Research Software Engineer

TU Delft is seeking a talented and motivated Research Software Engineer (RSE) for a temporary position on an exciting project funded by Open Science NL.

Job description

Simulation software needs to run fast while remaining intuitive enough for researchers worldwide to find, access, integrate, and reuse in their projects. This position tackles these requirements directly by contributing to OPynSim: a new project that will deliver a robust Python API for the OpenSim (C++) framework and develop a novel file format specification designed to encapsulate entire research studies into a single, easily shareable file.

In this role, you will bridge the gap between high-performance C++ and user-friendly Python ecosystems. You will have a unique opportunity to see the direct impact of your code, as you will work closely with researchers to integrate OPynSim into active research projects. Because this project is grounded in open-source principles and open development, your contributions will immediately be visible globally, allowing you to build an impressive public portfolio.

There is an opportunity for you to work on any part of the entire software development stack—from low-level core engine programming to high-level API design, deployment, and community documentation. Depending on a combination of your competencies/interests and the project’s requirements, your responsibilities may include:

• Core engine development: contributing to the underlying C++ codebase, focusing on physics engine development, performance optimization, and musculoskeletal modelling capabilities.
• Language interoperability: developing seamless Python bindings to C++ using tools like nanobind, ensuring excellent language interop and a Pythonic user experience without sacrificing performance.
• Greenfield innovation: taking ownership of standalone sub-projects and novel ideas leveraging OPynSim, driving self-managed, clean-slate software development.
• Quality assurance: implementing rigorous unit testing workflows using GoogleTest for C++ and pytest for Python to ensure software reliability and robustness.
• Writing documentation, examples, and specifications: authoring clear technical specifications and user-facing documentation using Sphinx to empower the global research community and polish the project’s outputs.
• Research integration: collaborating directly with researchers to embed OPynSim into active research pipelines, gathering feedback to iteratively improve the software.

Job requirements

This role strongly requires:

• A master’s or PhD degree in a STEM field, or equivalent professional experience in engineering scientific/research/3D software.
• Provable familiarity with software development (e.g. courses taken, work experience, example code/projects).

Expertise in any of these topics is highly desirable:

• Developing software for larger systems with legacy compatibility concerns, especially systems written in C++/Python.
• C++ and its surrounding ecosystem (e.g. CMake, googletest, stdlib).
• Python and its surrounding ecosystem (e.g. PyPi, numpy, pandas, polars, pytest), especially idiomatic Python API design and the specifics of the Python language.
• Language interoperability and foreign function interface (FFI) design, especially using nanobind and pybind11 to create Python bindings to C++.
• Physics engines, rigid body mechanics, or musculoskeletal modeling, especially OpenSim.
• Writing technical documentation and/or specifications, especially writing Python API documentation in Sphinx or writing file specifications.

About TU Delft

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

At TU Delft, people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, staff provide high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students. Together, they create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering

Research and education at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering focus on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes, and mechanical systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It is a large and versatile faculty, creating unique connections by combining different disciplines.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 1 year, temporarily with a possibility for extension.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.