Education & Software Enablement Specialist (f/m/d)
Date: 19 Mar 2026
Location: Braunschweig
Company: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH
Job advertisement no. 639
The Digital Office at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), is offering the position of a
Education & Software Enablement Specialist (f/m/d)
50% Education | 50% Software (in-house developments & purchased tools) – including AI
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, based in Braunschweig, is a member of the Helmholtz Association and conducts cutting-edge research in the field of infectious diseases. Our scientists develop innovative methods and strategies to combat infectious diseases more quickly and effectively. Our common goal is to develop novel approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases. Our research focuses on bacterial and viral pathogens, their interaction with the human immune system, and new effective drugs and vaccines.
Digital transformation has become a key challenge both in the science of the HZI and in its administration. Rapid technological development is revolutionizing the way life science research is conducted and how we organize a research center administratively.
The newly established Digital Office provides the framework for this. We develop, implement, and advise on innovations and processes related to digitalization. Our goal is to enable all employees to experience the great opportunities and possibilities of digitalization for new insights and better work results.
For this task, we are looking for innovative minds with a desire to learn and shape the future. Our department creates a modern and flexible working environment, which must be shaped by our own expertise and experience, while leaving room for personal growth.
What it's all about:
Changing perspectives is your daily bread: you don't work in one field, but as “two in one” toward a single goal—the digitally supported improvement of the research process. As the central contact person for digital skills development, you network the needs of the departments: from research data management to scientific computing and publication processes to data science, and translate them into an effective training program. At the same time, you bring a technical perspective to the table: you consistently consider software engineering and software architecture and ensure that in-house developments and purchased tools are robust, integrable, and future-proof. In short, you connect people, topics, and technology—and make digitalization at the HZI tangibly effective.
Responsibilities:
50% Education
- You will design and operate an HZI-wide curriculum for digital skills and coordinate in-house contributions/offers (including quality assurance and impact measurement).
- You make qualifications practically usable: reusable materials, standards, community formats, and target group-oriented learning paths – so that research and services benefit measurably.
- You integrate AI literacy/responsible use into learning paths and support the organization in using AI in a reflective and effective manner.
50% Software Enablement – In-house developments & purchased tools
- You strengthen the HZI's research software (in-house developments) with a focus on software quality, reproducibility, and sustainable provision – including the transition from prototypes to stable artifacts (documentation, releases, standards).
- You manage the portfolio of research support tools/information systems (purchased software): bundling requirements, coordinating introductions/further developments, and translating integration requirements (interfaces, roles/identities, data classification) into projects.
- You consistently incorporate AI into your thinking – in software architecture, product decisions, and operational/governance requirements (e.g., data protection, security, quality).
In addition to this demanding field of activity, there is the opportunity to serve as deputy head of the Digital Office and represent the CDO.
Requirements:
- Completed scientific university degree (master's/equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, data science, bioinformatics, engineering/natural sciences).
- Experience in designing/coordinating qualification and enablement measures (curriculum, course design, evaluation).
- Knowledge of research software engineering (software quality, testing, versioning, reproducibility) and basic programming skills (e.g., Python/Java).
- Experience in requirements and portfolio management for digital tools/information systems (implementation, operating interfaces).
- Basic knowledge of information security/data protection (security/privacy by design) and very good German and English skills.
- You work in a structured manner, communicate clearly, and enjoy getting things up and running in a pragmatic way and able to work in a team
- Very good communication skills in German and English, both written and spoken.
- Willingness to acquire missing knowledge.
We offer you:
- An attractive and varied job in a future-oriented research institute with an international environment at the Science Campus South in Braunschweig
- A state-of-the-art infrastructure and the latest technologies
- Flexible working hours, part-time models as well as home office
- A corporate culture of appreciation and promotion of equal opportunities
- Extensive training and continuing education opportunities to develop professional knowledge and personal skills
- A family office to support family and career as well as childcare offers
- Interesting additional public service benefits
- Possible subsidy of the job-ticket
People with severe disabilities and equivalent professional qualifications who are suitable for the position are given preference. In order to protect your rights, we ask you to provide us with a clearly recognizable reference to the existence of a degree of severe disability in your cover letter or resume.
The HZI is actively committed to equality, diversity and integration. For this reason, the HZI pursues the goal of professional equality between women and men. The position is suitable for part-time work.
For further information please contact Stefanie Öhl, phone 0531 6181-2450, email: Stefanie.Öhl@helmholtz-hzi.de.
Please apply via our career portal.
Please include a cover letter, resume, (employment) references, certificates, and (if available) work samples or reference projects with your application materials. Please refrain from sending a photo.
We look forward to receiving your application!