Engineer (m/f/d) for Seagoing Technologies

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation under public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the State of Schleswig-Holstein (10%). It is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine research.

Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

GEOMAR leads the ‘Ocean Centre of Excellence for West Africa’ (Ocean-CofE) project, funded by the Helmholtz Association. The aim is to bring together existing infrastructure and projects at the Cabo Verde research site under one umbrella. Through the targeted expansion of scientific and technical infrastructure (including seagoing platforms and a molecular biology laboratory) at the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) and the development of funding measures, scientific cooperation with West Africa at GEOMAR is to be sustainably strengthened across all departments. The development of a digital twin and other innovative formats are intended to strengthen the interface between science, politics and society.

The central facility “Ocean Science Centre Mindelo” at GEOMAR is seeking a

Engineer (m/f/d) for Seagoing Technologies

to start as soon as possible, subject to approval.

Job Description:

• Preparation and maintenance of seagoing scientific equipment (including underwater gliders and scientific payloads for both moorings and ship-based platforms) in Kiel for deployment in Cabo Verde
• Operation and further development of existing seagoing platforms (including integration of scientific payloads into autonomous measurement platforms, integration of new measurement sensors on a small research vessel)
• Development and implementation of best practices for equipment deployment in collaboration with on-site staff in Kiel and Cabo Verde
• Programming and use of software for controlling autonomous platforms and processing near-real-time data
• Support with the processing and quality control of measurement data
• Procurement of scientific equipment and materials, support with logistics and inventory management both in Kiel and Cabo Verde
• Training of OSCM staff in the operation and maintenance of the seagoing platforms in the Cabo Verde

Qualification:

Required

• Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics, Maritime Technologies or equivalent training in a relevant technical field
• Several years’ professional experience in handling scientific measuring equipment in marine oceanography or related fields, and in the maintenance and further development of sensors and measuring instruments
• Experience in offshore fieldwork, including logistical preparation and follow-up, loading and handling of scientific equipment
• Knowledge of the application and programming of software for the operation and remote control of scientific measuring instruments
• Willingness and ability to undertake business trips lasting several weeks to Cabo Verde as well as at sea
• Very good command of spoken and written English
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Reliable and highly responsible
• Professional experience in an international environment / international team
• Driving licence class B

Desirable

• Experience in handling underwater gliders, oceanographic moorings, marine sensor technology and real-time telemetry of measurement data
• Good communication and coordination skills
• Professional experience in an international environment/team

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

• Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other things, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees, and good support in finding a place in a daycare center at the Kiel site
• Support services for professional and personal life situations
• An exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutions
• Exciting topics in an international environment
• Work in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance
• 30 vacation days + additional time off at Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Company pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The position is to be filled on a fixed-term basis until 31 December 2030.

The salary depends on qualification and could be up to the class 11 TVöD-Bund of the German tariff for public employees. This is a full-time position. The position can’t be split, flexible working arrangements are generally possible.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply. GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please send your application for this post (including a cover letter, CV and certificates) not later than 9 June 2026 under the following link:

Online application

As soon as the selection procedure has finished, all your application data will be removed according to data protection regulation.

For further information regarding the position and research unit please contact Dr Björn Fiedler (bfiedler(at)geomar.de).

We will answer all your questions if you send us an e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de. In doing so, please refer to the keyword “ST_Ocean-CofE”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit www.geomar.de or www.helmholtz.de.

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.