Working Student Computer Science - Safe Runtime Environments for Critical Railway Systems (all genders)
Research and prototyping on safe runtime environments and virtualisation in safety-critical railway systems. Up to 20 hours per week, with the option to connect your thesis to ongoing work.
Systems Lab 21 GmbH is a young IT engineering company enabling the digital future of Europe's railway system. We are looking for a curious working student in computer science who wants to work with us on real problems in safety-critical railway engineering - and contribute to sustainable mobility while doing so.
Our mission is to make transportation more sustainable and fix European rail infrastructure through safe, efficient and scalable digital solutions.
We are very well networked with operators such as DB InfraGO (German Railway) and SBB (Swiss Railway), as well as with manufacturers and approval bodies. For them, we demonstrate technical feasibility in research projects, provide an integration platform (Platform21) and advise on strategic technology decisions.
About the Position
You don't tick all boxes? Don't worry - we are looking for a diverse team and are open to different backgrounds and experiences. More important to us than a perfect application is your curiosity and willingness to dig into new topics. We would also like to encourage members of under-represented groups to apply.
- You conduct research and literature reviews on safe runtime environments and virtualisation concepts in the context of safety-critical railway systems.
- You investigate and compare different virtualisation and architecture approaches with respect to their suitability for safety-critical railway applications.
- You contribute to the investigation and prototypical implementation of safe runtime environments for critical railway systems, and document your findings in a clear and traceable way.
- You produce reports and prototypes based on your research and present them internally as well as to clients and stakeholders from the railway domain.
- You engage directly with clients and project partners and bring your own ideas and questions to the table.
- Your work can be connected to a Bachelor's or Master's thesis - we will support you in developing a fitting topic together.
Your Profile
- You are enrolled in a degree programme in computer science, technical computer science, or a comparable technical field.
- You have good knowledge of operating systems and middleware - from your studies, personal projects, or both.
- You are familiar with different virtualisation concepts, or keen to dive deeper into the topic.
- You work in a structured and analytical way, can communicate technical topics clearly, and have a genuine interest in understanding how things work.
- Good written and spoken English and German (at least C1) are required - we work in both languages.
- Interest in safety-critical systems and the railway sector is a big plus; prior domain knowledge is not required - we will get you up to speed on everything you need.
- Experience with formal methods, embedded systems or functional safety (e.g. RTOS, IEC 61508, EN 50716) is welcome but not a prerequisite.
Our Offer
- Competitive hourly rate
- Flexible working hours - up to 20 hours per week, fitted around your study schedule
- Direct exposure to ongoing industry and research projects
- Support for your learning goals (specialist literature, internal training etc.)
- Option to supervise your Bachelor's or Master's thesis in the area of safe runtime environments and railway engineering
About Systems Lab 21 GmbH
Currently situated in Potsdam Griebnitzsee on a green, modern science campus next to a lake and close to Berlin, we are a team of engineers who want to bring positive change to European mobility - both technically as well as culturally. In our mindset, creative exploration and designing dependable software architectures are always connected. Our business is profitable since our founding in 2021 and fully independent.
We believe in lean principles, fast decision processes, autonomy and joint ownership of our business and solutions.
Outstanding software engineering is our core competence. We deliver working software in a short period of time and use our expertise to find scalable and long-term solutions for the new challenges of the rail sector.
We offer you a real opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a relevant and future-facing topic - and fair pay for your work.
How to apply
We currently use a two-stage hiring process. In the first conversation we discuss the general fit of your qualifications and career goals and your motivation. If things look good, we will ask you to submit a work sample (e.g. in shape of a coding exercise for developers) which will be reviewed and discussed in the second interview. We then come back to you with as much quality feedback as we can, including a potential offer. We strive to make a timely decisions (within 1-2 weeks) after your last interview.
Please apply through email at jobs@systemslab21.com with an up-to-date CV or LinkedIn profile, a short description of the role you're interested in and why you're applying. Work samples or GitHub profile are appreciated but optional.
Hiring manager: