Scientific analyst programmer inventory (IT-02 / IT-03)

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

A sample will be done on May 22, 2024.

***FOR THIS PROCESS/INVENTORY***

🚩You must submit a complete application, consisting of screening questions which clearly demonstrate how you meet the screening criteria (education and experience) and a résumé. The screening questions will be used as the primary tool in the screening process and the résumé will only be used to substantiate the information provided.

🚩The information provided during the application process must enable the Selection Board Members to understand HOW (clear explanation of duties), WHEN and for HOW LONG (date and length of time in months or years), and WHERE (employer and geographic location) the experience was acquired. Your answer should clearly identify your role and explain relevant responsibilities and/or actions that you took. Additionally, please be sure to provide sufficient information regarding dates & duration, scope of work, project or job complexities (as appropriate).

🚩We are accepting applications until March 31, 2025 to create an inventory of qualified candidates. However, you should apply now! Applications will be pulled as positions are identified for staffing.

🚩The retest period for re-assessment within the context of this selection process is 6 months from the date of elimination at either the preselection, written exam, interview, or reference stage of the process. If, after having been eliminated, you resubmit an application to this process, before the retest period has elapsed, your application will not be considered.

🚩The Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) is one of the 5 largest centres in numerical environmental forecasting in the world. This centre brings together expertise in research and development of atmospheric, oceanic, hydrodynamic and urban digital modelling, as well as two of the most powerful super-computing platforms allowing us to provide numerical data and forecasts as well as the most recent observations to help decision-making and planning and to inform citizens of the potential impacts of the weather in the medium and long term.

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ONLY APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON-LINE USING THE 'APPLY ON-LINE' BUTTON ABOVE WILL BE CONSIDERED since some of the essential and asset qualifications will be assessed through your application. Please ensure to plan 1-2 hours (if your resume is already written) to answer the questions that are included in the online application process.

If you answer all the questions for which you meet the requirements, you will significantly increase your chances in having an opportunity. Failure to answer the questions will result in your application being rejected.

**Please note that your answers to the questions included in the online application process as well as your résumé will be used to assess your ability to communicate effectively in writing.**

Work environment

📌Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is a department that strives to offer a diverse, inclusive, innovative, and dynamic environment for its employees.

The Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) is one of the 5 largest centres in numerical environmental forecasting in the world. This centre brings together expertise in research and development of atmospheric, oceanic, hydrodynamic and urban digital modelling, as well as two of the most powerful super-computing platforms allowing us to provide numerical data and forecasts as well as the most recent observations to help decision-making and planning and to inform citizens of the potential impacts of the weather in the medium and long term.

We are currently seeking individuals who are interested in how mathematics and physical sciences are used in weather and environmental predictions and help us solve the High Performance Computing (HPC) challenges ahead.

You could bring your computer science expertise in the domain of:
• Scientific programming
• HPC parallelization and optimization
• Applied artificial intelligence and machine learning into modeling and product
• Big Data management and processing
• DevOps

If you feel you can contribute your expertise to improve our weather and environmental prediction systems in a multidisciplinary team with passionate people, then apply today! Many stimulating and gratifying challenges await you in our organization!

Intent of the process

📝This inventory will be used to staff current and future information technology (IT-02 and IT-03) positions within Environment and Climate Change Canada in Dorval (Quebec), at the Meteorological Research Division (MRD) and the Canadian Center for Meteorological and Environmental Prediction (CCMEP), with an imperative bilingual language requirement, a reliability or secret security clearance and various conditions of employments and tenures. It may also be used to staff other positions (acting, assignment, term or permanent positions) with various locations whose security profiles, language requirements (english essential, french essential and bilingual), and length of employment may vary depending on the position being filled and in various locations within Environment and Climate Change Canada in Canada.

6 streams are planned on this inventory:

🔹Scientific programming group:
🔹Stream 1: Scientific analyst programmer (IT-02)
🔹Stream 2: Scientific analyst programmer senior (IT-03)
🔹Stream 3: Scientific analyst programmer - Team lead (IT-03)

🔺 Scientific programming group, artificial intelligence specialist:
🔺Stream 4: Scientific analyst programmer, artificial intelligence specialist (IT-02)
🔺Stream 5: Scientific analyst programmer senior, artificial intelligence specialist (IT-03)
🔺Stream 6: Scientific analyst programmer senior, artificial intelligence specialist– Team lead (IT-03)

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

🎓REQUIRED EDUCATION:

Degree (bachelor) from a recognized postsecondary institution in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics and Computer science, Physics and Computer science, artificial intelligence or another specialty relevant to the position to be staffed. At the manager's discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience may also serve as an alternative to the level of education requested. If you apply for educational equivalency, it is your responsibility to demonstrate how your combination of education, training and experience is equivalent to the required level of education.

When this level of education has been met by means of this alternative, it is met only for the position concerned, and must be re-evaluated for other positions where this alternative has been specified by the manager.

Degree equivalency

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• All streams 🔹🔺
1. Recent and significant* programming experience, developing, maintaining, or improving software with at least one high level language such as but not limited to Python, C, Java, C++, Go, Rust, Fortran.

