01 / The opportunity
Architecture with your
hands on the tools.
We are looking for a hands-on Senior Systems Architect who designs and builds. You will shape the technical backbone of SmartAvatar's AI, Digital Twin and distributed software platforms, and own the architecture and engineering interfaces that connect our systems with customers and research partners.
We are looking for a hands-on Senior Systems Architect who designs and builds. You will shape the technical backbone of SmartAvatar's AI, Digital Twin and distributed software platforms, and own the architecture and engineering interfaces that connect our systems with customers and research partners.
This is not a traditional enterprise architecture role. Around 75% of your time is hands-on: prototyping critical services, reviewing code and solving difficult integration problems. You lead through engineering, not through slide decks.
02 / Your contribution
What you will own
- Design distributed systems across cloud, edge, backend, APIs, Digital Twins and AI services
- Prototype critical services, review code and resolve complex integration challenges
- Define technical interfaces between SmartAvatar systems, customers and partners
- Create architecture patterns that can be reused across customer, internal and EU-funded R&D work
- Define API contracts, data models, service boundaries and acceptance criteria
- Help the team avoid project-specific, one-off engineering
- Represent SmartAvatar in technical discussions with customers and research partners
- Coordinate technical dependencies across engineering teams and external technology providers
- Support secure-by-design architecture together with our cybersecurity specialists
03 / Your experience
What you bring
The experience and capabilities we are looking for.
- 5+ years of experience in software engineering, systems architecture, distributed systems or platform engineering
- Strong backend and systems engineering skills
- Solid experience with REST APIs, OpenAPI/Swagger, JSON data models and system integrations
- Experience with microservices or service-oriented architecture, databases and distributed state
- Docker and cloud-native development; working knowledge of OAuth/OIDC or IAM concepts
- Experience integrating systems owned by multiple organisations
- A BSc or MSc in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Robotics or a related field — or equivalent industry experience
- Excellent communication skills in English
- Digital Twins, IoT, MQTT/OPC UA, edge computing or industrial systems
- Kubernetes, Infrastructure as Code, observability or distributed tracing
- AI/ML infrastructure, security, interoperability standards or smart-city systems
Useful additional experience
These skills are welcome, but are not essential requirements.
- Digital Twins, IoT, MQTT/OPC UA, edge computing or industrial systems
- Kubernetes, Infrastructure as Code, observability or distributed tracing
- AI/ML infrastructure, security, interoperability standards or smart-city systems
04 / Working with us
What we offer
- A four-year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of transitioning to a permanent position after 18 months, based on mutual fit, performance and company needs
- Competitive compensation based on your experience
- Real architectural ownership in a small, fast-moving deep-tech company
- Work on a varied mix of customer projects, internal product development and European R&D programmes
- Collaboration with colleagues and technical specialists in the Netherlands, across the EU and globally
- An office in Delft, at the heart of the Dutch technology ecosystem