Join the FLEXI project – a collaborative EU initiative merging generative AI and digital twins to empower citizens and optimize energy flexibility markets. As part of the Software Production group, you'll lead the design and implementation of a scalable, cloud‑edge integration layer that orchestrates AI assistants, federated digital twins, and flexibility‑market services.
In this postdoc role, you will work at the exciting intersection of cloud and edge computing, distributed systems, and the energy domain. You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary consortium of 8 European partners (including academia, SMEs, and an energy aggregator) and with the project’s international advisory board. Your work will contribute to open‑source software, high‑impact scientific publications, and real‑world lab validation. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise in performance management, autoscaling, and system scalability to a socially relevant clean‑energy transition. Additionally, you will be responsible for the end-to-end system integration and deployment of the FLEXI platform.
Your focus:
-
A PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field (e.g., distributed systems, cloud/edge computing);
-
A strong background in cloud and edge computing, with hands-on experience in containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes) and orchestration of microservices;
-
Research, design and implement a scalable cloud‑edge integration layer that enables seamless communication between AI‑driven energy assistants, federated digital twins, and flexibility trading services;
-
Develop performance management and autoscaling mechanisms for both cloud and edge components, guaranteeing predictable response times and resource efficiency in dynamic energy scenarios;
-
Benchmark and oversee the controlled validation of the integrated framework for project use cases;
-
Contribute to open‑source software releases and publish research results in leading computing systems journals and conferences;
-
Attend research meetings and contribute to co-authored papers.
We are looking for a collaborative, technically curious, and proactive researcher with:
-
A PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field (e.g., distributed systems, cloud/edge computing).
-
A strong background in cloud and edge computing, with hands-on experience in containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes) and orchestration of microservices.
-
Expertise in performance management, autoscaling, and scalability – for example, through prior research work on auto‑scaling policies, load balancing, or resource optimisation in distributed environments.
-
Excellent programming skills (e.g., in Java, Python, Rust or Go) and is comfortable with system integration, RESTful APIs, middleware and observability (e.g., eBPF) tools and technologies.
-
A proven publication record in distributed computing journals and conferences.
-
Fluency in written and spoken English and the ability to thrive in an international, multi‑partner project.
-
a position for one year (1.0 FTE), with an extension of one additional year upon a positive evaluation;
-
the position is available immediately, with a preferred start as soon as possible. The position will end no later than November 30, 2028;
-
a full-time working week and a gross monthly salary, depending on education and experience, between € 3.546 and €5.538 based on full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
-
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
-
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.
In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.
Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community.
You will join the Department of Information and Computing Sciences and become part of the Software Production group-an international research group focused on designing and developing methods and techniques that support the engineering and production of reliable and trustworthy software systems at scale.
As a member of this group, you will be part of dedicated team working on advancing large-scale hybrid distributed systems to foster a more efficient and responsive digital future. Led by Dr. Nishant Saurabh, the team is a compact, dynamic team of two to three PhD candidates and multiple MSc students, collaborating closely with the broader research community.
The team's research is centered on resource and data management, application scheduling and placement, performance modeling, optimization, and observability across the Cloud-Edge continuum. It also explores quantum middleware to bridge classical and quantum computing. The team stands out through its integrated performance observability, applying learning paradigms for causal performance attribution and prediction, and pioneering quantum-HPC-cloud middleware to shape the next generation of hybrid systems.
For more information, please contact Dr. Nishant Saurabh at [email protected].
Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to [email protected].
As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.
Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.
If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the "Apply now" button! Please enclose:
-
your letter of motivation (no more than 2 page);
-
your Curriculum vitae with list of publications;
-
the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references;
-
A copy of your PhD certificate, or a letter from your university stating when your defence will take place.
If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.
Some connections are fundamental – Be one of them
#FundamentalConnection
