Description of the position

The Junior Software Developer supports the IT department in designing, developing, and maintaining software solutions that serve the terminal’s operational and business needs. Working within a port logistics environment, the role involves building and integrating internal web applications, data pipelines, and system interfaces. The position offers the opportunity to work across a modern stack including Python, PostgreSQL, and Linux-based infrastructure, contributing to projects that directly impact terminal efficiency and data-driven decision making.

Summary of responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain internal web applications using Python (Flask/FastAPI) with PostgreSQL databases, including ORM design with SQLAlchemy and schema migrations with Alembic

• Support data integration workflows between terminal systems (TOS, PCS, ERP), including EDI/EDIFACT message processing and XML/JSON data transformation

• Build and maintain SQL queries and data visualizations for Grafana dashboards, supporting operational KPIs such as container dwell time, gate turnaround, and vessel call analytics

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of RESTful APIs and integration services, including containerized deployments with Docker on Linux environments

• Participate in the full software development lifecycle: requirements gathering with end-users, development, testing, deployment, and documentation. Provide technical support during terminal operating hours and be available for on-call support during nights/holidays when required

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or related field (preferred).

• 0–2 years of professional experience in software development. Internships or academic projects involving web development, databases, or data engineering are valued.

Technical Skills & Knowledge Required

• Good knowledge of Python programming, including familiarity with web frameworks (Flask or FastAPI) and common libraries (pandas, requests, SQLAlchemy).

• Basic knowledge of relational databases and SQL (PostgreSQL preferred), including writing queries with JOINs, CTEs, and aggregations.

• Familiarity with Linux environments (command line, file systems, services) and version control with Git.

• Basic understanding of Docker containerization and REST API concepts. Exposure to data formats such as XML, JSON, and CSV.

Behavioral Competences Required

• Proactive attitude and willingness to learn new technologies and domain-specific knowledge (port logistics, EDI messaging, data integration).

• Good communication skills and ability to interact with non-technical end-users to gather requirements and provide support.

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving mindset, with attention to detail in debugging and data quality.

Language Requirements

• Fluent spoken and written Italian is a must.

• Good working knowledge of English (written and spoken) for technical documentation and international collaboration

Other Requirements

• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g. Grafana, Plotly, or similar).

• Familiarity with EDI/EDIFACT standards or port logistics/supply chain domain knowledge.

• Exposure to mobile application development (Android/Kotlin, Flutter, or cross-platform frameworks).

• Knowledge of CI/CD practices, NGINX, or reverse proxy configurations.

• Interest in data engineering, ETL pipelines, or business intelligence solutions.

HHLA PLT Italy is part of HHLA Group, with over 6.400 employees worldwide. Success means different things to different people. Therefore, we try to make it possible for each employee working for us to be successful in their own way and develop professionally in accordance with our corporate goals.

Does this spark your interest? Then apply for a job with us!