At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build AI-agent platforms for groundbreaking biological research.
- Company: Join the innovative AI for Biology Group at the Earlham Institute.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, potential contract extension, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Full-time role with opportunities for career growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in AI-driven biological discovery and research.
- Qualifications: PhD or equivalent experience in AI, Robotics, or related fields.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 46500 £ per year.
Applications are invited for a Research Software Engineer or Senior Research Software Engineer to join Professor Ke Li's AI for Biology Group in the Research Faculty of the Earlham Institute, based in Norwich, UK.
The AI for Biology Group will be newly established at the Earlham Institute (EI), building on Professor Ke Li's established and well-funded research programme in fundamental AI, biological foundation models, AI co-scientists and automated scientific discovery. At EI, the group will develop a Generative Digital Biology (GDB) programme: experimentally grounded AI systems that learn from biological data, support hypothesis generation, guide experimental design and accelerate discovery.
The role: We are seeking a technically strong, research-focused Research Software Engineer to design and build the AI-agent platform for the programme. You will connect AI models, scientific tools, biological datasets, experimental-design methods, compute infrastructure, laboratory automation and human decision-making into usable systems for AI-driven biological discovery.
The work will include AI Co-Scientist architecture, agent orchestration, tool registries, model and data interfaces, workflow execution, versioning and provenance, robust evaluation, permissioning, sandboxing and safe tool execution. You will develop reusable agentic workflows and an extensible demonstrator for scientific reasoning, hypothesis generation, experimental planning, result interpretation and human-AI interaction.
Biology and laboratory-automation experience are desirable but not essential; we welcome candidates from AI systems, research software engineering, robotics, scientific computing and related fields. The post offers an opportunity to release high-quality research software, contribute to high-impact research and support future funding applications.
Appointment will be made at SC6 (Research Software Engineer) or SC5 (Senior Research Software Engineer), according to the candidate's experience and evidence against the published criteria. The successful candidate will have a PhD, or equivalent research or industrial experience at a comparable level, in Computer Science, AI, Robotics, Machine Learning, Software Engineering, Scientific Computing, Data Science, Computational Biology or a closely related quantitative discipline.
They will demonstrate strong hands-on software engineering ability and experience developing complex research software, AI systems, agentic workflows, scientific platforms, robotics/automation software or data-intensive infrastructure. They should be able to build robust and reproducible software using appropriate version control, testing, documentation, containers, APIs, databases, workflow tools and CI/CD, with deployment experience on HPC, GPU, cloud or distributed-computing environments.
Additional information: Salary on appointment will be within the range £38,000 to £46,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience for the SC6 level post, and £47,450 to £52,560 per annum for candidates who meet the SC5 level criteria. This is a full-time post for a contract of 36 months, with possible extension. This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. The closing date for applications will be 04 September 2026.
Research Software Engineer in Norwich employer: Earlham Institute
Earlham Institute is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Norwich, where innovation meets collaboration. As a Predoctoral Intern, you will benefit from comprehensive training in both wet-lab and computational design, alongside opportunities for professional growth and the chance to present your research. The supportive culture fosters creativity and encourages the pursuit of meaningful contributions to plant sciences, making it an ideal place for aspiring scientists.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Software Engineer in Norwich
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Earlham Institute or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Earlham Institute.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Earlham Institute.
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Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Earlham Institute that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Research Software Engineer in Norwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Earlham Institute.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Earlham Institute and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Earlham Institute
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Earlham Institute uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
