Research Associate

The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for research into the geosphere. With around 1,650 employees, we develop a sound understanding of systems and processes of the solid Earth as well as strategies and options for action to counter global change, understand natural hazards and sustainably secure energy and raw material requirements.

As a partner in Geo.X, the GFZ has access to an excellent network of other geoscience institutions in Potsdam and Berlin. This largest regional concentration of geoscientific competence in Europe offers first-class cooperation and development opportunities.

For section 2.7 Space Physics and Space Weather (department 2 Geophysics), we are looking for a:
Research Associate (f_m_x) Data Science, Machine Learning and Scientific Programming

**Reference Number 9964**:
The near-Earth space environment is hazardous and poses a significant risk for satellites and humans in space. Currently, there are hundreds of operational commercial satellites with a revenue stream of tens of billions of dollars per year. There are also a number of other satellites that assist in navigation, weather prediction, and telecommunication. Frequent satellite failures caused by space weather have fueled a surge in interest with specification and prediction of space weather during the last decade.

Our section "Space Physics and Space Weather" is working on understanding of the dynamical evolution of the hazardous space radiation environment and developing the tools for specification and prediction of the adverse effects of space environment using models and data assimilation. We study fundamental processes in the near-Earth environment and focus on understanding fundamental processes responsible for the evolution of space radiation. Our research will help safely design and operate satellites and maintain ground networks. In our research we try to bridge our theoretical studies with high performance computing to develop tools that can be used by engineers.

**Your responsibilities**:

- Maintain data and code repositories
- Edit websites
- Develop real-time visualization on the website
- Develop various programming tools for scientific codes and data analysis
- Document and test existing codes
- Adopt scientific codes for different scientific problems

**Your qualifications**:

- Master's degree in computer sciences or natural sciences
- Knowledge of data engineering and data science concepts
- Several years of working experience with IT programming or scientific programming
- Knowledge of Unix operating systems and maintenance of Unix Workstations
- Experience with various programming languages, including C++, Python and Matlab
- Ability to work with large datasets
- Experience with machine learning, data mining and data assimilation is a plus
- Knowledge of git, docker, kubernetes, and/ or metadata is a plus
- Ability to work within a team
- Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

**Start date**: 1st January 2025
**Fixed-term**: 2 Jahre (mit der Option auf Verlängerung)
**Salary**: Die Stelle ist nach TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost) mit der Entgeltgruppe 13 bewertet. Die Eingruppierung erfolgt nach den tariflichen Bestimmungen und den entsprechenden persönlichen Voraussetzungen.
**Working hours**: Vollzeit (derzeit 39 h/Woche); Die Stelle ist grundsätzlich teilzeitgeeignet.
**Place of work**: Potsdam

**What we offer**:

- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
- Flexible working hours and conditions
- Institute day-care centre on site
- Working at the Albert Einstein science park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
- Work place within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus

**Have we piqued your interest?**: