Software Engineers (all genders) The German Climate Computing Center
(DKRZ) is the central simulation and data processing facility for the
German climate and Earth system modelling community and is one of the
leading facilities in this area. DKRZ not only operates upercomputers
in the highest performance class and one of the largest data and
archive systems worldwide, we also participate in many national and
international projects aiming to improve the software and
infrastructure for climate modelling. Job Opening: Software Engineers
(all genders) DKRZ is offering positions for people who want to help
shape the future of climate data infrastructure and enable scientists
to make full use of the coming wave of high-resolution climate model
data generated in Germany and across Europe. The goal is to transform
these data into robust, policy-relevant information for climate
research, assessment, and decision-making. As we enter a new era of
kilometer-scale climate modelling, major European flagship projects
are redefining how scientific data can support IPCC assessments and
inform international climate policy. To support the development and
operation of new climate model data exploitation services as part of
several European projects, the Data Management and Data Analysis
departments of DKRZ are looking for Software Engineers (all genders) .
In this role, you will help design, build, and operate cutting-edge
data services that make vast volumes of climate model data - at the
petabyte scale - accessible to the international climate science
community. The focus of the position is on developing innovative data
access and catalog services to provide seamless access to data across
disk, cloud, and tape storage. At the core of this work is a
centralized data catalog integrated into a globallyfederated data
infrastructure. Key Responsibilities ● Federated Data Services:
Develop and operate federated data catalogs based on standards such as
STAC. ● Service Design & Deployment: Design, deploy, and maintain
containerized data services in modern distributed environments. ●
European Collaboration: Work closely with international partners to
architect federated data services, including data catalogs integrated
with message queues for ingestion and cloud-native data access
services. ● Event-Driven Infrastructure: Implement and run
event-driven systems with technologies such as Apache Kafka to enable
efficient data flows across the European climate data infrastructure.
● Distributed Analysis Workflows: Design and build interactive and
asynchronous analysis workflows on distributed computing
infrastructure. ● Archive Access Services: Create and maintain
asynchronous access layers for transparent retrieval of large-scale
climate data from tape-based archives. ● Operations & DevOps:
Strengthen service operations through centralized DevOps practices,
including Docker-based deployments and CI/CD pipelines, to provide
reusable components for international Tier sites. Qualifications /
Your Profile ● You have a university degree in Computer Science,
Geoscience, or related field . ● You have a strong interest in
modern technologies and innovative software. ● You have excellent,
proven software engineering skills, especially in Python , scripting,
and collaborative / open-source software development. ● You have
hands-on experience with distributed systems and messaging
technologies such as Apache Kafka . ● You bring practical knowledge
in the deployment and operation of containerized services, for example
with Docker . ● You are familiar with handling large-scale climate
or geospatial datasets , including data formats such as NetCDF and
Zarr . ● You have an understanding of data catalog and metadata
systems , including concepts such as indexing, cataloguing, and STAC .
● You are motivated to explore and apply modern technologies in
distributed climate data infrastructures, including S3 / cloud
environments, Docker, Python-based AI and data analysis tools, and
message queue systems. ● You enjoy working in an international team
and are open to travel. ● You have strong communication skills in
English; German is a plus. ● You are a team player with strong
problem-solving skills and the ability to collaborate effectively
across interdisciplinary and international environments. Even if you
do not meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply
if this role excites you and you believe you can make a strong
contribution to the establishment of a new climate data infrastructure
in Europe. How we work ● Utilizing agile methodologies like Scrum /
Kanban, engaging in pair programming, conducting code reviews, and
practicing test-driven development. ● Working collaboratively in
small teams, embracing new technologies, and sharing knowledge with
colleagues. ● Flexible working hours in our modern office located in
the heart of Hamburg or remote work options ● Collaboration with
world-leading experts in climate modelling, climate data
infrastructure, and European research services Application Process
Duration and Work Plan: The position is based at the German Climate
Computing Center (DKRZ) in Hamburg. Job start as soon as possible and
the position is offered for a fixed-term of 3 years . Payment will be
in accordance with the German public service positions ( TVöD-Bund
according to the applicant’s qualification ), including extensive
social security plans. The conditions of employment follow those of
the German civil service. Deadline for Applications: Applications will
be accepted until May 10th, 2026. In your cover letter, please
highlight your experience and qualifications related to software
engineering & management, data coordination, and climate science
research, if applicable. Join us at DKRZ to enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of climate and Earth system modeling through advanced
data handling and optimization techniques. Together, we can drive
forward the science of climate change throug