GFZ is Germany’s national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth’s system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this according to our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.
For Section 1.4 Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics (department ‘Geodesy’), we are looking for a motivated:

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS:

• A university degree (MSc or equivalent, PhD is an advantage) in Geoinformatics, Computer Science, Geodata Science, Geography, Environmental Sciences, Remote Sensing, or a related field
• Experience working in interdisciplinary research or development projects
• Experience in team coordination or technical guidance in software projects
• Solid programming skills in Python (approx. 5 years) and familiarity with frameworks such as FastAPI
• Experience or interest in Software as a Service (SaaS) and FAIR data principles
• Practical knowledge of software development tools (e.g., Git, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with systems administration, databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB), and cloud platforms (Google Cloud, AWS, Azure)
• Experience working with large earth observation datasets (e.g., UAV, satellite data) and/or high-performance computing frameworks
• Familiarity with agile software development (Scrum, Kanban) and a collaborative working style
• Awareness of IT security standards and a pragmatic approach to system optimization
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with a preference for teamwork and knowledge sharing
• Excellent spoken and written English; German is an advantage but not required
  Start date: As soon as possible
  Fixed-term: 31st December 2027 with possibility for tenure track
  Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
  Working hours: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
  Place of work: Potsdam

• Coordinate and plan the development of remote sensing and geospatial software solutions, focusing on system reliability and performance
• Facilitate teamwork and manage the software development process in an agile, collaborative environment (e.g., Scrum)
• Contribute to developing methods for processing, visualizing, and analyzing geospatial data from various sources
• Ensure adherence to standards such as the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
• Organize the design of IT architectures and support cloud-based infrastructures
• Participate in system analysis, integration, testing, and deployment with attention to usability and accessibility
• Facilitate knowledge exchange through workshops and training sessions on software development, data management, and GIS
• Support in preparing project proposals for external funding opportunities
• Work closely with interdisciplinary teams and foster partnerships with national and international research institutions