Postdoctoral researchers in AI weather applications at the Research Unit

Are you passionate about research and model development? Would you like to help develop a European foundation model for the land surface and atmosphere? Are you interested in geoscience and in managing and extracting information from large and complex datasets? Then this could be the job for you. At SMHI, you can work in a highly skilled and international environment where your expertise contributes to solutions for a more sustainable society.

About the Meteorological Research Unit

We are now looking to strengthen our Meteorological Research Unit, which conducts research and development in air quality, weather forecasting, climate analyses and atmospheric processes. The daily work includes observational data, meteorological analyses and the development of models for regional weather forecasting in the Nordic region, as well as remote sensing, climate analysis and air quality from urban to global scales.

You can read more about the unit here: https://www.smhi.se/en/research/research-units/meteorology

About the position

We are looking for up to two postdoctoral researchers to strengthen our research activities in machine learning, with a particular focus on generative AI and large-scale foundation models for the atmosphere and the geosciences.

The positions are linked to two different research initiatives within the unit. One role focuses on further development of the foundation model within the international Weather Generator project (https://player.vimeo.com/video/1050751131; https://github.com/ecmwf/WeatherGenerator), while the other focuses on an applied project in renewable energy, specifically cloud and wind forecasting, in close collaboration with Svenska kraftnät.

The main task in both roles is to work with a large-scale, pre-trained AI foundation model and adapt, extend and fine-tune it for specific weather- and climate-related applications. This includes integrating new, complex data sources, such as satellite and radar data, as well as developing dedicated models for specific forecasting purposes.

The work will be carried out in Unix/Linux environments on HPC clusters and in close collaboration with SMHI's experts in machine learning, remote sensing and meteorology. The roles offer excellent opportunities for international collaboration, scientific publication and specialisation in a rapidly developing research field.

About you

We are looking for candidates with a PhD in computer science, mathematics, mathematical statistics, physics, engineering or another relevant field. To be considered for the position, you must have a solid background in programming and machine learning, especially deep learning, enabling you to work independently without an extensive start-up period.

Requirements:

• Very good programming skills in Python and well-documented experience of PyTorch for deep learning.
• Good experience of development in Linux/Unix environments, including running computations on HPC clusters.

Meritorious qualifications:

• Experience of collaborative software development using GitHub. Ability to write efficient, testable and maintainable code ("clean code").

We would also like you to have experience or a strong interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Advanced machine learning, such as generative modelling, including diffusion, flow or transport models, or representation learning.
• Applied machine learning/deep learning in geoscientific domains, meteorology or atmospheric modelling.
• Handling and processing large, multidimensional datasets, such as satellite or radar data.
• Mathematical statistics, such as Bayesian inference, stochastic dynamical systems or uncertainty estimation/ensembles.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration or work in international research projects.

You enjoy problem-solving and have strong analytical skills. Curiosity and a willingness to continuously develop your expertise in a rapidly changing research field are essential. You are independent and take responsibility for your work, which you carry out in a structured way in order to deliver requested results on time. You are goal-oriented and able to set and meet deadlines. Good communication skills are important, and you are used to presenting and communicating results in both internal and external contexts.

You have good written and spoken English.

 

Type of employment: The position is a two-year fixed-term employment, with the possibility of a one-year extension, starting as soon as possible.

Location: Norrköping

Application deadline: 2026-09-20

Welcome with your application.

 

Read more about SMHI as an employer and our offer https://www.smhi.se/en/work-at-smhi/smhi-as-a-workplace.SMHI is an expert authority with a global outlook and a vital mission to forecast changes in weather, water and climate. With a scientific foundation, we use knowledge, research and services to contribute to a more sustainable society. Every hour of every day, all year round.SMHI is an Agency with a specific responsibility for civil preparedness. Therefore you could be appointed to be mobilized to SMHI for wartime posting.The employment may require security clearance. If so, an approved security screening, including a background check in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585), is a condition of employment.Bear in mind that all the documentation and information you send to SMHI in conjunction with your application will be classified as public documents. This means that all the material contained in your application, including attachments, may be disclosed if so requested by a party, on the condition that the information is not subject to confidentiality in accordance with the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act.For those with protected identity, contact the responsible HR specialist for the recruitment. You should not apply digitally, email your application, email personal information, or create an account in our recruitment system. You can find the contact details for the responsible HR specialist at the bottom of the ad.