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Application Deadline: 1st of August 2025 Possible start date: 1st of October 2025 Duration: 2+ years, Job location: Waldeck Pyrmonthlaan 14, 6865HH, Doorwerth, the Netherlands Brutto monthly salary: starting at €4.320 gross per month (with possible bonuses) Job type: research assistant Fields: Earth Observation data, High Performance Computing (HPC), machine learning, AI, geoinformatics, spatial data science, Employer: OpenGeoHub foundation
OpenGeoHub foundation is a not-for-profit research foundation with headquarters at Doorwerth (half way between Wageningen and Arnhem), the Netherlands. We aim to become world experts in producing global and regional spatial predictions of soil, vegetation and climatic variables. For this, we use high performance computing / optimisation and state-of-the-art machine learning.
OpenGeoHub foundation is looking for a computer scientist, expert in High Performance Computing and Big data (Earth Observation Images) infrastructures, with affinity to help optimize code, reduce bills for electricity and make sure all servers run smoothly 24/7 even when you are on holidays! The special focus of your work will be on installing, maintaining and optimizing High Performance Computing infrastructure based on file services (e.g. S3, ceph, seaweedfs), distributed computing (Slurm, Hadoop), robust scalable back-end solutions (based on Docker), and optimizing data storage using cutting edge compressing methods. Most of our data is geospatial, usually a time-series of EO images (https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18585) and binary files such as parquet and similar. You would primarily contribute to the Horizon Europe projects Open Earth Monitor (OEMC), Open Geospatial Carbon Registry (OGCR), but also actively contribute to the OpenLandMap.org, EcoDataCube.eu and the AI4SoilHealth.eu projects.
OpenGeoHub would provide HPC infrastructure (that includes own copy of Landsat, MODIS and numerous other global and regional data sets; >3PB of data running on some 40 servers) and would lead and supervise the candidate jointly with other partner organizations on the OEMC and OGCR projects. You would be in charge of the computing infrastructure including for replacing disks, cables and chips.
You would also support projects that are implemented by networks of researchers outside of OpenGeoHub. OpenGeoHub works closely with IIASA (Geo-wiki.org), Utrecht University, Wageningen University (Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing), EURAC Research, The Woodwell Climate Research Center, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry (Biogeochemical Integration Department), Institute for Geoinformatics (ifgi) / University of Münster, GFZ Helmholtz German Research Centre for Geosciences, GiLAB.rs, and many other organizations. Our clients / collaborating organizations also include: World Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy, UNCCD, Conservation International and others.
“Come to OpenGeoHub and help us improve, optimize and extend HPC infrastructures for Machine Learning so we can contribute together to the global good.”
• You have an MSc degree in the field of computer science and/or geoinformatics and/or remote sensing; combined with a background in computing and mathematical engineering.
• You have a minimum 3 years of work experience.
• You are familiar with Earth Observation data, data cubes and image processing algorithms.
• You have minimum coding & geocomputing skills in data science programming languages such as Python, Bash, R, and/or Julia.
• You are native with linux-based operating systems and can easily organize to update and maintain 40+ servers and 20+ workstations.
• You have a solid understanding of computing languages C++, Rust or similar.
• You are familiar with OSGeo tools especially GDAL, QGIS and similar.
• You are competent at, and enjoy solving hardware problems, replacing electronics and trying new technology solutions for computing.
• You are fluent in English.
Questions regarding this position can be directed to Tom Hengl, email: tom.hengl@opengeohub.org . Applications, including (1) a CV, (2) a statement of your interest and vision, and (3) a self-assessment based on the minimum requirements, should be uploaded via this link. Please prepare all documents as a PDF before starting the application.
We offer a full-time position for 2 years, with possible extension, within a very stimulating international innovation and research environment aiming at solving global and regional environmental problems at large scales. You will work in a dynamic work environment with enthusiastic colleagues usually from a variety of countries.
• Starting salary will be: starting from €4.320 gross per month with possible bonuses;
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary;
• Minimum of 29 holidays if in full-time employment;
• Professional and personal development programs.
We strongly encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with other colleagues. Flexi-hours and occasional remote working (1 day a week) are also possible upon agreement with the OpenGeoHub Management Board.
