At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to develop software for digital scholarship and public outreach.
- Company: The British Library, the national library of the UK, with a rich history and diverse collections.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and a Civil Service pension scheme.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace welcoming diverse candidates, with opportunities for skill development and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by showcasing collections and supporting innovative research methods.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development, digital scholarship, and excellent communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 43867 - 43867 £ per year.
Location: St Pancras
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours)
Grade: A
Salary: £43,867 per annum – this is the starting salary for this role unless the successful candidate is able to evidence being in receipt of a higher salary in which case this may be reviewed.
About the role
We are looking for a Digital Humanities Research Software Engineer (DH RSE) to become an integral part of the Digital Research Team at the British Library. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of our digital scholarship and public outreach activities. Working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team, the successful candidate will help identify requirements, design and implement software to showcase our collections, help answer research questions, and support application of novel methods across team activities.
The DH RSE will create outputs, tools and interfaces for digitised collections, crowdsourcing and annotation tasks, for subject matter specialists, academic, and public users. They will have a good understanding of digital scholarship, preferably gained from working in a research library, academic or other appropriate environment. This may include experience as a research software engineer, software developer, creative technologist, data or visualisation specialist, or digital humanities researcher. They will have excellent technology skills, including experience of the tools and technologies that support digital scholarship, increasingly including AI and machine learning. Excellent oral and written communication skills are also essential for this post. As with other Research Software Engineer roles, the post holder will have the opportunity to develop their skills and play an active part in all aspects of research and outreach, including publications.
About the library
We are the national library of the UK and we are here for everyone. Our shelves hold over 170 million items – a living collection that gets bigger every day. Although our roots extend back centuries, we aim to collect everything published in the UK today, tomorrow and far into the future. Our trusted experts care for this collection and open it up for everyone to spark new discoveries, ideas and to help people do incredible things.
Benefits
- 25 days’ holiday plus 2.5 privilege days.
- Access to a defined benefit Civil Service pension scheme.
- Flexible working arrangements, including flexi‑time.
Full details of employee benefits can be found on our Careers: Benefits.
Eligibility
We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check (DBS check).
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse candidates and disabled candidates. Creating an inclusive workplace is the core of our business and a way to engage the diversity of thought that is essential to achieve our aims.
Contact Details:
Society of Research Software Engineering Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Software Engineer British Library The national library of the UK
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We think you need these skills to ace Research Software Engineer British Library The national library of the UK
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 Society of Research Software Engineering.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Society of Research Software Engineering 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 Society of Research Software Engineering
✨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 Society of Research Software Engineering 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.
