Remote Software Developer (m/f/d)

Are you an enthusiastic open-source developer eager to make a real impact? Do you want to be part of a small, focused team working to improve science through code and community standards? Then join us at German BioImaging – GMB e.V. (GerBI), where our mission is to facilitate the storage, exchange, and re-use of bioimaging data regardless of how large & complex.

We are seeking a Research Software Engineer who believes that better software can drive real environmental impact. In ESG4Stars, efficiency is not an afterthought — it is a design principle.

You will help reduce the environmental footprint of data-intensive workflows by improving how large-scale datasets are structured, stored, and moved across diverse toolchains built around Next-Generation File Formats like Zarr. Your work will connect sustainable computing with open science, enabling scalable cloud and HPC workflows that avoid waste while accelerating discovery. We welcome developers from bioimaging, bioinformatics, data engineering, or related domains who are excited by the challenge of building robust, community-driven tools that make researchdata FAIR, high-performance, and greener by design.

All software and specifications produced as part of this project will be released under an open-source license. We value collaboration, creativity, and well-designed code. Our mission is to revolutionize science by developing transformative solutions that break down barriers, making bioimaging data universally accessible and usable, and ultimately accelerating groundbreaking discoveries that will change the world. As part of our team, you will work remotely and independently, while collaborating closely with members of consortia from the UK, Germany, Japan, the USA, and beyond.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and encourage people of all genders and nationalities to apply.

• Develop and deploy solutions that reduce redundant data storage, including deferred data access, external linking strategies, and efficient use of heterogeneous storage classes.
• Integrate and benchmark next-generation file formats (e.g., OME-Zarr and related NGFF technologies) within production workflows to minimise storage footprint and improve I/O efficiency.
• Collaborate with workflow developers (Galaxy, Nextflow, Snakemake, etc.) to embed energy-efficient practices across platforms.
• Produce benchmarks, monitoring reports, and reproducible evaluations demonstrating reductions in storage and compute footprint.
• Contribute to documentation, training materials, and community engagement activities that promote sustainable digital research practices.
• Participate in open-source development, cross-infrastructure collaboration, and community working groups related to sustainable research software.
• Stay current with developments in green computing, research infrastructure sustainability, and efficient data engineering practices.

• Proven experience in software development, ideally in data-intensive scientific environments.
• Experience designing and implementing data-intensive tools.
• Proficiency in at least one of the following: Rust, Python, or Java.
• Familiarity with cloud-native file formats (e.g., Zarr).
• Understanding of scalable data workflows and large, heterogeneous datasets.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in distributed, international teams.
• Ability to write clear, user-focused documentation and specifications.
• A passion for FAIR data and open science.

This is a full-time remote position, based in Germany.

Application Instructions: Please apply via the GerBI application form. Include your GitHub profile, code repositories, and any related work you have contributed to. If public links are unavailable, please send examples as text files.

For questions, reach out to Josh via e-mail at josh@openmicroscopy.org

Application Deadline: 20. May 2026

We look forward to hearing from you!