Software Platform Engineer - Self-Driving Labs (m/f/d)

Center for the Transformation of Chemistry CTC

80539 München

Bewerbungsfrist nicht angegeben

Your role and context

The Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC), a national research hub in Germany, is building software infrastructure to power self-driving chemistry labs.
Newly founded, supported by €1.25 billion in funding (until 2038), with a focus on digitalization, automation, and standardization of chemical research workflows.
Planned starting date: Aug 1, 2026. The position is limited to two years with an option for extension.
Location: Leipzig site (office and future laboratory site)

Backend Platform Development: Implement and maintain the core software platform for self-driving lab systems, including the service layer, internal APIs, and data flow between subsystems
Build and maintain the workflow orchestration backend that schedules, coordinates, and monitors automated experiment execution across robotic and computational systems
Implement communication patterns and interfaces between the robotics layer, AI/ML decision engines, and data infrastructure
Ensure platform reliability, fault tolerance, and reproducibility — including logging, error handling, and system state management at scale
Apply software engineering best practices: version control, CI/CD pipelines, testing strategies, and documentation standards

Build backend data pipelines that capture, structure, and route experimental data from automated workflows into downstream storage and analysis systems
Develop internal tooling and developer interfaces that allow engineers, computer scientists, and chemists to interact with the platform without coupling to its internals
Evaluate and adopt relevant open-source technologies and contribute back to the scientific software community in line with CTC’s open science mission

Work closely with engineers, computer scientists, and chemists to translate research requirements into robust backend systems
Provide technical support to team members across disciplines
Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation to ensure long-term maintainability and knowledge transfer

M.SC. or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. A PhD is an asset but not required
Three to six years of hands-on experience in backend software development or platform engineering
Experience building distributed systems, service-oriented or microservice architectures, and internal APIs
Experience building data pipelines and managing data flow across heterogeneous systems
Track record of working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, ideally in a research or R&D setting
Familiarity with workflow orchestration frameworks (e.g., Prefect, Airflow, or equivalents) is an asset
Proficiency in Python; additional languages (Go, TypeScript, C++) are a plus
Strong understanding of software design patterns, distributed systems, API design, and event-driven architectures
Proficiency in Git, CI/CD tooling, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and modern software development practices
Strong and effective communication in English (oral and written)
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research environment

Salary: TVöD (Bund) depending on qualifications
Dynamic, collaborative, and international environment
High degree of personal responsibility and freedom to pursue independent ideas
Individual support services fostering professional and personal growth
Access to strong scientific and economic networks at regional, national, and international levels
Conditions and social benefits of public service, including 30 days of vacation, annual special payments, and pension benefits (VBL)
Subsidy for a public transport job ticket

Interested candidates are invited to submit a detailed application including a cover letter through the online application portal.

HR team as the point of contact for applications. Learn more at https://transforming-chemistry.org/

CTC aims to be one of the largest research centers for chemistry in Europe and emphasizes open science, innovation, and industry partnerships. The center promotes gender equality and diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.