• Stream 1,2 and 3 🔹
2. Recent and significant* experience in programming in a Unix/Linux environment.

• Stream 4,5 and 6 🔺
3. Recent and significant* experience in development and application of artificial intelligence techniques (machine learning, deep learning).

Additionally for IT-03 positions (stream 2, 3, 5 et 6):
4. Recent and significant* experience in a leadership role in the planning, development and implementation phases of an information management/information technology (IM/IT) project or project component.

(*) “Recent and Significant”: Implies the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of related activities for a period of approximately:
• One (1) year in recent years (approximately eight (8)) for IT-02 (stream 1 and 4) positions
• Three (3) years in recent years (approximately eight (8)) for IT-03 (stream 2,3,5 and 6) positions

For each experience criteria provided, candidates must clearly indicate:
• the duration of experience,
• when the experience was acquired,
• the link with the experience criterion requested.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE:

• All streams 🔹🔺
1. Knowledge of Unix/Linux operating systems;
2. Knowledge of at least one of the following high-level languages such as but not limited to Python, C, Java, C++, Go, Rust, Fortran.
• Stream 1,2 and 3 🔹
3. Knowledge of Linux shell (one of Bash, Ksh, Dash, Csh, sh).
• Stream 4,5 and 6 🔺
4. Knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts

(*) Different levels of knowledge will be used to distinguish between positions at level IT-02 (streams 1 and 4) and IT-03 (streams 2, 3, 5 and 6).

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

1. Application Development
Definition: ability to design, develop, construct, enhance, support, and maintain application software.
2. Working with others
Definition: demonstrating effective interpersonal skills & working cooperatively and effectively within & across organizational units to achieve common goals.
3. Initiative
Definition: identify immediate actions to address current issues and opportunities to improve performance and achieve goals. Addresses pressing issues while remaining aware of emerging opportunities.
4. Adaptability
Definition: willingly adapts to ever-changing circumstances, constantly willing to learn, and able to adjust knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet new challenges in response to changing contextual realities.
5. Communication
Definition: use language as a flexible tool to gather and share information, exchange ideas, and openly consider a multitude of viewpoints, adapting style and content to each person, audience, and circumstance.

For IT-03 (stream 2,3,5 and 6) level positions
6. Leadership
Definition: Ability to lead, motivate, influence, or guide individuals, teams, or organizations to act toward achieving a common goal.

(*) For competencies 1 to 5, different levels will be used to distinguish between positions at level IT-02 (streams 1 and 4) and IT-03 (streams 2, 3, 5 and 6).

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates MAY be required to possess ONE OR MORE of the following qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position to be filled, as they may be considered an essential or asset qualification. However, it is not necessary to possess all the asset qualifications, organizational needs or advertised operational requirements that will be used to make an appointment in this process. Candidates must clearly demonstrate in their application how they meet the education and experience criteria listed in the assets qualifications if they meet any. Failure to provide this information in the requested format for the asset qualifications may result in being considered not met.

EDUCATION:

• Certificate in artificial intelligence from a recognized post-secondary institution

• Degree (bachelor) from a recognized postsecondary institution in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics and Computer science, Physics and Computer science, machine learning or another specialty relevant to the position to be staffed

• Master’s degree from a recognized postsecondary institution in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics and Computer science, Physics and Computer science or another specialty relevant to the position to be staffed.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

1. Experience supervising employee(s)

2. Recent and significant* experience in a leadership role in the planning, development and implementation phases of an information management/information technology (IM/IT) project.

3. Experience working on models with fluid dynamics or physical processes

4. Experience in managing and processing geospatial data

5. Experience in code performance evaluation and optimisation

6. Experience with parallel programming (MPI, Threads, OpenMP or OpenACC)

7. Experience with GPU programming for high performance calculations

8. Experience with cloud infrastructure, concepts and/or service delivery (Azure or AWS preferably)

9. Experience working with Big Data

10. Experience with virtualisation (ex: docker, apptainer/singularity, Openshift, k8s)

KNOWLEDGE:

1. Deep knowledge* of one of the following interpreted programming languages: Python, Linux Shell, TCL

2. Deep knowledge* of one of the following programming languages: FORTRAN, C, C++

3. DevOps: Continuous integration / Continuous delivery (CI/CD), automation, git

(*) “Deep knowledge” implies that you are completely comfortable with using most aspects of the language and can use it to express complex ideas efficiently.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: visible minorities, women, people with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Be available for occasional travel.

Conditions of employment

Various security clearance: Reliability, Secret

✈️For some positions:
1. Availability and consent to work overtime, sometimes on short notice.
2. Some positions offered may require willingness and ability to be on standby to give support on a rotational basis, 24-7;

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

Qualifications may be assessed using a variety of tools and methods. Therefore, a written exam, interview, portfolio, reference checks or other assessment methods may be used in this process.

Candidates must make a reasonable effort to be available for scheduled evaluations.

A passing grade will be established for each qualification assessed. However, achieving a passing grade should not be taken as a guarantee of an appointment or that the candidate will be called to the next stage of the assessment process.

A cut-off point could be used, and a top-down approach employed if there were enough candidates to fill positions immediately and in the foreseeable future.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Apply online