Job Description

Job Type


PhD Position



Fixed term of three years (with the possibility of extension)


Location


Leipzig, Germany


Workspace


50% at the HTWK Leipzig, 50% at Optimax Energy



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About us

At Optimax Energy, we’ve been

developing smart solutions for automated trading systems for over 10 years, driving the shift toward green energy

. Today, we are a leading player in the international power trading market.



Our culturally diverse team shares a common vision: we believe extraordinary achievements happen when people are empowered to grow freely. We foster a culture of appreciation, inclusion, and equal opportunity – with a strong emphasis on creative freedom, work-life balance, and long-term collaboration.



In collaboration with

Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

within the Pro.Motion program, we are offering a

hybrid PhD position

at the intersection of data engineering, automation, and applied AI – where you’ll explore, design, and evaluate new approaches to integrating complex data systems in energy trading.



You can find the university's job advertisement

here

.

You can also find the dedicated HTWK online form for your application (until 5 October 2025) there.

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Your responsibilities

Analyze and continuously improve existing data engineering practices and develop innovative data engineering approaches, ensuring robust, scalable, rapid, and maintainable data workflows across the organization. Researching current trends at the intersection of innovative data engineering technology and generative AI. Independently conduct requirements analysis and gather input from stakeholders, aiming for an innovative data engineering environment. Define clear, outcome-oriented goals and validate those goals through experiments and prototypes. Regularly present findings and project updates to internal stakeholders, facilitating feedback loops. Support knowledge transfer within the team through documentation, presentations, and workshops. Actively collaborate across teams to align research outcomes with practical implementation. Collaboration with external partners and users to integrate requirements and validate prototypes in real-world application scenarios. Publication and presentation of scientific results. #

Your skills

We’re looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of research, engineering, and collaboration – someone who is curious, pragmatic, and excited about building something that has real impact.

Must-Haves

Completed scientific university degree (Master's or comparable) in computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, (applied) mathematics (with a focus on computer science) or a related field Proven knowledge in software engineering (e.g., in Python, Java, C#, TypeScript, C++, Rust) Solid understanding of and experience working with SQL (in general, tabular data) Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and basic software engineering practices Strong analytical and systems thinking skills Hands-on experience in data engineering or data science projects through previous professional roles, research projects, internships, or relevant academic work. Excellent English communication skills – written and verbal Good German communication skills for official communication with the university High level of independence, self-organization, and ownership Strong communication skills to clearly communicate with diverse stakeholders A strong sense of curiosity and enthusiasm for exploring the unknown

Nice-to-Haves

Experience with integration and experimentation with LLMs or AI agents Technical skills: Java code, R, or CI/CD pipelines Familiarity with knowledge representation concepts (e.g., semantic modeling, ontologies) Experience with machine learning operations Ability to share knowledge with others (e.g., through documentation or workshops) #

What we offer

Health & well-being:

Freshly cooked lunch every day Massages and Pilates in the office EGYM Wellpass Sports and mobility offers, such as subsidies for a new bike

Flexible working arrangements and benefits:

30 days paid vacation Flexibility in working hours depending on company needs Additional vacation for the honeymoon Subsidies for childcare

Team culture and working atmosphere:

Regular team events (game night, table tennis tourament, excursions, etc.) Work in a mission-oriented, international team that values diversity and equality Working atmosphere with open doors and flat hierarchies Modern, green office in the heart of Leipzig

Professional development and further training:

Independence and responsibility in project management * 10% of weekly working time for personal and professional development