Digital Twin Expert (f_m_x)
Reference Number 9116
The Local Digital Twin Toolbox (LDT) for European Cities project supported by the European Union aims at supporting software for cities in the European member states on the basis of highly detailed and feature-rich building data. One key aspect is going to be the inclusion of 3D building data for up to 500 cities. The purpose of LDT is to support cities in their data-driven approach to disaster management and preparation, as well as in their long-term sustainability goals. This project builds on the Global Dynamic Exposure model for natural hazard which describes the global building stock in terms of building structures and vulnerabilities to different natural hazards. A particular feature of this models is that it separately describes almost all buildings of the world in detail. This high-resolution building-based model is completely derived from open data, building classifications are algorithmically assessed, and is fully dynamic through capturing changes to the open data in near real-time.
Your responsibilities:
- Investigate the integration of various open-data sources into the Digital Twin
- Collect 3D building data and other relevant data e.g. socio-economic, sustainability, vulnerability data
- Protocols for uploading and updating data by the cities to the processing servers
- Develop the dynamic system to keep data up-to-date and deliver it to the data center for later use by the toolbox software
- Develop the rule-based engine for the assessment of exposure indicators
- Develop the full computational chain for building-by-building exposure and integrate each component into the overall workflow
- Maintain complex software systems and provide documentation
- Research and implement procedures for integrating exposure data of various resolution in a fully probabilistic sense, creating fully probabilistic exposure indicators for risk and loss computations
Your qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
- Advanced experience with Python and experience in Python package development
- Experience with PostgreSQL and PostGIS, SpatiaLite, QGIS, and web technologies
- Experience in the use and maintenance of GitLab and CI
- Advanced knowledge in geospatial data management and processing using open-source software
- Knowledge in Building and City Information Modeling (BIM/CIM)
- Experience in processing and visualization of 3D data
- Advanced experience with OpenStreetMap data, in particular building data, and its software stack
- Excellent writing and communication skills in English
- Experience in working in an international, interdisciplinary research team
- Willingness to work in a Linux environment
What we offer:
- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
- Flexible working hours and conditions
- Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
- Institute day-care centre on site
- Working at the Albert Einstein science park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
- Work place within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
Fixed-term: 30.06.2026
Salary: The salary grouping is determined by the conditions of the Collective Wage Agreement “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)” and the appropriate personal qualifications. In addition, there is the possibility of granting bonuses above the standard pay scale as well as a monthly skilled labour allowance.
Working hours: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
Place of work: Potsdam
Have we piqued your interest?
Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. Anyone who has been recognized as severely disabled, will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. If you have any questions, please contact our representative for the severely disabled at sbv[at]gfz-potsdam.de, who will be happy to assist you in the further application process. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer at gba[at]gfz-potsdam.de.
Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After completion of the procedure, application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.
