Space Weather Forecaster

The Bureau of Meteorology is seeking a dedicated, highly motivated person to fill the role of Space Weather Forecaster of the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC). The ASWFC is part of the Bureau’s National Security and Space Program (NSSP), within the Business Solutions Group and is the primary provider of environmental intelligence to sectors integral to Australia’s national security and economic prosperity, and community safety through government partners and key industry sectors to ensure they have the right information at the right time, to deliver on their goals.

The ASWFC is Australia’s authoritative source of space weather observations and forecasts, located with Australia’s burgeoning space industry in the Lot Fourteen precinct in Adelaide. The ASWFC’s role is to provide continuous, 24/7 monitoring of space weather events and their impacts. It issues space weather warnings and alerts to sectors crucial to Australia’s national security, economic prosperity, and community safety. These alerts are disseminated through government partners and industry sectors to ensure they receive timely and accurate information, enabling them to achieve their goals effectively.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has designated global space weather centres to monitor space weather phenomena that could affect aviation. Australia is part of the ACFJ consortium (Australia, Canada, France, Japan). This service is delivered by the ASWFC with support from the Hazardous Weather Unit, under the Aviation, Land and Maritime Transport Program, for the Space Weather Overnight Watch.

The Sun is currently in the maximum phase of solar cycle 25, as such there is an increased frequency and intensity of space weather events. The Australian Space Weather Alert System has been developed to communicate space weather conditions and their possible effects on Australian industry sectors and the community. It also outlines mitigating actions that can be taken by operators and decision-makers in response to the alert thresholds.

As a part of a small team of five Space Weather Forecasters, you will support the operational success of the Forecasting Centre. The successful candidate will deliver key forecasts, warnings and alerts to sectors impacted by space weather, including Defence, aviation, telecommunications, energy, resources, community and the space industry. The requirements for these services and products will be guided by the customer engagement staff and the Operations Manager, ASWFC. Success will be measured by your ability to provide timely, accurate, persistent and consistent space weather forecasts, warnings and alerts.

Space Weather Forecasters will be expected to work shift work, predominantly focused during the day, with on-call responsibilities overnight and some overnight duties during significant space weather events. Some interstate travel may be required to deliver training and engage with relevant sectors and Bureau staff.

We’re looking for someone with energy, enthusiasm, willingness to learn and ability to work well in a team as well as independently. You might be a recent university graduate or someone looking for a career change. Space Weather technical knowledge is desirable, but not an essential pre-requisite as completion of a Space Weather Forecaster training and competency course will be completed as part of the initial onboarding process.

A day in this role might include:

• Interpreting observational and modelling data to produce forecasts, warnings and alerts.

• Providing advice to partners that assists in making informed assessments of risk and enabling them to take appropriate action to mitigate against space weather events.

• Preparing and communicating space weather forecasts, alerts and warnings for the community and specific users such as defence, space, energy and aviation.

• Developing a deeper knowledge of space weather events and its impacts on the community, national security and at-risk industry sectors.

• Developing the skills needed to engage with customers and so develop a rich understanding of how specific industry sectors value and act on Bureau information

• Collaborating with other specialised professionals across the space weather capability and the Bureau more broadly as the need arises.

Mandatory qualifications

A degree or diploma of an Australian educational institution in physical sciences, or a relevant area of study, or a comparable overseas qualification, which is appropriate to the duties; OR other comparable experience or qualifications, which are appropriate to the duties.

Copies of your academic transcripts, both undergraduate and postgraduate (where applicable), must be submitted as part of your online application via the ‘Optional Upload’ section in the application form. Applicants who studied overseas should refer to the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition website before applying.

Successful candidate will be required to obtain, and maintain, a Negative Vetting Level 2 Security Clearance from the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA).

Merit pool

The selection process will establish a merit pool that may be used to fill similar positions within 18 months.

How to apply

Applications can be lodged through the Bureau of Meteorology Careers.

Your application will consist of resume, contact details for two referees and a ‘800-word pitch’ that considers:

• position overview

• job responsibilities

• selection criteria

The Bureau of Meteorology provides trusted, reliable and responsive weather, water, climate, oceans and space weather services for the Australian region – all day, every day. Our Space Weather team focuses on providing alerts and warnings of space weather events that may impact the community, our aviation sector, energy markets, communications systems, Defence operations and satellites.