Research Software Engineer

Tilburg University; Tilburg; Hybrid; EUR 43,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Home working allowance (€2 p/day)

Internet allowance (€25 p/month)

Commuting reimbursement

Pension through ABP

Training opportunities

Job summary

Tilburg University invites applications for a Research Software Engineer to contribute to ReproHub, a large-scale open science infrastructure project. You will work across frontend/backend, APIs, and AI components with researchers, developers, and library staff in a hybrid setup.

The role emphasizes open science, reproducibility, and secure software development, with a focus on integration across multiple tools and platforms at Tilburg University.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of relevant experience as a full-stack developer or similar.
• Ability to work in an academic/research setting.
• Minimum English CEFR C1 and Dutch B2 proficiency.
• Experience with Python and modern frontend tech (React/Next.js).
• Experience with API-based integration of AI tools and LLMs.

Responsibilities

• Develop frontend and backend components for ReproHub tools and services.
• Design and maintain APIs and integrations between components.
• Implement LLM functionality and context-retrieval approaches.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and Kubernetes deployment.
• Create user interfaces for researchers and support staff.
• Review code, manage documentation, and mentor student developers.
• Translate stakeholder needs into robust technical solutions.
• Support secure, reproducible, and responsible AI practices.

Skills

Full-stack development

Academic environment

English proficiency (C1)

Dutch proficiency (B2)

API integration

LLM integration

Git workflows

Web app development

Cloud & containers

CI/CD

Tools

Python

React

Next.js

APIs

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD pipelines

Open-source LLMs

Job description

Research Software Engineer (24587)

Tilburg University | Library & IT Services

is looking for a

Research Software Engineer

Department: IT Development, Team Tilburg AI

Contract size: 0,7 – 1.0fte fte (28 - 40 hours per week)

Intended start date: November 1st 2026

Would you like to build open-source software that helps researchers make their work more transparent, verifiable, and reusable?

Tilburg University is looking for a Research Software Engineer for ReproHub, a large-scale open science infrastructure project funded by OpenScienceNL/NWO. In this role, you will work with researchers, research software engineers, library experts, student developers, Tilburg University’s AI development and cloud team (tilburg.ai), and national partners such as ODISSEI.

ReproHub develops infrastructure for researchers working with secondary and sensitive data. The project builds on existing Dutch open science infrastructure, including ODISSEI and Tilburg Science Hub, and aims to strengthen reproducibility, transparency, and public trust in science.

Your position

As a research software engineer based at Library & Information Services at Tilburg University,you will contribute to the technical development and integration of ReproHub, a large-scale open science infrastructure project recently funded byOpenScienceNL/NWO.Specifically, you will be part of the project’s technical development team and help translate stakeholder needs into reliable, maintainable, and secure software.

ReproHub (see project proposal for details) consists of four connected deliverables:

• ReproBuddy: an AI tool based on open-source LLMs to improve reproducibility packages using commonly used workflows in the social sciences
• ReproRun:a system tovalidateresearch results and provide certificates
• OpenScienceHub.nl: scaling Tilburg Science Hub to become a national platform with accessible educational material on Dutch and European open science infrastructure

Important activities include:

• Developing frontend and backend components for ReproHub’s tools and services;
• designing, building, and maintaining APIs and integrations between the different components;
• Contributing to API-based integration of LLM functionality, including context-retrieval approaches and open-source large language models;
• Helping build and maintain CI/CD pipelines, containerized deployment workflows, and Kubernetes-based deployment;
• Developing and improving user interfaces for researchers, research support staff, and other users;
• Reviewing code, auditing pull requests, and maintaining technical documentation;
• Collaborating with student assistants and supporting them in writing high-quality, maintainable code;
• Translating stakeholder needs into technical choices, prototypes, and production-ready solutions;
• Contributing to software quality, security, privacy, reproducibility, and responsible AI practices.

Your profile

• Ability to work and think at an academic or bachelor level
• At least 1 year of relevant experience as a full-stack developer, software engineer, research software engineer, or similar.
• Minimum CEFR level C1 English and B2 Dutch.
• Comfortable building web applications with Python and modern frontend technologies such as React, Next.js, or comparable frameworks, and has experience with Git-based workflows, code review, and writing clean, maintainable code.
• Experience with API-based integration of LLM functionality, ideally including retrieval-augmented generation or related context-retrieval approaches, working with open-source large language models, and connecting AI components to web applications or research tools.
• Experience with, or willingness to learn, technical infrastructure such as Docker, CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes, cloud deployment, monitoring, and secure software development practices.
• Understanding the importance of software quality, security, privacy, reproducibility, and responsible technology use, especially in research and open science contexts.
• Enjoys working in a multidisciplinary team with researchers, developers, library experts, IT colleagues, and student assistants, and can translate user needs into practical technical solutions.
• Is accurate, curious, pragmatic, and communicative; takes ownership of technical work while remaining open to feedback from users and colleagues.

Our offer

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• Employment of 0.7 – 1.0 fte (28 - 40 hours per week).
• Salary between €3.873 - €5.264 gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Engineering & Application Manager 4, salary scale 9). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is avacancywhose work is temporarily externally funded byNWO,You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of12months, which can be continued for a maximum duration ofup to48 months.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month).
• Reimbursement of sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• Options model for additional leave, pension, bicycle or personal training.
• Moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• 30% rule for international employees (if applicable).
• Pension through ABP.
• Ample training offer: personal development, leadership, education, research or language courses.
• Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities.
• A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport.

The selection committee consists of:

• Hannes Datta,associateprofessorTilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM)

You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on November 1st.

This vacancy has been published internally for 7 days, prior to being published externally. In case of equal suitability, our preference is for an internal candidate.

Due to safety considerations, a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is part of the selection procedure.