You love solving complex data challenges with purpose? As a Data Engineer at Naturalis, you design and maintain data lakehouse solutions that serve cutting-edge biodiversity platforms like ARISE. You’ll turn raw data into actionable insights—at scale.
Asdata engineer
- you build a modern, robust and scalable data infrastructure for nature discovery and biodiversity monitoring in the Netherlands supporting researchers and policymakers in making data driven decisions.
- you are working towards defined goals with a product owner and content specialists in a team of data engineers: all driven colleagues.
- you have the opportunity to shape and improve our data infrastructure, contributing to Naturalis’s mission to innovate and do data-driven biodiversity research.
This is what you'll bedoing
As a data engineer at Naturalis, you help build and maintain a scalable infrastructure that enables the flow of biodiversity data from source to user. You develop data pipelines on a data lake house architecture. You use a modern data stack with technologies like Spark, Python, Airflow and Databricks in an organisation that highly encourages the use of Open Source technologies. You also build integration services to ingest and publish data efficiently across platforms.
Your work supports high-impact programs such as ARISE and eDentity, which use AI, digital media, sensors, and DNA samples to monitor biodiversity and identify species. You make it possible for researchers and partners to access reliable, harmonised data to better understand and protect nature.
Here's what we haveto offer
- A gross monthly salary of € 3.641,- to € 4.731,- for a full-time contract (36 hours).
- End-of-year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
- Time off thanks to 27 days of leave per year with full-time employment. Plus 1 extra day that you can use for a holiday that is important to you.
- Travel allowance. Are you travelling by public transport, bicycle or on foot? Then you get €0.21 per kilometer. For commuting by car you get €0.125 per kilometer..
- Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
- A focus on your work-life balance. You can work partly (50%) from home and schedule your workday between 07.00 and 19.00.
- Plenty of development opportunities. We support your growth in both technical and soft skills by giving you unlimited access to the online training platform Goodhabitz as well as creating a personalized development plan together.
- Fascinating knowledge events. These help you stay up to date on the latest developments in both your own field and outside it, such as our lectures and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session Naturalis Draait Door.
- Nice extras such as discounts on software and hardware for private use, collective health insurance plans, and a bicycle scheme. You’ll also enjoy discounts in our museum restaurant and unlimited free access to our award-winning museum for you and your family.
- Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organise an annual BBQ and a fantastic New Year's party. Not your scene? That's fine too, of course. All team activities are voluntary.
- A unique work environment in a state-of-the-art building where you will feel proud to work every single day – we guarantee it!
The world lies at your feet!
Literally. Whatever your role may be, you contribute to the preservation of our planet on a daily basis. Naturalis Biodiversity Center …
- is the national research and knowledge institute and a key player in biodiversity data and infrastructures;
- houses one of the largest natural history collections in the world.
- welcomes 500,000 museum visitors per year.
- collaborates with universities, expertise centres and museums around the world.
- has a staff of diverse colleagues in various functions and with many different nationalities, with whom you will work together in an informal atmosphere.
This is your team
Contributions that really matter. You can do that within the Application Development and Management department, where you work together with 22 enthusiastic IT colleagues. What characterizes us? The diversity. We count different job functions - from junior to lead -, 4 nationalities and we work on the most diverse applications. We do this in product teams, but also look beyond the team boundaries on how we can improve step by step. And we are innovative: we work platform-independently and are at the forefront of using new technologies. As a department we also organize technical knowledge sharing sessions, in which we demonstrate interesting tools and technologies and learn from each other.
What you bring to thetable
You are a collaborative and dependable team player who takes ownership of your work and thrives in a dynamic environment. You enjoy agile collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and communicate clearly across diverse fields. Your service-minded attitude and independence allow you to contribute effectively throughout the entire data value chain.
Furthermore you have:
- Experience with Python, SQL and Pyspark. Experience with Databricks or a similar Data Engineering platform is a plus.
- Skilled in building and optimizing ETL/ELT data pipelines.
- Familiar with batch data processing and Big Data concepts; knowledge of Delta Lake and real-time data processing is a plus.
- Comfortable working in cloud environments (preferably AWS) especially for storage and computing
- Basic understanding of DevOps/DataOps; experience with Unix systems and Docker is an advantage.
Become our newdata engineer
- Upload your CV and motivation letter via the application button before the 14th of July 2025.
- Want to know more about the position before you apply or stop by for a cup of coffee to get a taste of the workplace atmosphere? Call Wilfred Gerritsen, departmental head of Application Development and Management, via 06 – 2270176 or send an email to wilfred.gerritsen@naturalis.nl.
- For more information about the application procedure, you can send an email to our colleagues in the P&O department via sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.