Job opening: Scientific Software and Method Developer in COSMO-RS (for Polymer Solvation)

SCM is a growing and profitable scientific software company in Amsterdam, developing and marketing software in computational (quantum) chemistry and materials science, for over 20 years.

For further expansion of our activities beyond DFT software, we now create a job opening for a specialist in fluid thermodynamics / COSMO-RS.

The ideal candidate will have relevant broad scientific experience with computational methods in fluid thermodynamics. Advanced knowledge of COSMO-RS is considered a strong plus. Expertise in advanced scripting, cloud computing, databases and other technical aspects of modern computational atomistic research is also a strong plus, and skills in high-throughput (parallel) computing will also be valued.

The successful candidate will be working in collaboration with academic groups and our team of experienced developers, extending SCM’s COSMO-RS implementation and making it available in user-friendly documented form to a broad user audience.

Job Description

Requirements

  • Expertise in fluid thermodynamics models, as developer and user, preferably including COSMO-RS, and polymer chemistry.
  • Software development skills – experience writing modular, reusable, efficient code in various programming languages, and inside large computational packages.
  • PhD in relevant field (e.g. computational physics, chemical engineering, or quantum chemistry), with several years of method and software development experience.

Desirable additional knowledge and experience

  • Experience programming in a team, in a large-scale software package (>100,000 lines of code).
  • Working knowledge of Fortran (90, 2003) and Python and preferably several additional languages.
  • Experience with any of: GUI development (e.g. Tcl/Tk), porting code to other platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux), and possibly high-performance computing and parallel programming.
  • All-round technical skills (UNIX, debugging, website, Javascript, etc.).
  • Team player, with good communication skills, self-motivated and independent worker.

What we offer

  • The position will be available from 1 September 2017 and initially for one year. However, an earlier starting date is possible, as well as the prospect of extension and possibly permanent employment.
  • Attractive, competitive salary, bonus, as well as relocation costs and secondary benefits (including pension fund), at least at the level of such a position at a Dutch university.
  • 34 holidays/year on top of national holidays.
  • Tax benefits (30% of salary tax-free) are usually applicable in The Netherlands (depending on circumstances) for a successful candidate from abroad.
  • This is a full-time position based in Amsterdam.

About SCM and ADF

Scientific Computing & Modelling NV, SCM, is an independent spin-off company of the VU University Amsterdam.

SCM develops, maintains, and markets the ADF Modeling Suite, consisting of the molecular ADF program, the periodic structure program BAND, the reactive molecular dynamics program ReaxFF, approximate DFT (DFTB) software, the COSMO-RS module for thermodynamics of mixed liquids, and their respective graphical interfaces.

The SCM development staff consists of senior PhDs focusing on software / method development, and with typically more than 10 years experience in ADF / BAND scientific software development. In addition there are various EU fellows (PhD students and post-docs) working on specific scientific projects. The atmosphere at SCM is that of an informal team (approximately 20 people) of PhDs and PhD candidates doing intellectually challenging work.

SCM shares office space and closely interacts with the large and well-known Theoretical Chemistry department of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), led by professors Bickelhaupt and Visscher, and also collaborates with other institutions in Amsterdam such as the Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM), SURFsara and the Netherlands eScience Center (the Dutch national high-performance computing and e-Science support centers).

SCM cooperates with a large number of academic method developers around the world and is increasing its scope to atomistic simulations in a broader sense.

SCM is a financially solid (debt-free, growing and profitable) science-focused company that has been around for over 20 years.

We are located in Amsterdam, the very lively, internationally oriented, and enjoyable capital of The Netherlands. Thanks to their high quality of living, The Netherlands and Amsterdam in particular consistently rank near the top of worldwide liveability rankings:

Eligibility

  • SCM is an equal opportunity employer, and we especially invite women to apply.
  • Applicants can have (almost) any current residence and nationality, but they must comply with transnational mobility criteria: the selected candidate may not have lived in The Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding the recruitment date.

Further information, applying

Detailed information on SCM and its software can be found at http://www.scm.com.

Those interested in this position are encouraged to contact us at jobs at scm dot com, tel: +31-20-5987626, for further information.

Job applications can be sent by email to the same address until April 30th, 2017, but preferably sooner.

Applications should contain a CV, a cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and, if applicable, a list of publications or software projects worked on (with own contribution specified).

References and source code may be requested at a later stage. The accompanying email should briefly stress already a few key reasons why you might be the most suitable person for the position.