Job vacancy: Data Engineer / Software Developer

You are enthusiastic about designing and developing software solutions, but you seek to do more than just write code. You get really passionate when the data you process and the code you write serve a clear societal mission. When the solutions you develop improve people’s lives and help organizations innovate.

You are a real do-er, and the idea of working in a team of scientists doesn’t scare you, but makes you curious: how can you use your coding and programming skills to apply research to the real world? To enable more aspects of society to utilize the potential of data? You believe in open and FAIR data, and want to dedicate your time to make this a reality.

If this sounds familiar, we are looking for you!

The Brightlands Institute for Smart Society (BISS) aims to empower people and organizations through the socially responsible application of digital technologies. You will work with BISS’ research teams to design and develop software solutions that will support scientific projects, where main responsibilities include the design and implementation of data architectures and infrastructures that enable efficiently (re-)use of data, advice on how data might be used more appropriately, implementing user-facing applications, and end-to-end data flow.

Position description

• Design, document, implement and maintain efficient code, software and large-scale databases to support data science research using standard methodologies and good practices
• Collaborative design and implement ETL processes and data processing pipelines including: data cleaning, data acquisition, data integration, data quality testing, data indexing, and persistent access interfaces and co-develop (and implement) FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data infrastructures
• Develop software supporting the ETL process and FAIR data infrastructures
• Join various projects and sub-teams and interact with outside parties set in research, society, and the commercial world
• Contribute and/or lead to reporting of results in scientific workshops, conferences, and journals
• Opportunity to learn the latest technologies and apply them in new projects

Requirements

• 3+ years’ experience in software development
• BSc (or higher) in computer science or equivalent.
• Fluent in English (better than IELTS 7, CEFR C1, or equivalent) and have strong verbal and written communications skills
• Expertise in data processing and ETL tooling, cleaning and harmonization
• Knowledge of both relational and no-SQL (e.g. knowledge graph) database design, creation and maintenance
• Passion for open and re-usable (FAIR) data
• Proficient in programming languages supporting the data engineering and machine learning workflow (such as Python, Java, JavaScript)
• Expertise in version control systems (e.g. Git repositories) and knowledge of CI/CD platforms
• Knowledge of the predictive modelling and the machine learning workflow/pipeline, or experience in business intelligence
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and a high degree of professionalism
• Experience in software development project management
• Broad interest in scientific research and in supporting the research process

Conditions of employment

• We offer a rewarding career at a young university in the heart of Europe, with a distinctly global perspective and a strong focus on innovative research and education;
• The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO), supplement with local UM provisions. For more information on terms of employment, please visit our website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM
• The salary depends on qualifications and work experience, with a maximum of € 5230 per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours/week). On top of this, there is an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance;
• We offer an attractive package of fringe benefits such as reduction on collective health insurance, substantial leave arrangements, parental leave packages, attractive retirement benefits, and application for attractive fiscal arrangements for employees from abroad;
• 38 hours per week (less is a possibility with a minimum of 30,4 hours a week);
• The duration of the appointment can be decided together and depends on evaluation and available funding;
• We provide a stimulating, collaborative and interdisciplinary work environment with excellent opportunities for professional and personal development;
• If in the candidate’s interest, we are willing to explore the possibility to join the Ph.D. program at UM;
• Maastricht University has an excellent international reputation, and Maastricht itself is a beautiful, open-minded city located in the center of Western Europe.

Applying

Please send your CV and cover letter to Judith Kamalski (BISS’ Managing Director).

Employer

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 20,000 students and 4,400 employees. Reflecting the university’s strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

https://www.biss-institute.com/

BISS – Brightlands Institute for Smart Society is an interfaculty institute, designed as the UM platform for translational data-driven innovation, research & education joining expertise and staff from all UM faculties, in the context of the Brightlands Smart Services Campus ecosystem. The institute is built around a team of researchers fostering interdisciplinary innovation on the edge of fundamental research and societal challenges. BISS enhances the collaborative application of academic knowledge and expertise from a variety of fields to address business and societal challenges accelerating innovation and creating societal impact in a digitizing world. BISS aims to empower people and organizations through the socially responsible application of digital technologies.

BISS is located in Heerlen at the Brightlands Smart Services Campus (BSSC). The BSSC ecosystem combines science, entrepreneurship, talent and state-of-the-art facilities in one place. The campus enables research institutes and companies to innovate faster and more efficiently and attracts innovative start-ups. The knowledge institutions collaborate closely with the campus organization in various programs.