At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us in building a groundbreaking platform for biodiversity genomics.
- Company: Be part of an innovative team driving international scientific projects.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global biodiversity research with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Degree in computer science or related field; experience in full-stack development.
The predicted salary is between 47450 - 58000 £ per year.
Help build the platform behind some of the largest biodiversity genomics programmes ever attempted.
COPO (Collaborative OPen Omics) is the metadata backbone for projects of international scientific significance, including the Darwin Tree of Life programme and Biodiversity Genomics Europe, supporting the description and submission of samples, sequencing data and derived analyses from biodiversity genomics at scale.
It helps researchers describe, manage and publish biological data in line with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
COPO captures standards-compliant metadata and brokers submissions to public repositories including the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA), Bio Samples, Zenodo and Data Cite, and packages research outputs as RO-Crates.
We are seeking a talented Senior Developer to deliver the next phase of COPO's evolution.
The work will evolve COPO's existing Python/Django codebase, establishing a cleaner, more maintainable architecture with improved APIs and user-facing components.
You will enhance the platform's ability to support new use cases and integrations while preserving the metadata handling excellence that makes COPO invaluable to the research community.
Working across the full technology stack, you will develop dashboards, data portals, APIs and the services that support COPO's metadata validation, curation and submission workflows.
Data visualisation and API design sit at the heart of the role, transforming complex, multi-source scientific metadata into clear, reliable and well-documented interfaces that researchers can depend on.
The ideal candidate will have a degree (or equivalent professional/practical experience) in computer science, software engineering, bioinformatics or a related discipline.
You will have experience delivering full-stack web applications using modern frontend and backend technologies, with a strong track record in designing, building and documenting RESTful APIs.
Comfortable working in collaborative engineering environments, you will be confident with version control, code review practices, containerisation and CI/CD workflows.
The post holder will have a talent for turning complex or ambiguous requirements into intuitive, user-focused solutions, and an appreciation of FAIR data principles, ontologies or controlled vocabularies.
Experience with data visualisation and dashboard development, scientific data or metadata standards, cloud or research-computing environments, or domains such as genomics, biodiversity or ecology would be advantageous.
Salary on appointment will be within the range £47,450 to £58,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience.
This is a full-time post for a contract until 31 August 2028.
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 5 August 2026.
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Senior Developer 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 Senior Developer 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.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
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 Senior Developer 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.
