Research Software Engineer (f/m/d)

The Perceiving Systems Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, is seeking a computer scientist / software engineer (m/f/d) with a scientific background and a diverse skill set to support researchers in creating the next generation of 3D digital humans.

Description

The Perceiving Systems Department is creating the world’s most realistic human avatars for use in computer vision, virtual reality, medicine, games, and special effects. Using unique 3D and 4D capture facilities, machine learning, computer vision, and advanced graphics, we are modeling how humans look, move and interact with the world. We develop computer vision algorithms to estimate human shape and motion from images, videos, or other sensors. Our approaches use deep learning and define the current state of the art.

In this context, we are seeking a Research Software Engineer who will work on learning 3D digital humans.

We have extensive experience building digital humans. Our models of the body (SMPL, SMPL-X, STAR, SUPR), face (FLAME), hands (MANO), infants (SMIL), skeleton (OSSO) and animals (SMAL) are in wide academic and commercial use. There is much more to do to realize our vision of highly realistic 3D virtual humans.

Come help us bring digital humans to life!

Your role

We are seeking a research engineer with knowledge of 3D vision and modeling. Your creativity, attention to detail, mathematical skills, and strong programming are all critical.

We offer a unique resource of 1.2 million 3D human scans, the equipment to get more, and an infrastructure to make use of such data. Your work will have a wide impact through publication, dissemination for research, and through commercial licensing.

You will work closely with scientists to develop, test, support, and distribute new digital human technologies. Along the way you will get involved in publications at top conferences. You’ll be working at the forefront of the field.

Responsibilities may include

• Develop software to turn 3D/4D scans into avatars
• Develop software to turn images and videos into avatars
• Create web-based and mobile demos of human avatar capture and synthesis
• Create new deep-learning-based tools for capturing and rendering human appearance including implicit surfaces and neural radiance fields
• Integrate our avatars into animation software and game engines
• Implement and test the latest papers in the field
• Contribute to papers and publish your work at top conferences

Your profile

• A Master’s degree (or above) in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience with 3D computer vision
• Python (2+ years)
• Experience with deep-learning frameworks such as PyTorch
• Experience designing and training deep-learning architectures for computer vision
• Excellent problem solving, troubleshooting skills
• Ability to fluidly move between math, code, and English specifications of an idea
• Good written/spoken English and interpersonal skills

Any of the following skills are considered as a plus:

• C++ programming experience (2+ years)
• Experience with 3D meshes, rendering, and animation software or game engines
• Experience with clothing and/or hair simulation
• Experience with physics simulation and reinforcement learning
• Parallel and GPU programming (CUDA)

Our offer

The position will be located in the Tübingen site of our institute as part of the software team. We offer highly interesting, challenging and varied tasks in a very active research area. You can expect a dedicated team in an international environment with regular opportunities for further education and training. You will work closely with scientists, other research engineers, administrative staff, and IT to help achieve the scientific goals of the institute. You will enjoy an open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility.

Further benefits include an annual special payment, the possibility of being awarded a performance-related bonus once a year, a secure work place, flexible working hours and the possibility of working partially remotely. There is also a child-care facility next to the institute with preferential access for Max Planck employees.

Salaries and contract will be based on qualifications and previous professional experience according to the Public Service Wage Agreement (TVöD Bund) guidelines. All social benefits of the public service apply. The position is initially limited to two years with the possibility of extension.

Your application

To apply, please include a cover letter, your CV, links to code that you have written (e.g. GitHub), and a list of references in your application. Please upload it as one PDF file to our application portal.

For further questions please contact ps-admin@tue.mpg.de.

The position will be opened until filled.

The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and especially encourages them to apply. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in areas where they are under-represented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity.