Software Engineers (all genders)

The German Climate Computing Center (DKRZ) is the central simulation and data processing facility for the German climate and Earth system modelling community and one of the leading facilities in this area. DKRZ operates super‑computers in the highest performance class and one of the largest data and archive systems worldwide, and participates in many national and international projects aiming to improve the software and infrastructure for climate modelling.

DKRZ is offering positions for people who want to help shape the future of climate data infrastructure and enable scientists to make full use of the coming wave of high‑resolution climate model data generated in Germany and across Europe. The goal is to transform these data into robust, policy‑relevant information for climate research, assessment, and decision‑making.

Job Opening: Software Engineers (all genders)

In this role you will help design, build and operate cutting‑edge data services that make vast volumes of climate model data – at the petabyte scale – accessible to the international climate science community. The focus of the position is on developing innovative data access and catalog services to provide seamless access to data across disk, cloud, and tape storage, and to create a centralized data catalog integrated into a worldwide federated data infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and operate federated data catalogs based on standards such as STAC.
• Design, deploy and maintain containerised data services in modern distributed environments.
• Work closely with international partners to architect federated data services, including data catalogs integrated with message queues for ingestion and cloud‑native data access services.
• Implement and run event‑driven systems with technologies such as Apache Kafka to enable efficient data flows across the European climate data infrastructure.
• Design and build interactive and asynchronous analysis workflows on distributed computing infrastructure.
• Create and maintain asynchronous access layers for transparent retrieval of large‑scale climate data from tape‑based archives.
• Strengthen service operations through centralized DevOps practices, including Docker‑based deployments and CI/CD pipelines, to provide reusable components for international Tier sites.

Qualifications / Your Profile

• University degree in Computer Science, Geoscience, or a related field.
• Strong interest in modern technologies and innovative software.
• Excellent, proven software engineering skills, especially in Python, scripting, and collaborative/open‑source software development.
• Hands‑on experience with distributed systems and messaging technologies such as Apache Kafka.
• Practical knowledge in the deployment and operation of containerised services, for example with Docker.
• Familiarity with handling large‑scale climate or geospatial datasets, including data formats such as NetCDF and Zarr.
• Understanding of data catalog and metadata systems, including concepts such as indexing, cataloguing, and STAC.
• Motivated to explore and apply modern technologies in distributed climate data infrastructures, including S3 / cloud environments, Docker, Python‑based AI and data analysis tools, and message queue systems.
• Enjoy working in an international team and be open to travel.
• Strong communication skills in English; German is a plus.
• Team player with strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across interdisciplinary and international environments.

Even if you do not meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply if this role excites you and you believe you can make a strong contribution to the establishment of a new climate data infrastructure in Europe.

How We Work

• Utilising agile methodologies like Scrum / Kanban, engaging in pair programming, conducting code reviews, and practising test‑driven development.
• Working collaboratively in small teams, embracing new technologies, and sharing knowledge with colleagues.
• Flexible working hours in our modern office located in the heart of Hamburg or remote work options.
• Collaboration with world‑leading experts in climate modelling, climate data infrastructure, and European research services.

Duration and Work Plan

The position is based at the German Climate Computing Center (DKRZ) in Hamburg. Job starts as soon as possible and is offered for a fixed term of three years. Payment will be in accordance with the German public service positions (TVöD‑Bund according to the applicant’s qualification), including extensive social security plans. The conditions of employment follow those of the German civil service.

Application Process

In your cover letter, please highlight your experience and qualifications related to software engineering & management, data coordination, and climate science research, if applicable.

Deadline for Applications

Applications will be accepted until May 10th, 2026.

Join us at DKRZ to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of climate and Earth system modelling through advanced data handling and optimisation techniques. Together, we can drive forward the science of climate change through technological progress, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.

For further information and enquiries, please contact Karsten Peters‑von Gehlen ( ).