Software Engineer (Microscopy)

TL;DR

Software Engineer (Microscopy) (C++/Python): Developing and sustaining software for advanced light- and electron-microscopy platforms, with an accent on instrument control, automation, and real-time data workflows. Focus on integrating software with scientific hardware, designing maintainable control systems and interfaces, and solving complex performance, reliability, and reproducibility challenges.

Location: Heidelberg, Germany; the role is based at the hirify.global Imaging Centre and includes an on-site interview. A relocation package may be available.

Salary: From €4,713.20 per month, net of tax, excluding health insurance and pension contributions, plus additional hirify.global benefits.

Company

hirify.global is an international, curiosity-driven life-science research organisation operating the hirify.global Imaging Centre for advanced microscopy services and research.

What you will do

• Own the development, operation, and lifecycle evolution of microscopy-control software supporting reliable automation and streamlined workflows.
• Design and integrate software and electronic control components for new instrument capabilities, data acquisition, and real-time analysis.
• Translate scientific and user requirements into maintainable control schemes and graphical user interfaces.
• Apply professional practices across architecture, testing, version control, documentation, deployment, and long-term maintenance.
• Evaluate AI-enabled automation and other approaches that improve robustness, reproducibility, or scientific value.
• Diagnose software–hardware integration issues and provide expert support to hirify.global and external researchers.

Requirements

• MSc or equivalent education, training, and experience in software engineering, computer science, engineering, physics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing maintainable software for hardware control, scientific instrumentation, or similarly complex technical systems.
• Advanced skills in one or more relevant technologies, including C++, Python, LabVIEW, Java, or MATLAB.
• Experience designing instrumentation-control GUIs with frameworks such as Qt or Tk and integrating components across processes or programming languages.
• Strong software-engineering experience covering architecture, integration, testing, documentation, sharing, version control, and maintenance, including Git.
• Ability to collaborate with engineers, physicists, biologists, and research users and communicate technical solutions clearly to non-specialists.

Nice to have

• Experience with low-level, embedded, or real-time control systems using C, Rust, Arduino, microcontrollers, NI Real-Time, or NI FPGA.
• Experience with FPGAs, GPUs, CUDA, VHDL, Verilog, or Xilinx Vivado for high-speed or real-time image-data processing.
• Experience integrating cameras, detectors, positioning stages, lasers, and data-acquisition devices using protocols such as MQTT.
• Experience in microscopy, bioimaging, or adaptive hardware-control workflows.

Culture & Benefits

• International, inclusive, community-oriented research environment with flexible working arrangements.
• Private medical insurance for the employee and immediate family.
• 30 days of annual leave in addition to public holidays.
• Tax-free salary structure, pension and insurance schemes, family and child allowances, and annual salary review.
• Relocation support, visa exemptions for successful international candidates, and international newcomer benefits.
• Heidelberg campus facilities including shuttle transport, cafeteria, library, sports, and social clubs.

Hiring process

• Submit a CV and cover letter through the online application system by 22 September 2026 at 23:59 CET.
• Shortlisted candidates complete an online interview after the application deadline.
• Successful candidates proceed to a second-stage on-site interview.