Scientist (f/m/d) Scientific software development and user support in the field of materials research

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie; Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Remote-work options

30 days annual leave

Structured onboarding program

Continuing education options

Family-friendly support

Health and wellbeing programs

Job summary

The Scientific Computing Center (SCC) at Karlsruher Institut für Technologie invites applications for an exciting Research Software Engineer role. You will work in an agile team on HPC-related materials research, developing domain-specific languages and interfaces to improve usability, productivity, and data reuse.

You will publish results and support end users while maintaining repositories, with strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and independent problem solving.

Qualifications

• Master's degree and PhD in STEM fields.
• Strong Python programming skills.
• Experience in software development in a scientific-technical environment.
• Experience with Git, Gitlab, and Github; CI/CD is an advantage.
• Basic knowledge of high-performance computing.
• Very good English language skills.
• Linux, MongoDB knowledge, and other languages (C++, Fortran) are advantageous.
• Interest in interdisciplinary projects and independent work within a team.
• Experience with cooperation partners and customers is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Engage in research software engineering for HPC in materials research.
• Develop domain-specific languages and tools to improve usability and productivity.
• Plan, implement, test new features and perform bug fixes.
• Maintain software repositories and databases.
• Publish results at conferences and seminars.
• Support users and occasionally organize tutorials.

Skills

Python

Git/Gitlab/Github

CI/CD

Linux

MongoDB

C++

Fortran

Education

Master's degree

PhD degree

Tools

Git

MongoDB

Linux

Job description

The Scientific Computing Center (SCC) is a central scientific institution at KIT that supports research, teaching, and innovation, and provides cross-functional services within KIT and to external parties.

Curious about an exciting and versatile role in an agile team? Discover more about SCC as your professional place to be:https://www.scc.kit.edu/en/aboutus/working-at-scc.php

Your Tasks

You will be involved in research software engineering (RSE) in the context of high-performance computing in the field of materials research. An important focus of your work is the development of domain-specific languages and supporting tools as interfaces to improve the usability of the codes, models, and data, as well as the productivity of end users, the reusability of code and data, and thus to avoid unnecessary calculations. You will conduct methodological research and actively participate in the planning, implementation, and testing of new features, as well as in bug fixes. Another task is the continuous maintenance of software repositories and databases. You will publish the results of your methodological research at conferences and in seminars. Furthermore, you will support users in the use of the newly developed tools in their projects and occasionally organize tutorials for them.

Your Profile

• You hold a finished Study (Masterlevel) and a PhD degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, or another STEM subject
• Strong programming skills in Python
• Strong knowledge of software development, ideally with experience in a scientific-technical environment
• Experience with Git, Gitlab, and/or Github; experience with continuous integration is an advantage
• Basic knowledge of high-performance computing
• Very good English language skills
• Linux, database knowledge (MongoDB), and other programming language skills (such as C++, Fortran) are an advantage.
• Interest in working on an interdisciplinary project with scientific and technical challenges, as well as solving the tasks in the project independently or together with an interdisciplinary team in a short period of time
• Experience in dealing with cooperation partners and customers is an advantage.

We Offer

• Science for Impact:

  Engage with topics of societal relevance—in an excellent scientific environment that enables change.

• Flexible Working Hours:

  Take advantage of flexible‑hours schemes, remote‑work options, and a 30‑day annual leave entitlement to achieve an optimal work‑life balance.

• Career‑Building and Developmental Opportunities:

  We provide you with a structured onboarding program, a broad spectrum of continuing‑education options, and personalised support, thereby fostering your individual growth.

• Family-friendliness:

  The “KIT‑Family+” program assists you in reconciling work and family life by offering childcare services, holiday activities, a parent‑child office space, and assistance with caring for relatives.

• Stay Healthy:

  Under the motto “Fit at KIT – Body, Mind and Soul,” we promote your well‑being through fitness classes and mental‑health programmes.

• Individualised Extra Benefits:

  Enjoy a corporate pension (VBL), a €25 monthly contribution toward a JobTicketBW, plus a broad selection of cultural and recreational programmes.

Job location Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (and Karlsruhe)

Salary Salary category 13 TV-L; classification is based on personal and professional qualifications.

Contract duration two years

Contact person in line-management
Dr. Ivan Kondov
[e-mail]

Dr. Jasmin Hörter
[e-mail]

If you have general questions about the application process, please contact
DominikMeschar
Personalservice (PSE)
[e-mail]
[phone]

At KIT we value the diversity of our employees; different perspectives and backgrounds enrich our work. We therefore welcome applications from all candidates. Women are especially encouraged to apply.Applications from recognized severely disabled individuals are given preferential consideration when qualifications are equal.

Application up to:2026.11.16
Job posting number:407/2026