Would you like to work on cutting-edge technology to develop sustainable solutions for horticulture and agriculture? Then we are looking for you! As Research Software Engineer you will be part of a team with enthusiastic researchers, working on a diverse set of projects for sustainable horticulture and agriculture. As Software Engineer you will contribute to the development of building blocks and applications for the research we do. You will contribute to increase the quality and stability of the developed tools.

Projects
Example projects you will be working on are the development of robotic applications to perform scouting or harvesting in the agricultural domain. To reduce the impact of pests and diseases on crop growth, scouting for early detection are key. That opens the opportunity to grow crops in a more sustainable way. Another example is to make the connection between the detected abnormality in a canopy, to a decision support system for a grower. You can also work on several digital twinning projects where we develop digital environments of a greenhouse or open field to test and optimize robot applications.
In these projects you are going to help developing general building blocks for vision and deep learning. You will be involved in the whole lifecycle of a project: from the first project idea, to meetings with the customer, discussion with the project team, different stages in the project, to deliver the end results.

Vision + Robotics
Besides being part of the team Greenhouse automation and Robotics, you will take part in The Vision + Robotics programme that brings together a diverse team of experts in computer vision, robotics, spectral imaging, machine learning and AI from all corners of WUR. This unique synergy creates a powerhouse of tech-savvy colleagues who collaborate on a project basis to create high-tech solutions that benefit both people and planet.

You will work here
This position is open in two teams, you will either work within the team Greenhouse Automation and Robotics in the Business unit Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower bulbs, which focus on innovations in the greenhouse horticulture sector. Together with industry, science and government, questions about greenhouse design, crop management and cultivation are analyzed and translated into application-oriented research and innovation processes.
The other position is open in the Business Unit Agrosystems Research, focused on agroecology, which refers to an integrated, interdisciplinary, even transdisciplinary perspective on studying agronomic systems and land use.

You have knowledge of designing, writing, implementing and documenting reliable software. You have strong communication skills to discuss with other researchers. This enables you to get a clear view of the requirements for getting projects running in the field.

You are an enthusiastic software engineer passionate for horticultural production systems with:

• a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science
• 3-5 year’s relevant working experience
• excellent programming skills in Python, experience with C++, C#,
• Knowledge of ROS2, Linux and Git is an advantage
• Experience in bringing your innovative solutions to practice
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques like deep learning and reinforcement learning is an advantage
• Strong communication and connection skills
• Initiative and capability of (project) control
• Good language skills in English and preferably in Dutch; C2

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C2. If you do not yet have this level, we will of course help you and you can go to our language center Wageningen in'to Language

You can see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as development opportunities. So if you do not yet have the track-record required in the vacancy, but do have solid work experience, we would also like to invite you to apply.

You will work here
This position is open in two teams, you will either work within the team Greenhouse Automation and Robotics in the Business unit Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower bulbs (www.wur.nl/glastuinbouw ), which focus on innovations in the greenhouse horticulture sector. Together with industry, science and government, questions about greenhouse design, crop management and cultivation are analyzed and translated into application-oriented research and innovation processes.
The other position is open in the Business Unit Agrosystems Research (www.wur.nl/agrosystems ), focused on agroecology, which refers to an integrated, interdisciplinary, even transdisciplinary perspective on studying agronomic systems and land use.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation hours by working more;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8,3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between € 3.088,- and € 5.737,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 10-11). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed. You will initially receive a one-year contract, which will be extended to an open-ended contract upon in mutual enthusiasm.
Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a multi-faceted position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.