Job Offer from January 08, 2024
The Max Planck Society is Germany's premier research organization. The currently 86 Max Planck Institutes and facilities conduct basic research in the service of the general public in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences and the humanities.
The Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) is located at the Science Campus Hamburg-Bahrenfeld and investigates dynamical phenomena within matter down to the elementary timescales of atomic and electronic motions, the femtosecond or attosecond timescale. The focus is on the use of short wavelength ultrafast probes, such as X-rays or electron pulses, which are capable of measuring atomic and electronic structures in matter of all kinds.
The MPSD currently consists of three scientific departments focusing on solid state physics and theoretical methods in these fields. The MPSD is a partner in the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL), collaborating with the Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), European XFEL (EuXFEL) and the University of Hamburg in the development of science based on the X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs).
We are looking for a Research Software Engineer (f/m/d) for Computational Science and High Performance Computing.
Starting date: as soon as possible
Interested in how scientists write and use software to analyse and visualise data? Run simulations and make their work reproducible? Use laptops, workstations and HPC systems to support their work?
If so, you may be interested in the recently established Scientific Support Unit for Computational Science at the Max Planck Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter: We combine research software engineering services with research into computational science.
Our mission is to provide our scientific colleagues a mixture of training, support, and collaborative work in computational matters to enable and contribute to leading edge scientific research in the respective fields of the scientists - typically in physics or material science.
The unit provides a High Performance Computing (HPC) installation, and supports software engineering for simulation and data analysis, data science and visualization. Your tasks include the software development for simulation, for data-analysis and visualisation, some system administration, and the delivery of training to students and staff.
Collaboration with scientists of the institute takes a key role. The SSU group researches computational methods and infrastructures to stay at the forefront of computational science.
Your backround, experience and skills
We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic person to work on scientific software development, often aimed at high performance computing. The ideal candidate should have a university degree (master) in computer science, physics or related fields, and the ability to work and collaborate within a diverse team. Ideally, you have experience and knowledge in the following areas:
- In-depth Python knowledge, including libraries relevant for numeric computation and data analysis
- Good knowledge of a compiled language (such as C, C++, Fortran, Rust, ...)
- Enthusiasm for good software engineering methods (such as version control, testing, CI)
- Talented communicator in English (German skills are welcome but not required)
- Experience working as a researcher or as a software engineer
- Performance engineering experience (such as making existing software faster or more memory efficient)
- High Performance Computing experience as a user
- Willingness to work interdisciplinary and acquire new skills
Any of the following is a benefit, but none are essential:
- Linux system administration
- Machine learning
- Experience designing or contributing to open source software
- Use of GPUs or other acceleration hardware
- Experience designing and delivering training on computational topics
- Experience working with large data sets (for example hdf5)
- Photon science, condensed matter, or computational magnetism experience
Our offer
You will be part of a team of scientists and engineers with complementary and overlapping experience, and work in multiple interdisciplinary collaborations to advance science. Training on the job is offered and expected - computational science is a quickly moving field.
We offer an innovative and well funded environment, providing time and trust to support the best scientists with the best computational science to carry out curiosity-driven research. Watch our image film on YouTube "The Max Planck Society – in 75 Seconds"
We offer an innovative environment to support high quality research within the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of matter and within the scientific support unit. The Computational Science unit in the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and the Dynamics of Matter is embedded in the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL), and well connected with the Max Planck Computing and Data Facility, national and international networks such as the research software engineering community, and further collaboration partners.
We offer an attractive remuneration up to TVöD E12 according to the German public pay scale. The appointment is for two years with the possibility to be made permanent.
The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. We welcome applications from all background. The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.
Your application
To apply, please complete the online application form and attach your English CV and motivation letter as well as a list at least two possible contacts for references. The screening of applications and interviews will start from 26 January 2024 and will continue until the positions is filled.
Please get in touch informally with questions you may have before applying: Prof. Dr. Hans Fangohr, e-mail: hans.fangohr@mpsd.mpg.de.
Detailed information about the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter.
We look forward to your application.