programmer

Would you like to build software and AI-enabled solutions for precision agriculture and plant-health monitoring? Do you enjoy turning technical ideas into working prototypes together with researchers, technology partners and agricultural domain experts across Europe? Then we are looking for you!

Your position

As Junior Programmer, you will work primarily within SENTRY (Grant Agreement 101288591), a four-year Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action developing next-generation solutions for plant pathogen surveillance and sustainable crop protection. SENTRY combines real-time pathogen and environmental monitoring with predictive AI, digital twins and data analytics to detect biological threats earlier, model disease risks and support more targeted phytosanitary interventions.

Within SENTRY, your role will focus on the software and AI engineering needed to turn research components into reliable, testable and deployable services. You will translate technical concepts, data flows and user requirements into working software components, prototypes and demonstrators, with particular attention to integration, MLOps/AIOps and robust operation of data- and AI-intensive applications.

The position is strongly implementation-oriented. You will work closely with researchers, software engineers and European project partners and contribute to a project that aims to strengthen crop resilience, reduce unnecessary pesticide use and improve sustainable agricultural management through advanced digital technologies.

Your activities include:

• developing and maintaining software in Python and JavaScript;
• developing and integrating APIs, data pipelines and AI-enabled services;
• supporting MLOps workflows for training, testing, deployment, monitoring and lifecycle management of machine-learning models;
• applying AIOps principles for monitoring, automation and operational management of software and AI environments;
• working with Git, CI/CD pipelines, containers and modern development environments;
• integrating software and AI components developed by different European project partners;
• developing, testing and documenting prototypes and demonstrators;
• supporting technical experimentation, validation and demonstrations in SENTRY pilot and risk-assessment use cases;
• contributing to technical documentation, testing procedures and project reporting where relevant.

1. Education: An MSc degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence or a closely related field is preferred. A completed EngD in Computer Science, Data Science or a closely related area is strongly preferred.

2. Experience: You have practical programming experience gained through employment, an EngD, internships, applied research, or substantial software projects. Experience with complex operational projects is important; prior experience in the safety and security domain is strongly preferred, although SENTRY itself focuses on precision agriculture and plant health.

3. Languages: You have a good command of English, both written and spoken. Dutch is an advantage but not required.

4. Technical skills: * good programming skills in Python and JavaScript; * knowledge of, or practical experience with, MLOps and/or AIOps; * experience with software development, APIs, data integration and data pipelines; * familiarity with Git and preferably Docker, CI/CD and cloud-based development environments; * interest in AI/ML frameworks, operational AI systems and software engineering for data-intensive applications; * knowledge of security-by-design, secure software development or distributed systems is an advantage.

5. Competencies: * you are a hands-on developer who enjoys building and experimenting; * you can move quickly from a technical concept to a working prototype; * you work accurately and take responsibility for the quality of your code; * you are comfortable working independently as well as in multidisciplinary and international teams; * you communicate clearly with both technical colleagues and domain experts.

What we are looking for

We are not primarily looking for a researcher. We are looking for a hands-on junior programmer who can turn AI and data concepts into robust prototypes and integrated software solutions. Experience with safety and security projects, mission-critical data environments, or other operationally demanding application domains is a strong advantage and can be directly applied to the reliable engineering of SENTRY’s AI and data services.

Tilburg University offers excellent employment conditions in a professional, international and welcoming working environment:

• a full-time appointment of 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week);
• a fixed-term contract for 22 months, with a preferred starting date of 7 September 2026;
• Salary between €3873 and €5264 gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Engineering and Application Manager 4, salary scale 9). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy whose work is temporarily funded on the basis of project funding, in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 7 sub b CLA DU, namely project: SENTRY. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 22 months.
• 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year allowance;
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• pension accrual through ABP;
• access to a broad range of training and professional development opportunities;
• an inclusive working culture with equal opportunities for all employees.

Tilburg University is the university in the humanities and social sciences. Ever since our foundation in 1927, we have been committed to a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. With leading research and inspiring education, we contribute to the interpretation and, where possible, solutions to current societal issues, from climate change to digitalization

Our community is personal, engaged, and small-scale. On our green, compact, and vibrant campus there is room for encounter, collaboration, reflection, and personal growth. Read more about Tilburg University.

Working at Tilburg University means working in an inclusive team with attractive employment conditions. At Tilburg University, you will receive ample opportunities to strengthen your talents and develop your career, in a warm working atmosphere where we attach great importance to the following values: curious, connected, caring, and courageous.

About the Jheronimus Academy of Data Science

We do cool things that matter with data. The Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) is a unique collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and Tilburg University (TiU). At JADS, we believe that data science can provide answers to society’s complex issues. We offer innovative degree programs, data science research, and support for business and society. With a team of lectures, students, scientists, and entrepreneurs -from a wide range of sectors and disciplines-we work to create impact with data science. We do this by connecting people, sectors, and industries: in the past 9 years, we have worked with 300+ organizations on data-related projects. Our main drivers? Doing cool things that matter with data. Our location in the former monastery Mariënburg in Den Bosch houses a vibrant campus entirely dedicated to data science. Read more about the Jheronimus Academy of Data Science.

Recruitment code

Tilburg University applies the recruitmentcode of the Dutch Association for Personnel Management & Organization Development (NVP).