Key Skills

Job Description

Are you a specialist in motion capture and animation technology and do you want to contribute to new methodological foundations for sign language research? Are you also enthusiastic about sharing your knowledge and expertise with the next generation of students in our bachelor's programmes? Then this position at SignLab is the right fit for you! Working at the UvA Join Us! Are you an experienced software engineer and do you want to work on cutting-edge motion capture and animation technology for sign language research? Are you also passionate about sharing your knowledge and expertise with the next generation of students in our bachelor's programmes? Join us! A good salary Your salary will be determined on the basis of your experience and seniority, in accordance with the Labour agreement. Your grading and therefore the amounts mentioned are based on full employment of 38 hours per week. 232 vacation hours We also offer parental leave, partner leave and social engagement leave. Through the Employment Conditions Menu Card, there are opportunities for even more vacation hours. Financial arrangements On top of your salary, you receive holiday allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%). You build up a good pension with ABP. And in addition, we offer many other allowances and schemes. Career development and room for growth The UvA encourages you to continue to professionalise through training courses and open UvA lectures. Family matters Relocating to the Netherlands with your family? Find out about daycare, schooling, health insurance or employment options and support for your partner or spouse. Including the IDCN-network which provides support for your spouse through various training sessions, social activities, and networking events. All About This Vacancy This is what you will do You will develop and maintain a cutting-edge motion capture facility, including a Vicon-based motion capture hardware setup, as well as software for efficient recording and post-processing of 3D animations, in particular for sign language research. You will be a member of SignLab and will work within the lab space of the Visualisation Lab .You will support various research projects that make use of the motion capture facility, adapting and extending the pipeline where needed. In addition to your technical and research responsibilities, you will share your knowledge and expertise with the next generation of students through teaching in our bachelor's programmes, and will supervise students working on their thesis projects. What We Ask Of You Your experience and profile (below are examples, you don’t need to use them): MSc in Software Engineering; At least two years experience working on motion capture technology and 3D animation in a research context; Specifically, familiarity with Vicon motion capture hardware and software and with Unreal/Unity animation software; Readiness to participate in interdisciplinary cooperation and multidisciplinary development; Professional command of English and Dutch; Familiarity with Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT) or another sign language. This is what we offer you We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of one year with a probationary period of two months. If proven suitable, an extension or permanent employment is possible. The preferred starting date is January 1st, 2027. The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,873 to € 5,264 (scale 9).This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile name profile and level Education/Research Officer 2 is applicable. For this position we can not sponsor a visa.A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants.The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable. Read more about our extensive secondary benefits package. You will work in this team The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain. The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation is home to a thriving community of scholars, including philosophers, logicians, mathematicians, computer scientists, linguists, musicologists, and cognitive scientists, who share a fascination with the interdisciplinary study of information. At the ILLC we combine the problem solving skills from the sciences with the holistic and reflective view of the humanities to discover the principles that regulate information processing and find answers to some of the hardest challenges of our time. SignLab is an inter-faculty research group working on new foundations for sign language research as well as practical applications for sign language users and learners. The Visualisation Lab is a research facility supporting students and researchers to carry out projects in computer graphics, visualisation, and extended reality. Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam. Your place at the UvA About The Faculty Of Science Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, whether it concerns elementary particles, the birth of the universe, or how the brain functions. The Faculty has a student population of approximately 8,000 students, as well as 1,800 staff members working in education, research, or support services. Important to know Your application & contact If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the red button. We accept applications until and including 6 November 2026. If you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact: Floris Roelofsen, [email protected] Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file): a detailed CV; a letter of motivation; a list of publications; the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation. Due to Dutch legislation, the UvA is for non-scientific positions obliged to recruit within the EU. If you are not a EU-citizen (including Norway and Switzerland) please do not apply for this vacancy. Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered. Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture. Studies show that women and members of underrepresented groups only apply for jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Do you meet the educational requirements but not yet all of the requested experience? The UvA encourages you to apply anyway.

Core Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a Vicon-based motion capture facility and software for recording and post-processing 3D animations, particularly for sign language research. Support research projects by adapting the motion capture pipeline, teach in bachelor's programmes, and supervise student thesis projects.

Requirements

A master's degree in Software Engineering and at least two years of experience with motion capture technology and 3D animation in a research context are requested. Familiarity with Vicon hardware and software, Unreal or Unity, interdisciplinary collaboration, professional English and Dutch, and sign language knowledge are also listed as profile examples.

Benefits

• Holiday Allowance
• Year-End Bonus
• Pension
• Vacation Leave
• Parental Leave
• Partner Leave
• Social Engagement Leave
• Professional Development
• Training Courses
• Relocation Support