Research Software Engineer
Are you passionate about open-source software development and eager to bridge the gap between high-performance computing and accessible research tools?
Job description
TU Delft is seeking a talented and motivated Research Software Engineer (RSE) to join our team in a temporary position for an exciting project funded by Open Science NL. Simulation software needs to run fast while remaining intuitive enough for researchers worldwide to find, access, integrate, and reuse in their projects. This position tackles these requirements directly by contributing to OPynSim: a new project that will deliver a robust Python API for the OpenSim (C++) framework and develop a novel file format specification designed to encapsulate entire research studies into a single, easily shareable file.
In this role, you will bridge the gap between high-performance C++ and user-friendly Python ecosystems. You will have a unique opportunity to see the direct impact of your code, as you will work closely with researchers to integrate OPynSim into active research projects. Because this project is grounded in open-source principles and open development, your contributions will immediately be visible globally, allowing you to build an impressive public portfolio.
There is an opportunity for you to work on any part of the entire software development stack—from low-level core engine programming to high-level API design, deployment, and community documentation. Depending on a combination of your competencies/interests and the project’s requirements, your responsibilities may include:
- Core Engine Development: A core part of the role will be contributing to the underlying C++ codebase, focusing on physics engine development, performance optimization, and musculoskeletal modelling capabilities.
- Language Interoperability: Developing seamless Python bindings to C++ using tools like nanobind, ensuring excellent language interop and a Pythonic user experience without sacrificing performance.
- Greenfield Innovation: Taking ownership of standalone sub-projects and novel ideas leveraging OPynSim, driving self-managed, clean-slate software development.
- Quality Assurance: Implementing rigorous unit testing workflows using GoogleTest for C++ and pytest for Python to ensure software reliability and robustness.
- Writing Documentation, Examples, and Specifications: Authoring clear technical specifications and user-facing documentation using Sphinx to empower the global research community and polish the project’s outputs.
Research Integration: Collaborating directly with researchers to embed OPynSim into active research pipelines, gathering feedback to iteratively improve the software.
Job requirements
This role strongly requires:
- A master’s or PhD degree in a STEM field, or equivalent professional experience in engineering scientific/research/3D software.
- Provable familiarity with software development (e.g. courses taken, work experience, example code/projects).
Expertise in any of these topics is highly desirable:
- Developing software for larger systems with legacy compatibility concerns. Especially systems written in C++/Python.
- C++ and its surrounding ecosystem (e.g. CMake, googletest, stdlib).
- Python and its surrounding ecosystem (e.g. PyPi, numpy, pandas, polars, pytest). Especially idiomatic Python API design, and the specifics of the Python language.
- Language interoperability and foreign function interface (FFI) design. Especially using nanobind and pybind11 to create Python bindings to C++.
- Physics engines, rigid body mechanics, or musculoskeletal modeling. Especially OpenSim.
Writing technical documentation and/or specifications. Especially writing Python API documentation in Sphinx or writing file specifications.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.
For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.
At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.
Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.
Faculty Mechanical Engineering
From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.
ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.
Conditions of employment
- Duration of contract is 1 year Temporarily with a posibility for extension
- A job of 32-40 hours per week.
- A salary based on Scale 09 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3708 - €5057 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
For more information about this position please contact Adam Kewley (a.kewley@tudelft.nl).
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 27 August 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- CV
- Motivational letter
You can address your application to Adam Kewley.
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.