At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build innovative systems for health research operations.
- Company: Join a leading health research programme with a mission to improve lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, pension scheme, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and a supportive, diverse team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in health research while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in system architecture and integration of SaaS products.
The predicted salary is between 105000 - 105000 £ per year.
Our Future Healthis an ambitious collaboration between the public, charity and private sectors, designed to help people live healthier lives for longer through better prevention, earlier detection and improved treatment of diseases.
We will speed up the discovery of new methods of early disease detection, and the evaluation of new diagnostic tools, to help identify and treat diseases early, when outcomes are usually better.
With over 2.5M volunteers across the UK, we’renow the world’s biggest health researchprogramme of its kind, and our volunteer group is also more diverse than other, similar health researchprogrammes.
Technology and data are central to our mission.
Our systems power websites, clinics across the UK, secure analytics and research systems, pipelines that process highly sensitive health and genetic data, and we are continuing to grow our engineering capability to support this ambition.
We are looking for a
Staff Engineer (Architect) to own the high-level design of our researcher operations systems.
As Our Future Health moves to expand its research offering we need to build and operate new systems related to acquiring researchers, onboarding them, taking them through the study application process, and maintaining our relationship with them.
The role will require working with other functions at Our Future Health such as Finance, Customer Support, and we expect it to involve a mixture of bespoke building of select components alongside configuration and integration of Saa S products like CRM, ticketing, support, and email comms systems.
Where we build our own components you will work with product development squads to define the design and requirements for the component and then support the squad as they build it.
The researcher onboarding and study application processes are vitally important to Our Future Health since they form our implementation of two principles from the “Five Safes” framework for safe research access to data – “safe people” and “safe projects”.
As well as the responsibilities specific to the researcher operations area, as a member of the Architecture team you will also play a key role in general architecture activities at Our Future Health – working with other engineers to guide the wider platform design, work on cross-platform projects which add new platform-side capabilities, represent technology in the early stages of future projects, and so on.
Responsibilities
Day to day work will vary depending on what your focus is at that time, but will include things like:
- Represent technology/architecture/engineering in cross‑functional project teams throughout a project’s lifecycle (from ideation to implementation).
Work within the team to identify optimal solutions for challenges, communicate them outwards to stakeholders and work with others to implement them.
- Work with your peer staff engineers and Head of Engineering to act as a guiding mind for the engineering/architecture in your business area.
Identify areas for improvement and work with other leaders to implement.
- Lead decision‑making on critical technical strategy and implementations which affect your business area.
- Identify opportunities for and then carry out specific pieces of high‑impact hands‑on work where it makes sense.
- Work with partners and suppliers to integrate their systems with Our Future Health’s.
- Support your colleagues with pairing, peer reviews, coaching, discussion, and other collaborative activities that help everyone reach high standards and result in the delivery of high‑quality software products.
- Contribute to the reliability, resilience and ongoing evolution of critical research platform services and live systems where required.
We welcome applications from all who may not feel they match the full criteria, so if you have most of the below, we’d like to hear from you:
- Technical Skills
- You have led the architectural design of systems.
- Experience of configuring and integrating off‑the‑shelf Saa S systems with bespoke web and backend applications, via APIs, event‑driven architectures, etc.
- Appreciation of the balance between “build” and “buy”, experience of weighing up pros and cons to make a selection which will fit into the wider organisation’s systems and meet the needs of organisational internal users and goals.
- Knowledge and experience of building cloud‑hosted consumer web applications and backend services using open‑source technologies such as Node. js, Ruby on Rails, Python in a start‑up or scale‑up environment.
- Prior experience with Azure (ideally), AWS or GCP.
- Comfortable working with Infrastructure as Code, ideally with knowledge of Terraform.
- Knowledge of good data modelling and design patterns; in-depth knowledge of relational databases (e. g.
Postgre SQL) and familiarity with other types of data store (blob, document, graph).
- Expertise in modern, agile development practices like code review, TDD, CI/CD and pairing using tools like Git and Git Hub.
- Experience of operationally managing software components once live, including observability, logging, metrics, error reporting, debugging and live incident management.
- Experience of working with sensitive personal data.
- Competencies
- Experience working in/with cross‑functional teams consisting of engineers, product, UX and non‑technical stakeholders.
- Proven ability to communicate with stakeholders and audiences at different levels.
- Understanding of the importance of operational, security and legal factors when designing solutions, with the ability to articulate trade‑offs and make informed decisions around design and technology choices.
- Experience working in small, growing organisations with a high degree of ambiguity, where flexibility is valued.
- Strong understanding of software quality principles and practices.
- Experience in mentoring and coaching less experienced engineers.
- Comfortable facilitating technical discussions, encouraging collaboration and providing direction.
- Salary & Benefits
- Competitive base salary from £105,000
- Generous Pension Scheme – We invest in your future with employer contributions of up to 12%
- 30 Days Holiday pro rata + Bank Holidays – Enjoy a generous holiday allowance with the flexibility to take bank holidays when it suits you
- Enhanced Parental Leave – Supporting you during life’s biggest moments
- Cycle to Work Scheme – Save 25-39% on a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice
- Home & Tech Savings – Get up to 8% off on IKEA and Currys products, spreading the cost over 12 months through salary sacrifice
- EV Scheme – Save up to 40% on a brand new electric vehicle all‑inclusive package through salary sacrifice
- £1,000 Employee Referral Bonus – Know someone amazing? Get rewarded for bringing them on board!
- Wellbeing Support – Access to Mental Health First Aiders, plus 24/7 online GP services and an Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family
- A Great Place to Work – We have a lovely Central London office in Holborn, and offer flexible and remote working arrangements
Join Us – Let’s prevent disease together.
We recommend you apply as soon as possible as occasionally due to high volumes of applications we need to close our postings early.
Equity and Accessibility
At Our Future Health, we recognise the importance of having a diverse workforce and ensuring that all candidates, regardless of their background, have equitable access to our application process.
We proactively encourage applicants who identify as having a disability, neurodiversity, or long‑term health conditions to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments as part of their application process.
- If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email us at
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Staff Engineer (Architect) - Researcher Operations in London employer: Our Future Health Limited
At Our Future Health Limited, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of London. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous learning opportunities and a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact meaningful health research. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to advancing health data privacy and security while enjoying the unique advantages of working in a vibrant city.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer (Architect) - Researcher Operations in London
✨Get Involved with Local Health Initiatives
Join local community health events or volunteer for organisations like public health agencies. This not only builds your experience but also helps you network with industry professionals who might know of openings at places like Our Future Health Limited.
✨Tap into Professional Associations
Check out associations like the Institute of Healthcare Management. They often have job boards, networking events, and conferences that are perfect for connecting with potential employers in health sciences administration.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow health policy news and trends—being knowledgeable about the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also make you stand out as a candidate. You can discuss recent developments and their implications when chatting with folks at Our Future Health Limited.
✨Apply Through Our Website for Better Visibility
When you find roles that excite you, especially at places like Our Future Health Limited, don’t forget to apply through our website. This can sometimes give you an edge by showing the employer you’re savvy and committed to finding the right fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Engineer (Architect) - Researcher Operations in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at Our Future Health Limited.
Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at Our Future Health Limited.
Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to Our Future Health Limited. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at Our Future Health Limited. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Our Future Health Limited
✨Showcase Your Administrative Skills
In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Align Your Goals with the Organisation
As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research Our Future Health Limited’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!
