Senior Research Software Engineer for Digital systems for sustainability science

Leiden Univ; Netherlands; Hybrid; EUR 40,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Home-working allowance

ABP pension

End-of-year bonus (8.3%)

Job summary

Leiden University’s Institute of Environmental Science (CML) seeks a Senior Research Software Engineer to lead digital infrastructure supporting sustainability research. You will set architecture, compute environments, cloud/hybrid setups, security, and data governance with a junior RSE and collaboration with scientists.

You will shape institute‑wide standards for reproducibility, translate scientific needs into scalable solutions, and contribute to grant proposals.

Qualifications

• A PhD in computer science, software engineering, environmental informatics, AI, or a closely related field.
• Strong Python skills; additional languages/stack knowledge is a plus.
• Experience in system administration / platform engineering for research or data‑intensive environments.
• Experience with software development architecture (service design, APIs, observability, reliability).
• Expertise in data governance and FAIR practices.
• Knowledge of database administration, data catalogs, and metadata standards.
• Excellent communication skills and commitment to open science, documentation, and reproducibility.
• Experience with grant writing and technical leadership in projects is a plus

Responsibilities

• Owning the technical roadmap for CML’s software and data ecosystem: architecture, standards, and long‑term sustainability.
• Designing and operating research platforms & infrastructure
• Defining and implementing institute‑wide software engineering and data management protocols for FAIR, metadata, documentation, versioning, licensing, and release processes.
• Leading reproducible computational pipelines (workflow engines, packaging, CI/CD)
• Mentoring junior developers/researchers; run code reviews and technical design reviews.
• Expanding collaborations with LIACS and other university initiatives on research software and data.
• Advising on and support computing & storage solutions; liaise with central IT, LIACS, and faculty services, as well as Surf and e-Science center.
• Contributing to project acquisition: help develop grant proposals, technical work packages, budgets, and risk & data management plans.

Skills

Python

System administration

Platform engineering

Software architecture

Data governance

Metadata standards

Database administration

Communication skills

Grant writing

Technical leadership

Education

PhD in computer science or related field

Job description

Senior Research Software Engineer for Digital systems for sustainability science

Job requisition Id: 16685

Job type: Academic staff

Contract hours min: 38

Contract hours max: 38

Applying is possible until: 31 December 2026

The Institute of Environmental Science CML at Leiden University is looking for a Senior Research Software Engineer with a research systems and infrastructure profile. You will play a central role in developing and maintaining‑ the digital infrastructure powering CML’s work in industrial ecology, sustainability assessment, and circular economy.

You will have freedom to shape a research infrastructure strategy with the support of a Junior RSE and in collaboration with the scientific staff of the institute. This includes making foundational decisions about software architecture, computing and storage environments, cloud/hybrid setups, security, and long‑term data governance.

Beyond technical leadership, you will help define institute wide standards for reproducibility, collaborate closely with researchers to translate scientific needs into scalable solutions, and contribute to project acquisition through grant writing and collaborative proposals. You will architect robust platforms and workflows that enable transparent, reproducible, and high-performance environmental research—supporting not just individual projects, but the institute’s long‑term digital vision.

What you will do

In your role, you will work closely with a Junior Research Software Engineers, Principal Investigators and PhDs to strengthens the scientific software engineering basis of our institute. Specifically, you will be responsible for tasks such as:

• Owning the technical roadmap for CML’s software and data ecosystem: architecture, standards, and long‑term sustainability.
• Designing and operating research platforms & infrastructure
• Defining and implementing institute‑wide software engineering and data management protocols for FAIR, metadata, documentation, versioning, licensing, and release processes.
• Leading reproducible computational pipelines (workflow engines, packaging, CI/CD)
• Mentoring junior developers/researchers; run code reviews and technical design reviews.
• Expanding collaborations with the institute of computer science of Leiden University LIACS and other university initiatives on research software and data.
• Advising on and support computing & storage solutions; liaise with central IT, LIACS, and faculty services, as well as Surf and e-Science center.
• Contributing to project acquisition: help develop grant proposals, technical work packages, budgets, and risk & data management plans.

