As part of a startup spinoff project funded by Max Planck Innovation's MAX!mize program. We're developing next-generation software for automated analysis of animal social behavior . Our platform makes behavioral analysis tools accessible for research and industry applications. We have the following opening: 

                Software Engineer (m/f/d) (80 - 100 %) - Behavioral Analysis Platform Development

The Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior at its sites in Konstanz and Radolfzell offers an international, interdisciplinary, and cooperative environment that opens up unique research opportunities. The goal of our basic research is to develop a quantitative and predictive understanding of the decisions and movements of animals in their natural environment.

The Max Planck Department of Collective Behavior would like to fill the following position starting in January/February 2026, initially for 1 year with the possibility of extension. The workplace will be in Konstanz, Germany.

Our Offer
We offer an interesting job in an open-minded team, flat hierarchies and an open-door culture where we encourage building on strengths, a wide range of further training and education opportunities, 30 days of vacation for a five-day week, flexible working hours, a responsible and varied workplace in a growing interdisciplinary and international research institute. The payment is made in accordance with your experience and qualification and the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-Bund).

Your tasks

• Design and develop interface for video analysis and data visualization  
• Build APIs connecting Python backend with frontend applications
• Integrate existing behavioral analysis research tools
• Create annotation tools and real-time visualization dashboards
• Transform Python-based behavioral analysis algorithms into accessible web applications
• Ensure complex scientific tools are intuitive for non-programmer users

Your Profile

• Bachelor's/Master's in Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent experience 
• Strong web development and applications skills (HTML/CSS/JavaScript + any modern framework
• Proficient in Python programming
• Experience making complex tools user-friendly
• Self-directed problem solver with ability to work independently
• Very good written and spoken English skills
• Team-oriented with strong communication and collaboration abilities

Other valuable experience: Scientific/data-heavy applications, real-time visualization, video processing/computer vision, Docker/containerization, research/startup experience

The Max Planck Society endeavors to employ more severely disabled people. Applications of severely disabled persons are expressly welcome. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Are you interested? Then we are looking forward to receiving your application until November 30, 2025, with your CV, a brief cover letter including link to GitHub or project portfolio under the following link: https://bewerbermanagement.net/en/jobposting/82ea614de840b641fc5b2e466fad8acb58f503450/apply 

Questions about this position will be answered by Jacob Davidson (jdavidson@ab.mpg.de) or Ahmed El Hady (ahady@ab.mpg.de).

Please make sure to spread it to anyone you think might be interested to apply or is well suited for the position. 

All the best regards,

Ahmed El Hady 

Dr. Ahmed El Hady
Research group leader
Cluster for Advanced Study of Collective Behavior
University of Konstanz/Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz
Room ZT 907