Open Position — Technical Team Leader & Deputy Head of R&D (PhD)
About Vastalla
Vastalla is a Turin-based tech SME specialised in innovative software products and IoT/embedded solutions. We work on projects that combine applied research, software engineering and smart hardware, with a strong focus on quality and on the real-world impact of what we ship.
For nearly 20 years we have been running R&D activities across multiple projects, with a strong focus on the Space sector — though not exclusively. Over the years we have built a solid track record of combining scientific research with product engineering, working with industrial and institutional partners on high-tech initiatives.
We are a small, young and ambitious company. Every person on the team has direct visibility on product decisions and technical choices.
The position
We’re looking for a Technical Team Leader with a PhD who will also act as Deputy Head of R&D at Vastalla.
This is a full-time role, key to sustaining the company’s growth and accelerating our product roadmap. The selected candidate will be the technical reference point of the development team and will work alongside the leadership on strategic choices around research and innovation.
What you will do
- Lead the development team technically: code reviews, architectural decisions, engineering standards, mentoring.
- Work with the Head of R&D to shape the research and innovation agenda and contribute to the company’s technology roadmap.
- Contribute hands-on to the design and development of our software products and IoT/embedded components, keeping an operational presence on the code.
- Ensure code quality, engineering practices and a healthy innovation process, building the foundations for the technical team to grow in the coming years
Who we’re looking for
Someone with solid scientific foundations and strong software engineering skills, able to move fluently between system architecture and code, and to reason rigorously about complex problems.
Preferred PhD fields are Computer Science, Engineering (Electronics, Computer, etc.), or Physics.
We remain open to PhDs from adjacent fields — for example Mathematics or Chemistry — provided that strong, hands-on software development skills are demonstrable. By “strong software skills” we mean being able to design and write production-grade code: not simply being a proficient user of existing software packages or scripting tools for research purposes.
Requirements
Education and background
- PhD awarded no more than 6 years ago — preferably in Computer Science, Engineering or Physics; other fields (e.g., Mathematics) considered only if paired with strong practical programming skills.
- Not currently employed on a permanent contract by a university or public research body.
Technical skills
- Proven, hands-on software development experience (version control, CI/CD, testing practices), not limited to using packaged scientific tools.
- Strong proficiency in C, C++ and Python.
- Deep knowledge of Linux-like operating systems; experience with real-time operating systems (e.g., FreeRTOS) is a plus.
- Familiarity with cloud ecosystems (AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Azure or equivalent).
- Familiarity with embedded development and firmware (strongly preferred).
- Familiarity with IoT environments (appreciated).
Soft skills and languages
- Technical leadership skills, autonomy and a strong problem-solving attitude.
- Fluent Italian and English (technical level at minimum).
What we offer
- Full-time position, starting with a 12-month fixed-term contract — with the clear intention of transforming it into a permanent, open-ended full-time contract once the initial fit and performance are confirmed.
- Gross annual salary (RAL in Italian) in the range of €40.000 – €45.000, commensurate with experience.
- Multiple fringe benefits: meal vouchers, training and conference budget, flexible working arrangements, additional welfare benefits. The final package is tailored individually during the interview stage.
- A high-impact role in a small but ambitious company, with direct influence on product, processes and technical strategy.
- A merit-driven, quality-focused work environment with genuine room for professional growth.
- Location: Turin, Italy. Hybrid working arrangements can be discussed.
How to apply
- the topic and technical content of your PhD project;
- one or two software projects where you had a leading role (personal or open-source projects are perfectly fine);
- what attracts you to the role at Vastalla.
This search is open to applicants of all genders (Italian Law 903/77 and Law 125/91). Vastalla is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes candidates regardless of gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
Personal data submitted will be processed exclusively for the purposes of this recruitment process, in compliance with EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and applicable Italian data protection law.
ESA / DLR