Software Developer positions for building Resilience Hub for Plant Genomics

Join the CropXR Data Engineering team and help build resilient, sustainable, climate-adapted crops in an exciting collaboration between biologists, computational scientists, and software engineers.

CropXR (https://cropxr.org/) is an interdisciplinary Dutch research initiative that combines cutting-edge biology, data science, and AI to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops. We bring together academic researchers, plant breeders, and technology experts to build the Resilience Hub, a digital platform that integrates genomic, phenotypic, and environmental data to model and predict crop performance under stress conditions.

To strengthen our software and data infrastructure, we are expanding our technical team with several new engineering roles. As part of this team, you will collaborate closely with biologists, computational scientists, and software engineers to build the tools and services that make CropXR’s vision a reality.

We are hiring five software developers to collectively cover the areas below; candidates may contribute to one or more roles, fully or in part. Roles are not fixed boxes but may evolve or switch over time depending on individual strengths and interests.

Job descriptions

Front-End (Web) Software Developer

You will play a key role in shaping the user experience of ResilienceHub-Web, the public and partner-facing platform of CropXR.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the ResilienceHub-Web application.
• Standardize front-end components for a consistent UX.
• Integrate existing visualization tools (e.g. genome browsers, data explorers).
• Design new components such as landing pages and workflow navigation.
• Collaborate with backend and data teams to ensure performance and functionality.
• Ideal profile
• Strong experience with modern web frameworks (React, TypeScript).
• Familiarity with visualization libraries (e.g. D3.js, Plotly) and APIs.
• Affinity with data-driven science or bioinformatics platforms is a plus.

Back-End Software Developer

You will connect the systems and services powering the CropXR infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integration software linking databases, APIs, backend and web components.
• Build the ResilienceHub-CLI for advanced platform access.
• Design efficient data models and interfaces for large-scale biological data.
• Work with pipeline and DevOps teams on scalable services.

Ideal profile

• Experience with Python, FastAPI, or similar frameworks.
• Knowledge of REST/GraphQL APIs, Docker, and relational/non-relational databases.
• Comfortable in interdisciplinary, open-source environments.

Pipeline / Data Engineer

You will build robust, reproducible pipelines supporting CropXR’s analytics.

Responsibilities

• Design and standardize pipelines for genomic, phenotypic, and environmental data.
• Implement automated ingestion, validation, and metadata workflows.
• Integrate pipelines into the ResilienceHub ecosystem.
• Translate research needs into scalable data processes.

Ideal profile

• Proficiency with workflow engines (Nextflow, Snakemake, CWL).
• Experience with data modeling, FAIR principles, and version control.
• Background in plant genomics or scientific computing is a plus.

DevOps / QA Engineer

You will safeguard the reliability, security, and quality of CropXR’s software.

Responsibilities

• Manage infrastructure, deployments, monitoring, and backups.
• Develop CI/CD pipelines and automated testing.
• Maintain software quality and documentation standards.
• Promote best practices across teams.

Ideal profile

• Experience with Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD tools.
• Knowledge of QA methodologies and observability tools.
• Proactive approach to automation and reliability.

Job requirements

• Proven software engineering experience.
• Proficiency or familiarity in Python and relevant libraries.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Proficient in English.
• A proactive, collaborative mindset
• A completed university degree in a relevant field
• Due to Dutch regulations, only candidates from EU countries or those with a valid Dutch work permit are eligible for this position.
• Experience with plant biology, genomics, or field phenotyping data is a plus—but not required. We value diverse backgrounds and perspectives and invite you to reflect on how your skills and experiences can contribute to the project and one or multiple roles. Most importantly, you are eager to apply your skills to impactful, interdisciplinary challenges in a collaborative academic setting.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements and a collegial, mission-driven atmosphere.
• Work at the intersection of AI, biology, and sustainable agriculture.
• Collaborate with top researchers and engineers across Dutch universities and institutes.
• Contribute to open, impactful science that supports climate-resilient food systems.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements and a collegial, mission-driven atmosphere.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years Temporary
• A job of 36-40 hours per week.
• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3546 - €5538 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Additional information
This position is with the Delft Bioinformatics Lab, part of the Computer Science department of the Delft University of Technology under supervision of Prof. Marcel Reinders, m.j.t.reinders@tudelft.nl and Thomas Abeel, t.abeel@tudelft.nl. In addition, this position is embedded in the DataXR part of the CropXR national program, for which Auke Damstra, a.j.damstra@uu.nl, is the CTO.

Questions can be addressed to Thomas Abeel, t.abeel@tudelft.nl.

Due to Dutch regulations, only candidates from EU countries or those with a valid Dutch work permit are eligible for this position.

Application procedure
To apply for the position of Data Science Engineer for DataXR, please provide the following before January 12, 2026 via the application button:

Cover Letter: A brief (1 page) cover letter explaining your interest in the position, how your background and skills align with the job requirements, and how your profile fits with the 5 described roles.

AI statement: A brief statement on how you used GenAI for your job application.

Curriculum Vitae (CV): An up-to-date CV detailing your education, work experience, technical skills, and any relevant projects or achievements.

Portfolio: A portfolio of relevant projects that showcase your experience relevant to the position.

Transcripts: If you’re a recent graduate, copies of your academic transcripts.

A pre-employment screening may be part of the selection procedure. You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.