IMDEA Materials Institute is a public research organization founded in 2007 by Madrid’s regional government to carry out research of excellence in Material Science and Engineering by attracting talent from all over the world to work in an international and multidisciplinary environment. IMDEA Materials has grown rapidly since its foundation and currently includes more than 120 researchers from 22 nationalities and has become one of the leading research centers in materials in Europe which has received the María de Maeztu seal of excellence from the Spanish government. The research activities have been focused on the areas of materials for transport, energy, and health care and the Institute has state-of-the-art facilities for processing, characterization and simulation of advanced materials.

More information can be found at our webpage.

IMDEA Materials is seeking a Data Engineer to work on the project Unlocking Innovation through FAIR Data Practices in Additive Manufacturing and X-ray Imaging at IMDEA Materials (FAIR-LAB). This project aims to promote the adoption of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data practices in metal additive manufacturing (AM) and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) characterization.

The candidate will be responsible for designing and implementing scalable data pipelines for both batch and streaming data processing, establishing the foundation of a data lake to integrate and manage heterogeneous datasets generated throughout the AM and XCT workflows. The role involves developing robust solutions for data ingestion, transformation, storage, and access, ensuring compliance with FAIR principles.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in data engineering, including experience with big data frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Kafka, or similar), cloud storage solutions, SQL/NoSQL databases, and data pipeline orchestration tools. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala, as well as familiarity with Linux system administration, is highly desirable. The candidate should also be comfortable working in an international and multidisciplinary environment.

In this project, the candidate will be responsible for establishing the data infrastructure necessary to implement FAIR data principles in laser additive manufacturing (LAM) production and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) characterization, with a future goal of extending it to other areas within IMDEA Materials. Specifically, the main tasks will include:

• Implementation of standardized data pipelines for automated ingestion, transformation, and storage of experimental data from metal LAM and XCT characterization workflows.
• Development of algorithms for automated data extraction from AM devices, enabling seamless integration into the FAIR data ecosystem.
• Implementation of metadata incorporation strategies, ensuring full traceability of datasets, including material history, experimental parameters, software versions, processing codes, and curated data.
• Integration of heterogeneous datasets into a structured data lake and/or data management system (e.g., openBIS or similar).
• Development of methodologies for automated digital comparison between XCT data and original CAD models, enabling advanced analysis of geometric structures.

The successful candidate will play a key role in building the foundation for data-driven research at IMDEA Materials, contributing to the long-term goal of enhancing open science and reproducibility in additive manufacturing and X-ray imaging.

The position is most appropriate for Data Engineers, Masters in Informatics, or related fields, or engineers with strong experience in data management, big data processing, and cloud or on-premises data infrastructure.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Experience in designing and implementing data storage solutions, including data lakes, databases (SQL/NoSQL), and distributed file systems.
• Proficiency in data processing frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Kafka, or similar) and orchestration tools for batch and streaming workflows.
• Strong programming skills in Python, Java, or Scala.
• Experience with Linux-based environments and ability to handle system administration for data-related infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience in setting up and managing servers, including storage, networking, and security configurations for data pipelines.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international research environment, closely collaborating with materials science experts and IMDEA Materials' IT team.
• Full proficiency in English, both oral and written.

Interested candidates should submit their Curriculum Vitae, a brief cover letter addressing their motivation, and academic credentials.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contract financed by the Young Researchers Programme of the Community of Madrid / Contrato financiado por el Programa de Jóvenes Investigadores, de la Comunidad de Madrid.

- 1 year contract with possible extension.

- Full-time contract including social security coverage.

- Expected start date: as soon as a viable candidate is found.