“Research for a life without cancer" is our mission at the German Cancer Research Center. We investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and look for new cancer prevention strategies. We develop new methods with which tumors can be diagnosed more precisely and cancer patients can be treated more successfully. Every contribution counts – whether in research, administration or infrastructure. This is what makes our daily work so meaningful and exciting.
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) in Heidelberg is Germany’s largest biomedical research institution. Within the thriving biomedical research hub of the Rhine-Neckar region, the DKFZ is contributing to the " Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim "promoting research and innovation through synergy by bridging world-leading life science and biomedical research institutions and by bringing together a highly diverse range of disciplines and a cluster of top researchers. Heidelberg University with its faculties of Medicine, Biosciences, and Engineering Sciences, the University Hospital Heidelberg and the University Hospital Mannheim, the German Cancer Research Center, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, and the Central Institute for Mental Health have the common goal to develop the Rhine-Neckar region into a world-leading innovation cluster by supporting cutting-edge research and promoting transfer of knowledge into new diagnostics and therapeutics.
Within the Alliance, we are building the “Health + Life Science Alliance Data Space”as an inter-institutional data space to facilitate data sharing, joint data analyses, and seamless integration with existing projects and data ecosystems with the ultimate aim to enable research in medicine in life sciences. Our platform will empower researchers to collaborate across institutions, utilizing cloud and on-premise computing and storage resources to drive scientific innovation.
To strengthen our team, we are seeking for the next possible date a
Technical Lead for the "Health + Life Science Alliance Data Space"
Reference number: 2025-0229
Role Overview:
We are seeking a technical lead to guide the design, development, and integration of the Health and Life Science Alliance Data Space platform. As a senior member of the team, you will oversee the architecture and technical direction of the compute infrastructure and web applications. You will work closely with developers, engineers, domain experts, and institutional stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of a robust, secure, and scalable system that supports cutting-edge biomedical research.
Key Responsibilities:
* Define and maintain the overall system architecture, ensuring alignment with project objectives and interoperability requirements
* Provide hands-on technical leadership across cloud, frontend, and backend development efforts
* Mentor engineers and developers while promoting best practices in software design, cloud architecture, security, and DevOps
* Coordinate integration of AWS-based systems with on-premise infrastructure
* Ensure compliance with privacy, security, and regulatory standards for handling sensitive research data
* Lead technical decision-making and solution design across the development lifecycle
* Collaborate with the project manager and product owners to align timelines, resource allocation, and deliverables
Your Profile
Required Qualifications:
* Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
* Proven experience in technical leadership roles on cloud-native or distributed system projects
* Deep understanding of AWS services and architectures (e.g., EC2, S3, Lambda, IAM, VPC, EKS)
* Proficiency in designing APIs and scalable system architectures
* Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or CloudFormation) and CI/CD pipelines
* Familiarity with modern frontend frameworks (e.g., React) and backend technologies (e.g., Python, Node.js)
* Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
Preferred Qualifications:
* Experience with hybrid cloud environments and integrating on-premise resources with cloud services
* Familiarity with privacy regulations like GDPR and security protocols in health/life science domains
* Background in interdisciplinary research or academic technology platforms
* Experience leading distributed and cross-functional team
We Offer
* Excellent framework conditions: state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities for international networking at the highest level
* 30 days of vacation per year
* Flexible working hours
* Remuneration according to TV-L incl. occupational pension plan and capital-forming payments
* Possibility of mobile work and part-time work
* Family-friendly working environment
* Sustainable travel to work: subsidized Germany job ticket
* Unleash your full potential: targeted offers for your personal development to further develop your talents
* Our Corporate Health Management Program offers a holistic approach to your well-being
Contact:
Dr. Jan Eufinger
Phone:
Duration: The position is initially limited to 2 years, with the possibility of prolongation.
Application Deadline: 13.09.2025
Applications by e-mail cannot be accepted.
Are you interested?
Then become part of the DKFZ and join us in contributing to a life without cancer!
We are convinced that an innovative research and working environment thrives on the diversity of its employees. Therefore, we welcome applications from talented people, regardless of gender, cultural background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical ability, religion, and age. People with severe disabilities are given preference if they have the same aptitude.
Notice: We are subject to the regulations of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). Therefore, all our employees must provide proof of immunity against measles.
Share this job!
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum | Im Neuenheimer Feld 280 | 69120 Heidelberg |
Company
About the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute and a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. Over 3,200 staff members from 88 nations are dedicated to performing and driving cutting edge research for a life without cancer. Organized in more than 100 divisions and research groups, the focus of our 1,400 scientists is to unravel the causes and mechanisms of cancer development and progression, and to develop novel strategies for the diagnosis, early detection, prevention and treatment of cancer though innovative translational research.
Scientists at the DKFZ have received the most prestigious academic awards, including Prof. Harald zur Hausen, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008 for his pioneering work on Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV),and Prof. Stefan Hell, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on super-resolution imaging.
The DKFZ core site is located in Heidelberg, the “ City of Science ”, which is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany with a highly international community: An estimated 56,000 of Heidelberg’s 160,000 inhabitants have an international background – many of whom are scientists or students.
Research Topics and Scientific Collaborations
The DKFZ is an international leader in a number of research areas including stem cell research, bioinformatics and systems biology, cancer genomics, neurooncology, pediatric oncology, cancer prevention, tumor immunology, virology, radiooncology and medical image analysis. The interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment at the DKFZ also results in excellent opportunities for computational and data scientists with interest in biomedical applications.
Research at the DKFZ is organized into six research programs :
On the mission for a life without cancer, the DKFZ collaborates with renowned clinical and research institutions at the local, national and international level. A key goal is to continuously strengthen translational research activities with the aim of sustainably advancing state-of-the-art clinical cancer research in Germany and thereby improving the treatment outcomes and quality of life of cancer patients. Together with University Hospital partners across Germany, the DKFZ established the National Centers for Tumor Diseases (NCT) as leading Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Germany, as well as the Hopp Childrens’ Tumor Center (KiTZ) in Heidelberg with a specific focus on pediatric oncology. Within the German Cancer Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), research institutions and university hospitals at eight partner locations collaborate with the DKFZ, the core center of the DKTK, to speed up the transfer of successful cancer research into clinical practice. Furthermore, the HI-TRON in Mainz is a cooperative effort to make full use of the potential of individualized immunotherapy.
Training Programs and Career Development
Talent management and career development are central parts of DKFZ’s mission to maintain scientific excellence. The DKFZ places strong emphasis on the international recruitment and comprehensive training of excellent scientists, specifically welcoming diverse and international backgrounds.
Dedicated programs train young scientists and clinicians and prepare them for their next career step:
The DKFZ has developed programs to support the reconciliation of family and careers at all levels and international employees are supported by the International Staff Services in the planning, preparation and realization of their stay in Heidelberg.
Innovation Management
The DKFZ builds on strong Innovation Management to foster the development of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic products for maximum societal benefit. It facilitates technology transfer through licensing and support of spin-off companies. Recent examples include iOmx Therapeutics, Apogenix and mtm laboratories. The DKFZ also has strong collaborations with industry partners, such as Bayer Healthcare, Bosch, SAP and Siemens .
Company info
Telephone
+49 (0) 6221 420
Location
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
Heidelberg
Baden-Württemberg
D-69120
DE