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 supercomputers in the highest performance class and runs one of the largest data and archive systems worldwide, while participating in national and international projects to improve software and infrastructure for climate modelling.

Software Engineers (all genders)

DKRZ offers positions for software engineers who want to help shape the future of climate data infrastructure and enable scientists to use high-resolution climate model data available in Germany and across Europe. The goal is to transform these data into robust, policy‑relevant information for climate research, assessment and decision‑making.

Key Responsibilities

• Federated Data Services: Develop and operate federated data catalogs based on standards such as STAC.
• Service Design & Deployment: Design, deploy, and maintain containerized data services in modern distributed environments.
• European Collaboration: 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.
• Event‑Driven Infrastructure: Implement and run event‑driven systems with technologies such as Apache Kafka to enable efficient data flows across the European climate data infrastructure.
• Distributed Analysis Workflows: Design and build interactive and asynchronous analysis workflows on distributed computing infrastructure.
• Archive Access Services: Create and maintain asynchronous access layers for transparent retrieval of large‑scale climate data from tape‑based archives.
• Operations & DevOps: 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

• You have a university degree in Computer Science, Geoscience, or related field .
• You have a strong interest in modern technologies and innovative software.
• You have excellent, proven software engineering skills, especially in Python , scripting and collaborative / open‑source software development.
• You have hands‑on experience with distributed systems and messaging technologies such as Apache Kafka .
• You bring practical knowledge in the deployment and operation of containerized services, for example with Docker .
• You are familiar with handling large‑scale climate or geospatial datasets , including data formats such as NetCDF and Zarr .
• You have an understanding of data catalog and metadata systems , including concepts such as indexing, cataloguing and STAC .
• You are 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 .
• You enjoy working in an international team and are open to travel.
• You have strong communication skills in English; German is a plus .
• You are a 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

• Utilizing agile methodologies like Scrum / Kanban , engaging in pair programming, conducting code reviews, and practicing 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 start as soon as possible and the position is offered for a fixed‑term of 3 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.

For further information and enquiries, please contact Karsten Peters‑von Gehlen: