At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a team to develop and maintain software for impactful research projects.
- Company: Be part of the Oxford Research Software Engineering Group at a world-leading university.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, career advancement, and opportunities for skill development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in scientific research while enhancing your technical skills.
- Qualifications: Doctoral degree or equivalent experience in software development required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with diverse projects and training opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Oxford Research Software Engineering Group (OxRSE) is looking to recruit a Research Software Engineer (RSE) to join our team. We work with other research groups across the University of Oxford to create, improve and maintain software used for scientific research and translational projects, as well as providing consulting and training to other researchers on best practices in software development and reproducible research.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team and work as an RSE on a diverse selection of world-leading and impactful projects. Some of our past/current projects include:
- Global.health: an improved, scalable platform for disease tracking created by an international team of researchers from leading institutions such as Oxford, Harvard and the Boston Children’s hospital;
- PyBaMM, a NUMFOCUS sponsored library for solving PDE models of batteries;
- LanguageScreen, a key tool for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme and part of the COVID-19 catch up package offered by the Department for Education to primary schools in England.
We offer RSEs the potential to advance their career and to make a significant contribution to the development of good software practices at a world-leading university. You will work on a variety of research projects across the University of Oxford, deliver workshops and training in software development best practices, and further develop your own technical and research skills as well as those outside of software development, such as project management and consultancy.
We are looking for candidates who hold a doctoral degree (or are close to completion, i.e., thesis submitted) with a significant software development component. We will also consider candidates without a doctoral degree but with equivalent experience of software development in a research environment. You must be able to collaborate effectively with other researchers to design and implement reliable and maintainable software solutions to scientific questions and must be able to rapidly acquire skills in new programming languages, libraries and technologies. Any prior experience working with frontend/backend web development, machine learning, or high performance computing would be desirable, as would any experience designing or delivering training courses.
This post is offered as an open-ended position subject to external funding. It is full time, but flexible options will be considered (e.g., part-time, job share). Please note that we will assess applications as they are received, and this vacancy will close early if a suitable candidate is appointed.
Research Software Engineer employer: Society of Research Software Engineering
Contact Detail:
Society of Research Software Engineering Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former members of the Oxford Research Software Engineering Group on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just put your name on their radar.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a GitHub or personal project that showcases your software development chops, make sure to highlight it during interviews. It’s a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those technical questions! Brush up on your programming languages and be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled challenges in past projects. We want to see your problem-solving skills in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at OxRSE.
We think you need these skills to ace Research Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Research Software Engineer role. Highlight any relevant projects, especially those involving software development in a research context, to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a great candidate. Don’t forget to mention any specific projects or experiences that relate to our work at OxRSE.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: We want to see your technical prowess! Include details about programming languages, libraries, and technologies you’ve worked with. If you have experience in frontend/backend development or machine learning, make sure to highlight that!
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Society of Research Software Engineering
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Make sure you’re familiar with the projects mentioned in the job description, like Global.health and PyBaMM. Be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to similar projects and share any relevant experiences you've had in software development for research.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since collaboration is key in this role, prepare examples of how you've worked effectively with others in past projects. Highlight your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and how you’ve contributed to team success in software development.
✨Demonstrate Your Learning Agility
The role requires rapid acquisition of new skills, so be prepared to discuss how you approach learning new programming languages or technologies. Share specific instances where you quickly adapted to new tools or frameworks in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to software development practices, especially in a research context. Brush up on best practices in reproducible research and be ready to discuss how you would implement these in your work as an RSE.