We are looking for an enthusiastic full-stack marine data applications manager to reinforce our team for contributing to the various responsibilities mentioned above. In this context, a few foreign missions per year (project meetings, conferences, …) as well as a few days per year on board of research vessels are possible. A general description of the marine activities of the OD Nature can be found at https://www.naturalsciences.be/en/science/do/98.
Context
The Belgian Marine Data Centre (BMDC) within the Operational Directorate “Natural Environment” at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) is in charge of the management of oceanographic data resulting from federal monitoring programmes of the marine environment and from various research projects in marine sciences. Its responsibilities involve:
The quality control of the data, their archiving, their reporting, their dissemination, and their scientific exploitation.
Maintaining contacts with data providers and users and providing general support on data related issues, like Data Management Planning (DMP).
The development, the maintenance, and the management of databases and of their query interfaces.
Software development of tools for data management such as event loggers of research vessels, data portals and web services.
The maintenance and publication of datasets and their metadata.
Coordination and participation in - mainly - data management-oriented projects at national and international level.
Tasks
More specifically, your tasks will focus on the management of the “en-route” data, where you will set up the required interoperability to external clients. Furthermore, you will be assigned to the developments and maintenance related to the event logger “EARS”, which is installed onboard the RV Belgica, and as such will be in direct contact with the chief scientists. Subsequently, you’ll be involved in the data import and dissemination to pan-European data infrastructures and provide general support to scientists related to data management planning, metadata and spatial object publication.
Diploma
Master degree in Science or (Bio-)engineering, Informatics or equivalent, with a high interest in data management (for diplomas awarded outside the European Union, a certificate of equivalence must be submitted),
Minimum 2 years of experience in software development related to data management.
Technical competence
Experience or training in one or more of the following domains is requested:
Proven track record of programming in the Java programming language.
Experience with Spring for web and API development and Swing for desktop applications.
Knowledge of front-end web development and modern JavaScript.
Excellent knowledge of relational database systems (Oracle, PostgreSQL, occasionally MS SQL Server): design, SQL queries, PL/SQL and PL/pgSQL.
Writing SQL queries to expose scientific data in a compact, reusable and maintainable way.
Knowledge of Unix/Linux, especially shell scripting.
Day to day maintenance/upgrading of web applications in a Linux environment.
Experience with DevOps tools such as test-driven development, GitLab/GitHub, docker and maven.
Capable of implementing and consuming data exchange formats (json, xml, webservices, linked data).
Knowledge of sensor systems and information technologies such as semantic web, machine learning.
Generic competence
You are a team-player and willing to work for both data-oriented and software-oriented projects.
Solution-oriented, creative and not hesitant to acquire new skills.
Interested in the technical side of data management and in diverse scientific fields.
Demonstrating wide analytical insight.
Assets
Background in marine or environmental sciences.
Comfortable in establishing and maintaining good connections with (international) partners.
We offer
The position offered is for one-year full-time contract (possibly renewable). It will be based at RBINS, 29, Vautierstraat, 1000 Brussels, and in the Operational Directorate “OD Nature”.
Salary and conditions according to the conditions applicable at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences for a contractual agent of class SW1 (level SW10 or SW11) of the scientific career.
Possibility to telecommute up to 3 days per week.
Reimbursement of home/working place travel costs by public transportation and allowance for cycling to the office.
How to apply
Application to be submitted electronically in a single PDF file, by e-mail, to Ruth Lagring (rlagring@naturalsciences.be) with subject: “Application BMDC”. The application should include a CV and a motivation letter.
Deadline for applications: 07/10/2022.
All applications will be assessed after the deadline and shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview (remote or live depending on availabilities).
