Bioinformatics Data Engineer

As a bioinformatics data engineer, you will be part of our bioinformatics team and support all other research and breeding teams within the HZPC R&D department. In this role you will contribute to designing, developing and maintaining the R&D data organization, data analysis and data visualisation workflows. The bioinformatics team builds and serves pipelines and applications in our cloud environment to enable data-driven research and development.

Your Opportunity
You will be a major player in bringing data-driven potato breeding to the next level. This role will give you the opportunity to develop yourself as a team player and R&D data specialist in the fast-developing field of plant genomics data analysis. While continuously learning to understand the needs of our researcher and breeders, you will bring forward new (bio)informatic approaches and opportunities. By organizing, analysing, and visualizing data you will help to make the right decisions within our breeding programs. Working at HZPC Research means you will be contributing to the development of new potato varieties and sustainable healthy food for a global market.

Your Profile

• BSc or MSc in (bio)informatics, data science, computational biology or related field.
• Hands-on team player.
• Advanced programming skills; preferably Python and R.
• Proficient in designing relational schemas to capture and represent data of different types.
• Able to design complex queries to generate clear representations of data from complex relational schemas.
• Experience with pipeline development (e.g. with nextflow/snakemake).
• Fluency in English, knowledge of Dutch is a plus.
• Experience with NGS data analysis and software.
• Experience with working in a cloud environment.

What would give a plus to your profile

• Some years of experience working as a (bio)informatician, developer or engineer.
• Experience in and affinity with:
  • Data warehousing/data lakes.
  • Git/Azure DevOps and CI/CD.
  • Databricks.
  • Plant genomics and genetics.
  • AI and machine learning.
  • Docker or another container platform.
• Familiar with concepts like Data Lakehouse, parallelization, virtualisation.

What We Offer
At HZPC, we value personal initiative and professional development. Joining us means becoming part of an informal and supportive work environment where you can continue to grow.

We offer:

• A full-time, permanent contract with options for remote work.
• Comprehensive employment benefits, including a 13th month, premium-free pension, travel allowance, and collective variable pay.
• Opportunities to have your analytical skills and work with empirical data.
• Collaboration with a team of enthusiastic and experienced colleagues from specialized departments.
• An international work environment within a healthy and growing organization.
• Access to various training programs.
• A flexible work arrangement requiring at least three days per week on-site in Wageningen or Mitselwier.

Our Organization
Founded in 1898 and rooted in the Netherlands, HZPC is a global leader in innovative potato breeding, market development, trading, and concept development. Committed to sustainable growth, we deliver potato varieties optimized for local cultivation conditions and provide dynamic solutions to address climatic, cultural, and commercial challenges in food production. Our mission is to ensure the availability of responsible food for millions worldwide.

Our R&D activities are primarily based in Mitselwier, where over 100 colleagues from around the world collaborate daily to develop new varieties, improve existing breeds, and expand our expertise across various specializations. We also conduct activities from our research satellite in Wageningen and stay on top of new developments.

For more information, please visit our website: www.hzpc.com

Your Reaction
We look forward to receiving your online application (CV and cover/motivation letter**) through our application system.

** Kindly specify your preferred location in the cover letter (Wageningen, Mitselwier or no preference) along with your expected annual salary.

For more details about the job profile, contact:

• Remco Ursem (Program Leader, Bioinformatics) at remco.ursem@hzpc.com

For information about the application process, reach out to:

• Ronald Peereboom (Manager, People and Performance) at ronald.peereboom@hzpc.com