At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop software for high-performance data acquisition in particle physics experiments.
- Company: Join one of the world's top universities in a vibrant, international community.
- Benefits: Enjoy 41 days annual leave, competitive pension, and on-campus facilities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cutting-edge research while collaborating with global experts.
- Qualifications: Degree in Physics, Computer Science, or Engineering; strong C++/Python skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
About the company: The company is one of the world's top universities based in the heart of London. It is a modern, outward-looking institution. The company's staff and former students have included 33 Nobel prizewinners. It is a truly international community: more than one-third of our student body – more than 50,000 strong – come from 150 countries and nearly one-third of staff are from outside the UK.
About the role: The postholder will design, develop, and maintain software and system components for high-performance data acquisition and trigger systems in large-scale particle physics experiments. This includes contributing to real-time data processing pipelines, distributed computing systems, and hardware–software integration. The role aims to ensure reliable, efficient, and scalable data‑taking operations, while supporting research objectives through innovative software development and system optimisation. The postholder will also contribute to collaborative research outputs and provide technical expertise within international experiment collaborations.
About you: We are looking for someone with a degree (or equivalent experience) in Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a closely related field. You must have demonstrable experience developing software for scientific, real-time, or high-performance systems. It is expected that the successful postholder will have working knowledge of data acquisition or distributed computing systems in a research or industrial context. A strong understanding of programming in C++ and/or Python is needed to carry out the role and experience with hardware-near programming (e.g. FPGA, GPU, or embedded systems) or low-latency computing.
Knowledge of software development best practices, including version control (e.g. Git), continuous integration, testing, and documentation plus a familiarity with Linux-based environments and command-line tools is essential. The successful postholder will have the ability to design and implement efficient, scalable software solutions for complex systems. Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to debug complex software and system-level issues is required. The ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences alongside being able to work effectively both independently and as part of an international collaborative team is essential. Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines is a necessary requirement. Experience working on large-scale particle physics experiments is desirable.
What we offer: As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, the company also offers competitive benefits, such as:
- 41 days annual leave (including 6 University closure days and 8 UK bank holidays)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan and relocation assistance
- On‑campus nursery
- On‑campus gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We particularly encourage applications from candidates underrepresented in the company’s workforce, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, and – for Grade 9 and 10 roles – women.
Applicants should also familiarise themselves with the company’s policies on: Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Personal Relationships Policy.
Research Software Engineer/Physicist (Data Acquisition Systems) in London employer: United States Digital Space LLC
As one of the world's leading universities located in the vibrant heart of London, we offer a dynamic and inclusive work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our extensive benefits package, including 41 days of annual leave, a defined benefit pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development within a diverse international community. Join us to contribute to groundbreaking research in particle physics while enjoying a supportive culture that values equality and diversity.
Contact Details:
United States Digital Space LLC Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Software Engineer/Physicist (Data Acquisition Systems) in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Research Software Engineer/Physicist (Data Acquisition Systems) in London
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 United States Digital Space LLC.
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How to prepare for a job interview at United States Digital Space LLC
✨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 United States Digital Space LLC uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
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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.
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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.
