Expert and Head of Section in Research Software Engineering - DTU Wind

Do you want to shape and lead a new section for Research Software Engineering at DTU Wind and Energy Systems?

Do you want to contribute to a central part of an internationally leading department of a highly reputed technical university, supporting cutting-edge research with robust, sustainable software and data solutions? Are you visionary and excited about developing a new section with close ties to academic work and the industry?

The job

DTU Wind and Energy Systems invites applications for a position as Head of Section for a new Section in Research Software Engineering and Digital Science Support. As Head of Section, you will lead a team of talented professionals at the intersection of research and software development. You will shape the strategy, foster partnerships across disciplines, and create an environment where creativity and technical excellence thrive. You will also engage in topical project work, contributing your expertise to selected research software projects and initiatives. You will become part of DTU Wind’s broader management forum, which consists of the Department director, four Heads of Division and around twenty Heads of Section.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems is a department at the Technical University of Denmark located on the DTU Risø Campus in Roskilde, close to Greater Copenhagen and in Lyngby, North of Copenhagen. Our overall mission is to lead by scientific excellence and impact-driven research that enables a sustainable, large-scale deployment of wind energy and the development of an integrated and resilient energy system.

Scientific software and data play a vital role in our research and innovation ecosystem. It supports both internal scientific sections and external partners through advanced modeling, simulation, data processing, and user-facing tools. While most software has so far been successfully developed by researchers and development engineers within research sections, the increasing complexity, visibility, and strategic importance of software across the division calls for a more unified and sustainable structure.

The new section will address this by serving as a center of gravity for research software development within the division, ensuring that:

• Researchers and developers have a trusted resource for guidance, mentorship, and infrastructure
• Knowledge, tooling and documentation are shared across projects rather than reinvented
• Software is recognised as a critical research output, with clear pathways for reuse, valorisation, and long-term impact

The section will consolidate our software-oriented activities on:

1. Platform Engineering, including provision and managing of Virtual Machines (VMs), and storage, Design secure and scalable CI/CD workflows, Support development and deployment pipelines, Ensure system reliability, maintainability, and compliance
2. Web Application Engineering, including developing and maintaining web portals and APIs, wrapping scientific models for public or internal use, ensuring codebase sustainability and extensibility, supporting common libraries and shared application patterns
3. Research Engineering, including creating research utilities and automation tools, supporting FAIR data workflows, assisting with prototyping and lightweight tool development, collaborating directly with researchers on exploratory or one-off needs.

The section will work very closely with the wind industry, bringing the latest developments in DTU Wind research to the end-users through a variety of activities. Highly skilled, experienced and engaged employees from the existing research sections will move into this new section, and new staff will be recruited into it.

Our expectations of you

As Head of Section, you will lead a growing section consisting of highly skilled software development engineers, provide strategic vision, manage the team structure and hiring, and represent the section within the broader organisation. You are a dedicated colleague and a talented leader with a solid topical background. You as Head of Section will be responsible for the team to collectively deliver on:

• Defining and communicating the section's long-term goals and strategy
• Ensuring that project requirements are translated into actionable development plans with developers and project owners
• Ensuring that project timelines and progress are defined, managed and tracked, and software deliverables coordinate
• Regular coordination with staff, including performance development
• Fostering team motivation through adequate tasking, staffing and ongoing guidance.
• Maintaining a creative and attractive working environment, with focus on cooperation, and inclusion. Well-being, and psychological safety are part of our top priorities.
• Ensuring alignment with DTU-wide and division level objectives
• Technical governance
• Advising and building overall software architecture
• Acting as Product Owner for shared infrastructure and internal tools
• Developing future services by the section
• Representing the section internally and externally, fostering relevant networks and partnerships

Alongside the leading role, you will also be closely involved in project work alongside colleagues. In these projects you will address the diverse and evolving research and technical challenges relevant to the department. This project work will drive your further knowledge development and lead to new opportunities for growth in the section.

Qualifications

Experience of candidates within a related research environment is highly preferred, in order to understand the demands of research project dissemination. Therefore, a PhD in a related science discipline (see WES Division research sections) is highly favourable. If this is not the case, a MSc or PhD in computer science, and subsequent experience working in a research environment is needed. In your application, the required know-how should be evidenced by referencing relevant activities.

In particular we seek candidates who:

• Have experience leading teams, mentoring staff, or coordinating technical work
• Understand the challenges of developing sustainable, high-quality research software
• Communicate effectively across technical and non-technical domains
• Are motivated to build a new section and shape its long-term direction
• Can work collaboratively with researchers and industry partners
• Bring a strategic mindset and a commitment to high-quality software as a research output

You do not need to tick every single box to apply! If you are passionate about research and software, and have experience in leadership or project team coordination, we’d love to hear from you!

What DTU Wind and Energy Systems offers in return

We offer you a challenging job in an international environment focusing on research, education, innovation, and authority services beneficial for the society. There is a high focus on developing professional competences and the job offers great flexibility. The workplace is in one of the most beautiful locations in Denmark, at the same time close to the metropolitan area of Copenhagen.

DTU Wind and Energy Systems is a world-leading wind energy department that puts knowledge to work through cutting-edge research, innovation, and development of technology. We actively augment career paths through meticulous talent management, and we culture internal collaboration between scientists and technical disciplines.

We strive for excellence in an environment characterised by collegial respect and freedom tempered by responsibility.

Application and contact

Please submit your online application no later than 19 February 2026 (23:59 Danish time).

If you would like to have additional information about the position, you are welcome to contact Head of Division Lena Kitzing by lkit@dtu.dk, 0045 2465 9064.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.