Where you will work

Leiden University is situated between Amsterdam (36 km) and The Hague (15 km) and was founded in 1575, making it the oldest university in the Netherlands. It houses around 35,000 students originating from 112 nationalities, facilitated by approximately 8,000 staff.

The Institute of Environmental Science (CML) at Leiden University offers a vibrant and supportive community of scientists committed to the challenges of sustainability. CML distinguishes itself for its attention to professional development in coordination with the interests of its scientists. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, expand your knowledge, collaborate across disciplines, and experiment in a friendly environment fully embodying academic freedom across all career levels.

The core focus of CML is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. CML focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources and preservation of natural capital and biodiversity. CML has a culture of mutual support and collaboration between researchers. CML has two Departments: Industrial Ecology (CML‑IE) and Environmental Biology (CML‑EB). Presently, about 150 fte (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. CML further collaborates with TU Delft and Erasmus University in the Leiden‑Delft‑Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE‑CfS), and with the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre.

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Sciences. The Faculty of Science is a world‑class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expanding fundamental knowledge by curiosity and looking beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio‑pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,800 staff and almost 6,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

• A PhD in computer science, software engineering, environmental informatics, AI, or a closely related field.
• Strong Python skills; additional languages/stack knowledge is a plus.
• Experience in system administration / platform engineering for research or data‑intensive environments
• Experience with software development architecture (service design, APIs, observability, reliability).
• Expertise in data governance and FAIR practices
• Knowledge of database administration, data catalogs, and metadata standards.
• Excellent communication skills and commitment to open science, documentation, and reproducibility.
• Experience with grant writing and technical leadership in projects are a plus

What we offer

• The opportunity to shape CML’s long‑term digital and computational strategy with real institute‑wide impact.
• A collaborative academic setting with the freedom to make fundamental technical decisions.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities, including publications on digital solutions for sustainability.
• Close collaboration with the computer science institute of Leiden University (LIACS) and access to university‑wide networks on research software and data management.
• An internationally diverse and welcoming team focused on sustainability challenges.

We offer an initial one-year contract, with an option to extend to a permanent contract based on performance, following the pay scale 10 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary ranges from € 3.546 to € 5.538 gross per month based on a full‑time position.

At our institution, we believe in flexibility and work‑life balance! With a full‑time position (38 hours per week), you are entitled to 232 vacation hours per year, which is equivalent to 30.5 vacation days (based on a 38‑hour work week). If you value flexibility, you have the freedom to adjust your working hours. For example, you could choose to work 40 hours per week, earning extra compensation hours. Alternatively, if you prefer a shorter work week, you can work 36 hours per week by using some of your vacation days to create more time for yourself. You’ll work closely with your supervisor to tailor your schedule in a way that suits both your needs and the team’s.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Holiday allowance (8%)and anend‑of‑year bonus (8.3%)
• An attractivepension schemewith ABP, ensuring your financial well‑being both now and in the future
• Extensive options for secondary employment conditions: You can explore options such assabbaticals,paid parental leave, and theindividual choices model, which allows you to exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits like anadvantageous sports subscription,bicycle scheme, andchildcare options
• Hybrid working options: If your role allows, you can enjoy the flexibility of working from home within the Netherlands
• Home‑working allowance: You’ll receive ahome-working allowance(for both workdays and internet), and the university will provide you with alaptopand support for creating a comfortable home office

At the Faculty of Science, we value inclusiveness and strive for a diverse community with equal opportunities for all. We give full support to our staff in achieving their potential to become independent academic researchers and teachers. For more information about our policy on diversity and equality please go to the diversity page on our website: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/dossiers/diversity

Female researchers are also welcome to join the Researchers In Science for Equality network of the Faculty of Science (rise.nu).