Research Software Engineer in computational mechanics & scientific machine learning

École nationale des ponts et chaussées; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A prestigious engineering school in France is looking for a Research Software Engineer to develop open-source tools in computational mechanics and machine learning. The successful candidate will work closely with PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to maintain high-quality software for research purposes. A PhD in a relevant field and strong programming skills are essential. This is a funded position for at least 4 years, with an excellent opportunity in a collaborative research environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in programming and scientific computing with Python, Julia, or C++.
• Experience in developing scientific/engineering software with knowledge of opensource practices.
• Solid understanding of numerical methods, computational modelling, machine learning, or continuum mechanics.

Responsabilités

• Develop, extend, and maintain the project’s constitutive modelling library based on JAX.
• Support integration of material models within the FEniCSx finite-element library.
• Ensure software quality through continuous integration, testing, documentation, and version control.

Connaissances

Programming and scientific computing (Python, Julia, C++)

Developing scientific/engineering software

Numerical methods, computational modelling, machine learning or continuum mechanics

Collaboration in a research team

Familiarity with HPC FE software like FEniCSx

Formation

PhD in computational mechanics, applied mathematics or computer science

Outils

FEniCSx

JAX

Pytorch

Description du poste

Organisation/Company École nationale des ponts et chaussées Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 31 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Jun 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Reference Number 101229452 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? Yes

Offer Description

Position summary

Within the scope of the ERC Consolidator project AUTOMATIX (see details below), we are seeking a Research Software Engineer (RSE) to support the development of advanced opensource tools at the interface of computational mechanics, finite element modelling, and scientific machine learning. The RSE will contribute to the design, implementation, and maintenance of open-source software libraries that integrate phenomenological and ML-based constitutive modelling, finite element technology, and microstructural simulation tools.

This position is ideal for candidates who enjoy working in a research environment, building high-quality and sustainable scientific software, and collaborating closely with a team of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, extend, and maintain the project’s constitutive modelling library based on JAX.
• Support the integration of material models within the FEniCSx finite-element library and contribute to new tools for data generation, model calibration, and full-field identification.
• Ensure software quality through continuous integration, testing, documentation, and version control workflows.
• Coordinate contributions from the research team to ensure smooth, coherent, and efficient integration of new developments.

Team support and collaboration

The RSE will assist the researchers (PhD students and postdoctoral fellows) involved in the AUTOMATIX project in using and extending the software stack. He/she will provide guidance on coding practices, testing, and workflow design. He/she will participate in technical discussions, project meetings, and scientific publications.

What we offer

This full-time position is fully funded for at least 4 years within the ERC project, in which the RSE will play a central role. The RSE will have the opportunity to shape the development of a state-of-the-art, publicly released software ecosystem and collaborate with experts in computational mechanics and machine learning.

How to apply ?

Please submit a detailed CV, at least 2 recommendation letters or contact information of people who can recommend you, a short statement of interest and links to relevant software projects by email to Jeremy Bleyer, [e-mail] – Deadline: March 31st 2026

The AUTOMATIX project

The AUTOMATIX project aims to improve the modelling of material behaviour in solid mechanics. Accurately capturing complex phenomena (such as plasticity, damage, or environmental effects) remains a major challenge in many applications. AUTOMATIX leverages advances in machine learning to automatically build models from experimental data while directly embedding physical and mathematical knowledge within the learning architecture. This hybrid approach produces more reliable models, consistent with mechanical laws and less dependent on large datasets.

A key outcome will be an open-source, modular, and high-performance library accessible to both academia and industry. AUTOMATIX will be applied in particular to the modelling of 3D-printed concrete at the Navier laboratory, to better predict complex phenomena such as material curing and crack formation.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

The RSE should hold a PhD, ideally in computational mechanics, or applied mathematics/computer science. The candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong experience in programming and scientific computing (Python, Julia, C++, etc.).
• Experience in developing scientific/engineering software and good knowledge of opensource development practices.
• Solid understanding in at least one of the following areas: numerical methods, computational modelling, machine learning or continuum mechanics.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a research team, provide guidance and training to non-specialist developers, and communicate scientific results clearly.
• Previous experience with HPC FE software like FEniCSx and/or machine-learning frameworks (JAX, Pytorch, etc.) is a plus but not required.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Contract: 4 years full-time position, funded by ERC grant AUTOMATIX - 101229452.

Start date: As soon as possible

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute École nationale des ponts et chaussées Country France City Champs-sur-Marne Postal Code 77455 Marne-la-Vallée cedex 2 Street 6 et 8 avenue Blaise-Pascal - Cété Descartes Geofield