CZI Software Scientist

Updated: over 1 year ago
Deadline: 01 Feb 2023

Are you a software developer or (biomechanical) engineer who is passionate about simulating realistic physics? Do you enjoy profiling your code to extract every bit of performance to the benefit of a large research community? If you answered yes, then this position is for you.

Challenge: Musculoskeletal simulations need to be fast to perform sensitivity analyses, optimizations and apply machine learning tools.

Change: Optimize model and solver implementations to eliminate performance bottlenecks.

Impact: Enable predictive simulations and deep reinforcement learning with musculoskeletal models for a large community of biomechanists, roboticists, neuroscientists and clinicians.

Movement is essential to human and animal life. Diagnosing and treating movement-related disorders involves expertise from diverse disciplines: rehabilitation & medicine, orthopedics, neurology, biomechanics and mechanical engineering, to name a few. Open source software and tools unify and consolidate resources, share know-how and benefit a much broader community, which is just good science.

Thanks to an award from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for Essential Open Source Software for Science (CZI-EOSS), and building on our past successes, we can continue to transform OpenSim over the next two years.  Therefore, we are seeking a passionate software developer/engineer/biomechanist to apply their strong analytical and programming skills to the betterment of human health and understanding through OpenSim. You are excited to convert research into effective tools by generating reusable and efficient code and you enjoy teaming up with multidisciplinary experts to implement high-performance models and algorithms. You take pride in developing and deploying open source software as the primary vehicle for disseminating powerful new tools to a community of mobility researchers and clinicians.

We believe that the best work is done by diverse teams. If you're a member of a traditionally underrepresented group and/or have a diverse career path or background, then you are particularly encouraged to apply. Is your C++ a little rusty? Maybe you haven’t worked with a dynamics engine before? You do not need to have all the qualifications and experience from day one. You can and will receive on-the-job training based on your background: from software engineering and continuous integration to formulations of multibody dynamics and muscle mechanics. You must be absolutely excited about and engaged in software and/or algorithm development.

  • The desire and ability to learn, research and implement new algorithms (and data structures).
  • A passion for coding your own clean, robust, fast and efficient tools.
  • Experience with automated build system management (e.g. CMake), leveraging collaborative development resources (GitHub, GitLab, etc…) and continuous integration/test facilities.
  • A solid background in computer science, software engineering or a related field or equivalent experience in scientific computing and simulation software. Self-taught with adequate experience is acceptable.
  • Proficiency in object-oriented programming (e.g. C++) and applying design patterns.
  • Demonstrable use and implementation of numerical methods to solve dynamical systems.
  • Commitment and contributions to open source software and tools.
  • Nice to have experience with:

  • Wearable sensors, sensor fusion and related algorithms and APIs.
  • Existing modeling software and physics-based simulators (OpenSim, MyoSuite,...).
  • (Multibody) dynamics engines: Simbody, ODE, Nimble physics, Bullet.
  • Spatial transformations, analytical geometry, optimization methods.
  • Continuum mechanics, finite elements (e.g. FEBio) and contact modeling.
    • A salary according to the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities, salary indication: € 2.960,00 - € 4.670 per month gross (scale 10).  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.
    • 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.

    This position has a fixed-term contract of 1 year, with the possibility to extend for 1 additional year.

    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!

    The Faculty of 3mE carries out pioneering research, leading to new fundamental insights and challenging applications in the field of mechanical engineering. From large-scale energy storage, medical instruments, control technology and robotics to smart materials, nanoscale structures and autonomous ships. The foundations and results of this research are reflected in outstanding, contemporary education, inspiring students and PhD candidates to become socially engaged and responsible engineers and scientists. The faculty of 3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with an international scope and high-tech lab facilities. Research and education focus on the design, manufacture, application and modification of products, materials, processes and mechanical devices, contributing to the development and growth of a sustainable society, as well as prosperity and welfare.

    Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work

    For more information about this vacancy, please contact Ajay Seth, e-mail: [email protected] .    

    For information about the application procedure, please contact Recruitment 3mE, e-mail: [email protected].

    Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply by 1 February 2023 via the application button and upload:

    a 1-page cover-letter addressed to Ajay Seth along with your CV including links to your code repositories. Please indicate your personal motivations in applying, how you envision contributing to the mission of OpenSim and list which contributions you would like us to review. Please list any accessible code repositories that demonstrate your designs and implementations of computational tools (applications, scripts, plugins, …). 

    A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.

