In the European research project CEADS (Common European Agricultural Data Space) we are building the technical infrastructure for a federated agricultural data space. Fraunhofer IESE is responsible for the technical architecture and the reference implementation. Data spaces are infrastructures that let organisations exchange data without giving up control over it: who may access which data under which conditions is enforced technically rather than only agreed contractually. The technical basis is the Dataspace Protocol (DSP) and the Eclipse Dataspace Components (EDC) — an open Java ecosystem that is currently the European reference for data space connectors.

Hier sorgst Du für Veränderung

You will build and run the CEADS data space demonstrator: a permanently running reference environment in which several participants actually exchange data with each other. The demonstrator is how we show that the architecture works — to project partners, to the Commission, and to ourselves.

What comes up in practice changes as the environment grows. Typical tasks:

Setting up, operating and automating the deployment so that partners can rebuild it without our help
Configuring and extending the connectors for new exchange scenarios
Sample data and small applications that act as data providers and consumers against the environment
Documentation that others can follow, so that procedures stay repeatable
Debugging a distributed system in which several components interact

Where your focus ends up depends in part on what suits you and what you enjoy.

Hiermit bringst Du Dich ein

Studies in computer science or a related field, bachelor's from the 3rd semester onwards, or master's
Confident with Java and Gradle or Maven
Practical experience with Git, containers and the command line
You have got something running on your own before — a personal project, an internship, a non-trivial course project
Willingness to work your way into an unfamiliar, large open-source codebase
Good English (project language, documentation). German is useful but not required
Willingness and ability to work on-site at our institute in Kaiserslautern on a regular basis; remote is possible for part of the role

Nice to have:

Experience with REST APIs, CI pipelines or infrastructure automation
Kubernetes or Helm
Interest in distributed systems, identity and authorisation concepts
Prior contact with data spaces, Gaia-X, EDC or related topics — not required, we will get you up to speed

Was wir für Dich bereithalten

Work on a European data infrastructure that is meant to run productively beyond the end of the project
Current open standards and technologies with relevance well beyond the agricultural domain
Ownership of a clearly defined area rather than assisting work
Close supervision and regular technical feedback
The option of a thesis — both bachelor's and master's theses are possible. Suitable topics emerge from the project work and are shaped together.
Flexible hours, and we work around exam periods
Paid at the standard student assistant rates, graded by degree held

How to apply

Send us a short CV and, if you have one, a link to code you have written (GitHub, GitLab, coursework).

We do not need a cover letter. Instead, answer two questions briefly — a few sentences each is enough:

1. What technical problem did you last spend more than a day stuck on, and how did you solve it?

2. What interests you about this position? If it is mainly the Java and infrastructure side and the agricultural topic means little to you, feel free to say so.

Wir wertschätzen und fördern die Vielfalt der Kompetenzen unserer Mitarbeitenden und begrüßen daher alle Bewerbungen – unabhängig von Alter, Geschlecht, Nationalität, ethnischer und sozialer Herkunft, Religion, Weltanschauung, Behinderung sowie sexueller Orientierung und Identität. Schwerbehinderte Menschen werden bei gleicher Eignung bevorzugt eingestellt. Unsere Aufgaben sind vielfältig und anpassbar – für Bewerber*innen mit Behinderung finden wir gemeinsam Lösungen, die ihre Fähigkeiten optimal fördern.

Die wöchentliche Arbeitszeit beträgt 20 Stunden. Die Vergütung richtet sich nach der Gesamtbetriebsvereinbarung zur Beschäftigung der Hilfskräfte.

Mit ihrer Fokussierung auf zukunftsrelevante Schlüsseltechnologien sowie auf die Verwertung der Ergebnisse in Wirtschaft und Industrie spielt die Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft eine zentrale Rolle im Innovationsprozess. Als Wegweiser und Impulsgeber für innovative Entwicklungen und wissenschaftliche Exzellenz wirkt sie mit an der Gestaltung unserer Gesellschaft und unserer Zukunft.

Bereit für Veränderung? Dann bewirb Dich jetzt, und mach einen Unterschied! Nach Eingang Deiner Online-Bewerbung erhältst Du eine automatische Empfangsbestätigung. Dann melden wir uns schnellstmöglich und sagen Dir, wie es weitergeht.

For questions, please contact:

Bernd Rauch

bernd.rauch@iese.fraunhofer.de

Fraunhofer-Institut für Experimentelles Software Engineering IESE

Kennziffer: 85781Bewerbungsfrist: 31.10.2026

STUDENT ASSISTANT (all genders) - DATA SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

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