Linux Engineer DANS

Do you believe that science should be transparent and accessible? Should research data be open and reusable? Would you like to contribute to open science at both national and European levels? If so, we invite you to join us!

For our Technology section, we are looking for a:

Linux Engineer
30.4 – 38 hours per week (0.8 – 1 FTE)

What will you be doing?

As part of our ICT Support Team, you will ensure smooth operations between platform service providers, operational systems, and our developers. Independence is key: you will take responsibility for deployments, operational testing, and the overall availability and usability of DANS data services and APIs.

In this role, approximately 80% of your time will be devoted to system administration tasks: maintaining, securing, and optimising our Linux and cloud infrastructure. The remaining 20% of your time will be focused on development and automation, for example by writing scripts, setting up CI/CD processes, or implementing Infrastructure as Code using Ansible and Terraform/OpenTofu, and potentially exploring “serverless” implementations in the future.

You will work in a technically strong team that continuously seeks improvements in reliability, scalability, and security. You will assess, implement, and mitigate security issues, and ensure the proper use and specifications of encrypted storage for data deposits. In addition, you will take care of daily maintenance and support.

What will you bring to the table?

For this challenging position, we are looking for an enthusiastic professional with a completed higher professional or academic education in a relevant IT field, or with proven knowledge and experience in this area.

You have extensive knowledge of:

• Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu)
• Ansible
• Docker
• Terraform/OpenTofu
• Kubernetes
• BASH
• Python

It is an advantage if you have experience with:

• Hardware management
• Storage
• Network security
• Cloud technologies
• Zabbix monitoring

Who are you?

Customer-oriented and an excellent communicator, you can translate client needs into effective ICT solutions. Fluent in both Dutch and English, spoken and written, you combine a goal- and solution-oriented mindset with a hands-on mentality.

Working independently suits you well, yet you also thrive in a team environment — ideally in collaboration with academically trained professionals.

What do we offer?

DANS provides a pleasant working environment, where a motivated and well-cooperating group of research data experts and engineers is dedicated to Open Science and FAIR data. At DANS, we value initiative, expertise, result-orientation, reliability and collaboration. We appreciate a lively atmosphere among colleagues and attach great importance to mutual knowledge exchange. Personal development is not forgotten, and employee satisfaction is high.

Where is your workplace?

DANS is located on Anna van Saksenlaan in The Hague, within walking distance of Laan van NOI station. It is possible to work partially (up to 50%) from home.

Who can you contact for more information?

For further information about the position, please contact Marc van Eersel at marc.van.eersel@dans.knaw.nl. Information about DANS is available on dans.knaw.nl.

How can you apply?

Send your motivational letter with CV before 15 December 2025 through the apply/solliciteren button/link, addressed to Marc van Eersel.

About DANS

DANS is the national expertise centre and repository for research data. We help researchers make their data available for reuse. This allows researchers to use the data for new research and makes published research verifiable and reproducible. With over 300,000 datasets and a staff of fifty, DANS is one of the leading repositories in Europe. DANS is an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Working at DANS means working in an informal and international environment where colleagues with diverse backgrounds collaborate to achieve goals, and where people are given the opportunity and the confidence to fulfil their roles and develop as they see fit.
Internally, we apply the same principles of our service: we are accessible, reliable and innovative.

Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is € 3.546,-- to a maximum of € 5.538,-- gross per month for a fulltime employment (=38 hours, scale 10 cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP. Initially, it is a fixed-term contract for one year with the possibility of a permanent contract.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with fulltime employment). 

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct is part of the employment procedure.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.