Research software engineer

Research software engineer

Are you eager to apply your software engineering skills to advance public health? At RIVM, we offer you the opportunity to make a significant impact by developing and enhancing infectious disease models and software tools. Join a leading team of researchers to create cutting-edge open-source software that supports vital health initiatives in the Netherlands and globally. If you're passionate about combining technology with public health research and want to be part of a team that makes a real difference, this opportunity is for you!

What will you do?

As part of our multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate with modelers, epidemiologists, and other experts to support the development of infectious disease models and software tools. You will work on a variety of projects, ranging from short-term tasks to multi-year collaborations. Your tasks will be:

• Assist researchers in making model code efficient, testable, reproducible and publicly available;
• Leading the whole software development process. From gathering requirements with a world-leading research staff to iteratively design, implement, and document software tools;
• In collaboration with researchers maintaining open-source software, and accompanying documentation;
• Develop tools and infrastructure for use in outbreak responses;
• Identify and incorporate algorithms and techniques to improve tool performance, robustness, and generality.
• Contribute to/coach/mentor on research software best practices, by implementing guidelines for collaborative coding, code review, and code improvements within the research team.

Unique to this position

• Collaborate closely with experts from diverse fields, including epidemiology, microbiology, virology, and immunology, both within the RIVM and internationally.
• Play a crucial role in the development of software that supports national and international infectious disease control efforts.
• Opportunity to lead initiatives that directly influence public health policies in the Netherlands.
• The possibility of salary scale 11 for candidates with proven extensive relevant experience and multiple years of experience in a similar position.

The team

You will be part of the dynamic and international Unit for Modelling Infectious Diseases, which includes modelers and health economists who are socially engaged and committed to public health. The team works closely with a range of experts, including epidemiologists, statisticians, virologists, and immunologists, both within the RIVM and through numerous external collaborations.

We promote a hybrid working environment with flexible hours, allowing team members to find a work-life balance that suits them.

Functie-eisen

Who are you?

We are looking for someone with a strong background in computer science or a related field, complemented by experience in research software development. Ideally, you have:

• An MSc in Computer Science or equivalent experience;
• Demonstrable experience in R, with additional experience in other languages like C, C++, Julia and Python for improving the efficiency of the codebase. When possible, sharing a Github/Gitlab link or anything similar would be appreciated;
• Experience with version control (e.g., Git) and standard development practices, including writing modular, maintainable, and testable code;
• Experience in developing research software, methodologies, packages, or open-source frameworks;
• The ability to work both independently and as a part of a collaborative team with diverse (technical) backgrounds;
• Strong organizational skills to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects effectively;
• Pleasure in both coaching and supporting research teams on software development best practices;
• The desire to keep up to date with relevant developments in the field, including initiating collaborative discussions with internal and external partners;
• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in Dutch and English.