GFZ is Germany's national centre for solid Earth research. We advance the understanding of dynamic processes to address global challenges, from mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and sustaining our habitat amid global change to responsibly managing georesources. We are part of the Helmholtz Association, the largest German scientific organisation. With around 1,200 employees as well as ca. 500 guest researchers, we contribute to the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment, aligning cutting-edge research with societal relevance and international collaboration. Our work integrates multidisciplinary studies across Earth's system components, leveraging advanced technologies and infrastructure to research solutions and to transfer our knowledge to society. We are doing this according to our vision: “Taking the pulse of our Earth to safeguard a habitable planet”.
The section 4.4 "Hydrology" (department “Geosystems”) is looking for an:
Our section offers a position focusing on sensor installation and monitoring network maintenance in the framework of the project “Trees under stress: Potsdam as a real-world laboratory for climate change impacts (ArboKlim)”.
We are looking for a candidate to a) help with the instrumentation of several field sites in Potsdam and in the region with sapflow sensors, dendrometers, soil moisture sensors and seismometers and b) provide the technical maintenance of these field sites.
The position is embedded in the Helmholtz long-term environmental observatory network TERENO, and the EU-funded regional project ArboKlim, carried out by the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), in close collaboration with local partners.
The project ArboKlim investigates the impacts of climate change on trees in and around the UNESCO World Heritage landscapes of Potsdam. In response to increasing drought stress, heat extremes, and weather-related hazards, the project combines climate-impact research with innovative in situ monitoring to better understand how trees respond to changing environmental conditions and how these responses affect public safety, ecosystem services, and tourism. ArboKlim integrates hydrological measurements (soil moisture and groundwater levels), tree-based sensor systems (sap-flow sensors and dendrometers), innovative environmental seismological approaches, as well as tree-ring analyses.
- Instrumentation of field sites, installation of sensors and logger networks
- Technical integration and further development of sensor and data acquisition systems
- Ensuring and optimising data flows
- Developing technical solutions to improve data quality, system stability and measurement accuracy
- Configuration of Raspberry Pi or similar for high-frequency sensing
- Planning, coordinating and evaluating measurement campaigns
- Logger programming
- Maintenance of instrumentation
- Data management
- Supporting the scientific staff with technical expertise
- Collaboration with our project partners in meteorology, dendrochronology and geomorphology
Essential Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (university or university of applied sciences) in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics, Mechatronics, Environmental Physics or similar
- Interest in interdisciplinary work
- Interest in working outdoors, ability to work in the field, including extended walking and carrying of heavy loads
- Skills and interest in electronics and programming, databases
- Very good communication and interpersonal skills, team player
- Good command of English
- Driver’s license
Desirable Qualifications:
- Knowledge of the German language is an asset
- Knowledge in Hydrology, Geosciences, Geophysics
Start date: As soon as possible, latest 1st September 2026
Fixed end date: 30th June 2028
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 10 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours: Full-time (currently 39 h/week); The position is generally suitable for part-time work.
Place of work: Potsdam
- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- Flexible working hours and conditions
- Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
- Institute day-care centre on site
- Working at the Albert Einstein Science Park on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
- Workplace within walking distance of Potsdam main train station, or just a short ride on the shuttle bus
If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 19th July 2026.
Required documents:
- CV (including names and contact information of two referees)
- Letter of motivation
- Grades, transcripts and certificates for your degrees in a single document - if not available, a confirmation from your institution on completed degree by the application deadline
Please use our online application form only.
Technical Note:
Currently, email addresses associated with domains such as @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @live.de may experience occasional delays or restrictions in receiving messages. To ensure smooth communication during the application process, we recommend using an alternative email address and providing an additional contact method (e.g., a phone number).
The GFZ actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. We also promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone can fully develop their own talents. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled, will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.
“Diversity in perspectives” is one of GFZ's core values. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We among others do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. The GFZ thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.
Data protection information for applicants
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Dr. Theresa Blume via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
