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Research Software Scientist

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For our location in Hamburg we are seeking:

Research Software Scientist

Unlimited | Starting date: 01.09.2025 | ID: FHMA013/2025 | Deadline: 02.05.2025 | Full-time/Part-time

DESY, with more than 2900 employees at its two locations in Hamburg and Zeuthen, is one of the world's leading research centres. Its research focuses on decoding the structure and function of matter, from the smallest particles of the universe to the building blocks of life. In this way, DESY contributes to solving the major questions and urgent challenges facing science, society and industry. With its ultramodern research infrastructure, its interdisciplinary research platforms and its international networks, DESY offers a highly attractive working environment in the fields of science, technology and administration as well as for the education of highly qualified young scientists.

The DESY group "Information Technology" (IT) is participating in a variety of high profile national and European projects, evaluating new and innovative IT technologies. Software Engineering plays a role of utmost importance across all areas at DESY, including photon science and high energy physics. Improving sustainability at all levels of the software stacks is crucial for the development of future HEP software (as followed in activities such as Key4HEP or the HEP Software Foundation) as well as for future photon science data analysis workflows. Additionally, third-party activities linked with DESY and DESY IT infrastructures put further requirements that need to be considered.

About your role:

  • Setup of lab-wide software engineering activities
  • Assessment of needs in the heterogeneous software landscape at DESY, particularly in relation to software developments in photon science as well as high-energy physics, and in close coordination with the scientific computing activities at DESY
  • Requirements gathering in cooperation with the target groups
  • Development of a concept for HPC-aware software engineering with particular consideration of the needs and requirements of the user base (such as future use in the HEP community or for future light sources such as PETRA IV), including companies (such as considered in the scope of the recently launched Helmholtz activity HPC Gateway)
  • High-level consulting regarding efficient software solutions, taking into account the DESY computing infrastructure

Good reasons to join:

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well-being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work life balance we offer flexible working hours, variable part-time, job-sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family-friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV-AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland-Ticket) at both locations.

Unlimited

About you:

  • Successfully completed university degree in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or a related field
  • Successfully completed doctoral degree
  • In-depth expertise in scientific software engineering and software development, particularly in physics software relevant to DESY
  • In-depth expertise in modern efficient programming languages (Python, Julia, C/C++, etc.)
  • In-depth expertise in code development tools and methods (git, CI, Profiler, Debugger, etc.)
  • Strong teamwork and communication skills
  • Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken
  • International experience and networking in the field of Research Software Engineering, demonstrated through multi-year stays abroad and long-term international collaboration
  • Ability to work independently and to conceptualize software-related tasks
  • Ability to coordinate software activities across different disciplines

For further information please contact Philipp Neumann at +49 40 8998-2022 (philipp.neumann@desy.de).

Please submit your complete application documents (letter of motivation, CV and relevant certificates).

We look forward to receiving your application via our application portal:

Apply now

DESY promotes equal opportunities and diversity. The professional development of women is very important to us and therefore we strongly encourage women to apply for the vacant position. Applications from severely disabled persons will be given preference if they are equally qualified (sbv.desy.de).

You can find further information here:
https://www.desy.de/career/

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
Personalabteilung
Notkestraße 85
22607 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 8998-3392

Deadline for applications: 03.05.2025