A Flemish public-sector water research centre uses three ship manoeuvring simulators for scientific studies on port expansions, nautical operations and pilot training. The ship manoeuvring simulator software is a serious-game application built with C/C++, C++/CLI and C#/.NET, making this senior C#/.NET developer role focused on integrated Windows applications.
The mission
The centre has more than 80 years of expertise in hydraulic, nautical, sediment-related and hydrological research and provides research and advice on water-related questions in Flanders. Its three simulators support studies such as future port extensions, as well as pilot training and other educational programmes. The software combines native C/C++, C++/CLI and .NET components in Microsoft Visual Studio, where stable real-time behaviour and maintainable code are important.
You will cover the full software lifecycle, from object-oriented analysis and design through implementation, documentation, testing and release management. Your scope includes software libraries, small applications and larger simulator components, with responsibility for understanding and documenting the current code and object model before delivering extensions. You will also help shape development, deployment, testing and versioning practices, working independently while aligning technical decisions with simulator experts and stakeholders.
Your responsibilities
- Design and deliver new simulator features and .NET-based applications that fit the existing integrated solution.
- Develop, maintain and update software libraries, Windows Forms Application (WFA) components and applications.
- Analyse and document current code, object model and technical dependencies before modifying legacy components.
- Establish and apply a test strategy through code reviews, unit tests and regression testing.
- Improve release, deployment and software versioning practices so changes can be reproduced and supported.
- Document code and architecture, and communicate technical decisions to simulator experts and stakeholders.
Your profile
Essential skills
- Deliver C#/.NET and C++ development in .NET-based applications, with at least five years covering analysis, design, coding, testing and debugging.
- Apply object-oriented analysis and design at senior level, with at least eight years of relevant experience.
- Work with C/C++, C++/CLI and Microsoft Visual Studio in an integrated solution.
- Use Python and Fortran, with at least four years of relevant experience.
- Take ownership of assignments, work in a structured way, ask clear questions and contribute solutions independently and collaboratively.
- Communicate fluently in Dutch at CEFR C2 level and work comfortably in English with technical stakeholders and documentation.
Preferred skills
- Lead a development team, coach developers and take a leading role in an Agile development method.
- Apply 3D visualisation with Presagis Vega Prime, OpenGL, DirectX, HLSL, CUDA, OpenSceneGraph or XNA.
- Use WPF (XAML, GDI+), XML/HTML, XSLT, XPath and RegEx.
- Understand real-time simulation and collision detection, including PhysX, IP sockets and National Instruments tools such as CVI, LabView and Measurement Studio.
- Bring maritime knowledge such as NMEA and AIS, plus experience with software refactoring, versioning and Jira.
Languages
- Dutch, CEFR C2.
- English, professional working proficiency. A specific CEFR level is not stated.