Data Engineer Utrecht

About this position

Do you want to work at the intersection of data engineering, cloud platforms, software development and AI? And would you like to contribute to challenges around energy, raw materials, drinking water, climate adaptation and the spatial development of the Netherlands? Then this role at TNO Geological Survey of the Netherlands (TNO-GDN) could be a great fit for you.

At TNO-GDN, we are building the next generation of information services for the Dutch subsurface. We combine geological, spatial, sensor and research data with AI and human expertise, so our knowledge can support decision-making on major societal issues.

In the coming years, we will continue to develop into an AI-native organisation. That is why we are looking for a Data Engineer to join our Data Innovation team and help build AI platforms, knowledge-driven solutions, advanced data pipelines and new forms of geological intelligence.

What will be your role?

As a Data Engineer, you will build the technical foundation that enables data scientists, geologists, modellers and advisors to develop and use reliable data and AI solutions in production environments. You will work in multidisciplinary teams and translate innovative ideas into scalable, maintainable and future-proof solutions.

You will design, develop and manage scalable data pipelines for large geological, spatial and sensor datasets. You will also develop AI-ready data products, contribute to data lakes and lakehouse architectures, and work on CI/CD, DataOps and MLOps processes, deployment management and reproducible workflows.

You will work on a broad portfolio of innovative projects, from AI platforms and Knowledge Graphs to AI-ready data products and advanced data pipelines. Around 20% of your time will be dedicated to research and development; the rest of your time you will focus on operationalising successful innovations and bringing data and AI capabilities into production.

What we expect from you

You enjoy complex technical challenges and like building solutions that have lasting impact. You take ownership of what you develop, think along about architecture and scalability, and care about solutions that are not only functional, but also maintainable, reproducible and future-proof. You are curious about developments in AI, data engineering and cloud technology, and enjoy working with specialists from different disciplines.

What else do you bring?

• A completed bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Geoinformatics or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant experience as a Data Engineer, MLOps Engineer, Platform Engineer or Software Engineer.
• Strong experience with Python, scalable data pipelines and large datasets.
• Experience with data lakes or lakehouse architectures, CI/CD and deployment management.
• Knowledge of containerisation and infrastructure-as-code, for example Docker and Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of data lineage, provenance, version control and reproducible data and model workflows.
• Experience managing and operationalising applications in an enterprise environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Nice to have: experience with GitOps, MLOps, OpenShift, database management, cloud-native architectures, LLMs, generative AI, machine learning or geodata.

What you'll get in return

Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 4,100 and € 5,900 (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13^th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.

TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:

• An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
• The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
• 33 days annual leave plus a flexible holiday that can be used on a cultural, religious, or otherwise important day of your choosing (on a full-time basis).
• An employer working towards a respectful, inclusive, and equitable work environment where every employee can flourish, with various initiatives such as Jong TNO, numerous expertise based guilds, Rainbow Community and Round Tables on diverse inclusion topics.
• We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel.
• Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues. That’s how you will get to know a lot of people really quickly.
• Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 or 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
• A good pension scheme.

Read more about tailoring your benefits package.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.

At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.

The selection process

Please apply before the 27th of September, 2026. The selection process comprises two interview rounds. In a final meeting we will discuss the terms of employment and your tailored benefits package. We aim to finalize the entire process within four weeks.

The selection process may include an online assessment and a reference check.
A certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO.