 44 633 84 58 or christina.schnadt@c2sm.ethz.ch, or Prof. Andreas Prein at +41 44 632 30 29 or andreas.prein@env.ethz.ch.

The pre-selection process will be carried out by our dedicated recruiters and not by artificial intelligence. For recruitment services, the GTC of ETH Zurich apply.