    You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

    Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.


    Are you a software developer or (biomechanical) engineer who is passionate about simulating realistic physics? Do you enjoy profiling your code to extract every bit of performance to the benefit of a large research community? If you answered yes, then this position is for you.

    Challenge: Musculoskeletal simulations need to be fast to perform sensitivity analyses, optimizations and apply machine learning tools.

    Change: Optimize model and solver implementations to eliminate performance bottlenecks.

    Impact: Enable predictive simulations and deep reinforcement learning with musculoskeletal models for a large community of biomechanists, roboticists, neuroscientists and clinicians.

    Movement is essential to human and animal life. Diagnosing and treating movement-related disorders involves expertise from diverse disciplines: rehabilitation & medicine, orthopedics, neurology, biomechanics and mechanical engineering, to name a few. Open source software and tools unify and consolidate resources, share know-how and benefit a much broader community, which is just good science.

    Thanks to an award from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative for Essential Open Source Software for Science (CZI-EOSS), and building on our past successes, we can continue to transform OpenSim over the next two years.  Therefore, we are seeking a passionate software developer/engineer/biomechanist to apply their strong analytical and programming skills to the betterment of human health and understanding through OpenSim. You are excited to convert research into effective tools by generating reusable and efficient code and you enjoy teaming up with multidisciplinary experts to implement high-performance models and algorithms. You take pride in developing and deploying open source software as the primary vehicle for disseminating powerful new tools to a community of mobility researchers and clinicians.

    We believe that the best work is done by diverse teams. If you're a member of a traditionally underrepresented group and/or have a diverse career path or background, then you are particularly encouraged to apply. Is your C++ a little rusty? Maybe you haven’t worked with a dynamics engine before? You do not need to have all the qualifications and experience from day one. You can and will receive on-the-job training based on your background: from software engineering and continuous integration to formulations of multibody dynamics and muscle mechanics. You must be absolutely excited about and engaged in software and/or algorithm development.

  • The desire and ability to learn, research and implement new algorithms (and data structures).
  • A passion for coding your own clean, robust, fast and efficient tools.
  • Experience with automated build system management (e.g. CMake), leveraging collaborative development resources (GitHub, GitLab, etc…) and continuous integration/test facilities.
  • A solid background in computer science, software engineering or a related field or equivalent experience in scientific computing and simulation software. Self-taught with adequate experience is acceptable.
  • Proficiency in object-oriented programming (e.g. C++) and applying design patterns.
  • Demonstrable use and implementation of numerical methods to solve dynamical systems.
  • Commitment and contributions to open source software and tools.
  • Nice to have experience with:

  • Wearable sensors, sensor fusion and related algorithms and APIs.
  • Existing modeling software and physics-based simulators (OpenSim, MyoSuite,...).
  • (Multibody) dynamics engines: Simbody, ODE, Nimble physics, Bullet.
  • Spatial transformations, analytical geometry, optimization methods.
  • Continuum mechanics, finite elements (e.g. FEBio) and contact modeling.
    • A salary according to the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities, salary indication: € 2.960,00 - € 4.670 per month gross (scale 10).  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.
    • 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.

    This position has a fixed-term contract of 1 year, with the possibility to extend for 1 additional year.

    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!

    The Faculty of 3mE carries out pioneering research, leading to new fundamental insights and challenging applications in the field of mechanical engineering. From large-scale energy storage, medical instruments, control technology and robotics to smart materials, nanoscale structures and autonomous ships. The foundations and results of this research are reflected in outstanding, contemporary education, inspiring students and PhD candidates to become socially engaged and responsible engineers and scientists. The faculty of 3mE is a dynamic and innovative faculty with an international scope and high-tech lab facilities. Research and education focus on the design, manufacture, application and modification of products, materials, processes and mechanical devices, contributing to the development and growth of a sustainable society, as well as prosperity and welfare.

    Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work

    For more information about this vacancy, please contact Ajay Seth, e-mail: [email protected] .    

    For information about the application procedure, please contact Recruitment 3mE, e-mail: [email protected].

    Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply by 1 February 2023 via the application button and upload:

    a 1-page cover-letter addressed to Ajay Seth along with your CV including links to your code repositories. Please indicate your personal motivations in applying, how you envision contributing to the mission of OpenSim and list which contributions you would like us to review. Please list any accessible code repositories that demonstrate your designs and implementations of computational tools (applications, scripts, plugins, …). 

    A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.

    You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

    Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.



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