At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of innovative software for sustainable aviation research.
- Company: Join a pioneering team at the Aviation Impact Accelerator in West Cambridge.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, mentorship opportunities, and a chance to work on impactful projects.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and collaboration with industry leaders.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in aviation while enhancing your software engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering, cloud services, and a background in physical sciences.
The predicted salary is between 61816 - 75552 £ per year.
Are you ready to drive innovation at the intersection of advanced software engineering and sustainable aviation research?
The Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) at the the company is seeking a Senior Research Software Engineer to join our team at Whittle Laboratory in West Cambridge.
As part of this team, you will lead efforts to develop the scientific software, infrastructure and interactive tools that underpin our research and communicate its findings to government, industry and the public.
This is a broad senior engineering role which is technically demanding and intellectually engaging spanning new tool development, support for analyst-led projects, cloud infrastructure, data pipelines and public-facing web applications.
We are particularly interested in candidates with an engineering or physical-science background, an understanding of low-order physical systems modelling, and experience deploying and operating web services, ideally using AWS.
The AIA combines physics-based and data-driven modelling to study aviation as an interconnected system.
Our software includes modern, typed Python modelling toolboxes and Bilt, an in-house framework for building a causal, composable and unit-aware engineering models, which are deployable to JAX.
Much of our development is greenfield, giving team members significant influence over software architecture, engineering practices and technical direction.
The role also offers opportunities to mentor students and colleagues, contribute to reports and publications, and engage with external partners and software contractors where appropriate.
We value code quality, testability, automation, and maintainable research software.
This role is suitable for engineers looking to deepen their expertise in scientific and data-intensive software while maintaining industry-aligned practices.
If you are eager to contribute your skills to a meaningful mission, we would love to hear from you.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.
Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.
The closing date for applications is Monday 24 August 2026.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Research Software Engineer in Cambridge employer: United States Digital Space LLC
United States Digital Space LLC is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration in the heart of Greater London. With a strong focus on employee well-being and flexible work options, we provide ample opportunities for professional growth and development, making it an ideal environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the field of AI-enabled SaaS engineering.
Contact Details:
United States Digital Space LLC Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Research Software Engineer in Cambridge
✨Get Involved in Open-Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects is a brilliant way to showcase your skills and connect with other developers in the community. Not only will you beef up your GitHub profile but you might also catch the eye of someone at United States Digital Space LLC who values hands-on experience over just theory.
✨Attend Local Tech Meetups
Tech meetups are gold mines for networking and discovering job opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of software engineering. Check out local listings for events in your area and don’t shy away from introducing yourself. This could lead directly to a temporary position at United States Digital Space LLC!
✨Showcase Your Work Online
With temporary roles, it’s all about standing out in a short space of time. Create a portfolio website where you highlight your projects and skills. Talk about your code, and provide links to your GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your abilities but will also make it easier for recruiters at United States Digital Space LLC to see what you bring to the table.
✨Leverage Temporary Job Boards
Don’t forget to check specialised job boards for temporary software development roles. Websites like We Work Remotely or Remote OK often list short-term gigs that can be a perfect fit. Apply directly through our website as well, making sure your application is sharp—temporary roles can move fast!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Research Software Engineer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Skills:Make sure your CV highlights your tech stack and any programming languages you’re proficient in. Include specifics about any frameworks or technologies you’ve worked with; they can make you stand out in the sea of applicants. It’s all about showing that you have the chops we need at United States Digital Space LLC!
Portfolio 2.0:Since you’re applying for a temporary gig, it’s super important to showcase a portfolio that highlights your best projects. Include links to GitHub or any personal projects that demonstrate what you can do in a real-world environment. This gives us a taste of your style and your problem-solving approach!
Keep It Brief and Relevant:With a temporary position, we want to see your ability to hit the ground running. Be concise in your CV and cover letter; stick to experiences that directly relate to the role. Highlight any previous temporary roles or freelance gigs that show your adaptability and quick learning!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Personalise it for Senior Research Software Engineer at United States Digital Space LLC! Mention why this temporary role excites you and how you see yourself contributing in the short run. Show us what you've got and why you're the one for this quick turn-around!
How to prepare for a job interview at United States Digital Space LLC
✨Nail the Technical Skills
For a software engineering role, you'll likely face technical questions or coding tasks during your interview. Brush up on the relevant programming languages and frameworks that United States Digital Space LLC uses, and don’t forget to practice some coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Showing your coding prowess can really make you stand out!
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Even for a temporary role, having a grasp of system design principles can be crucial. Be ready to discuss how you would architect a software solution, including discussing trade-offs, scalability, and performance considerations. Having examples from previous projects can really show off your analytical thinking.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, you'll want to emphasise your ability to hit the ground running. Highlight experiences where you quickly adapted to new technologies or teams. Let’s make it clear to the interviewers at United States Digital Space LLC that you can learn on the job and deliver results in a short timeframe!
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
Make sure to have a portfolio or GitHub ready showcasing your projects. Having tangible evidence of what you've done—be it personal projects, contributions to open-source, or previous work—can convey how capable you are. Tailor this for what might interest United States Digital Space LLC, so it's relevant and sparks conversation during your interview.