At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop secure, user-friendly web applications and collaborate with UX designers.
- Company: Join the University of Birmingham, a leading global institution with a vibrant community.
- Benefits: Enjoy 40 days holiday, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on digital transformation in higher education while enhancing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development and a passion for user experience.
The predicted salary is between 33002 - 35608 £ per year.
Position Details
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906
Grade: 6
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 12 months
Closing date: 7th September 2026
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector‑leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.
With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Background
The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research. We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge. Professional Services put students at the heart of all they do and enable an exceptional educational experience. They provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University's resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence.
Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University's objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work.
Department Overview
The role of IT Services is to ensure that the University of Birmingham community has access to responsive, resilient, secure and accessible systems and support. Our technologies enable our students, staff, researchers, visitors, and partners to confidently and creatively use digital services, technology, and data for the benefit of their learning, teaching, research, or work. IT Services are building a culture of innovation, collaboration, openness, and inclusivity, and we apply the principles of customer focus and continuous improvement to everything we do.
We want to attract outstanding, inspirational, and talented people, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. Our IT Services division has an active People and Culture network and Women in IT group, bi‑annual making IT happen awards recognition programme, and Social Committee which arranges regular activities and events for colleagues. With a new Digital Strategy, this is an exciting opportunity to join the team making IT happen at the University of Birmingham.
Job Summary
This is a one‑year secondment opportunity. The Web and Digital team develops and supports digital products used by students, staff, researchers and external audiences across the university. We are looking for a full-stack developer with a strong interest in user experience to join our multidisciplinary product teams. You will develop secure, accessible and maintainable digital applications across the front end and back end. You will work closely with UX/UI designers, product owners, developers and users to turn requirements and design concepts into effective digital products. The role combines software engineering with a strong focus on usability, accessibility and user‑centred development. You will contribute to UX activities such as prototyping, usability testing and design reviews while developing your technical skills across the full software development lifecycle. This is a development role rather than a dedicated UX/UI design role. You will work alongside UX specialists and contribute your technical knowledge to the design process.
Strategic Impact & Context
Today’s students and staff expect seamless, consumer-grade digital experiences. Technology is woven into every aspect of higher education, from mobile accessibility to collaborative cloud environments and efficient administrative workflows. In this role, your work directly influences the university's digital transformation strategy. By building reliable self‑service platforms, automated workflows, and robust core applications, you will help us attract top‑tier global talent, drive internal efficiencies, and directly boost our National Student Survey (NSS) satisfaction scores.
Main Duties
- Software Development
- Develop and maintain secure, responsive web applications using modern technologies.
- Write clean, tested and maintainable code across front end and back end.
- Debug issues, participate in code reviews and follow team development standards.
- Contribute to technical design and maintain key technical documentation under senior guidance.
- User Experience
- Work closely with UX designers and stakeholders to understand user requirements.
- Build accessible and responsive user interfaces.
- Apply the University's design system and accessibility standards.
- Contribute ideas to improve usability and the overall user experience.
- Participate in usability testing and user feedback sessions where appropriate.
- Testing and Quality
- Write unit tests and support integration and user acceptance testing.
- Identify and resolve software defects.
- Ensure applications meet performance, security, and accessibility requirements.
- Deployment and Support
- Use GitHub, Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines to deliver software.
- Assist with application deployments.
- Support production applications by investigating and resolving issues alongside senior developers.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of development and support processes.
- Collaboration
- Work within an Agile Scrum team.
- Participate in sprint planning, stand‑ups, retrospectives, and reviews.
- Collaborate with developers, UX designers, product owners and business stakeholders.
- Share knowledge and contribute to #J-18808-Ljbffr
Full Stack Developer - UX Focus (Web and Digital) - IT Services - 102651 - Grade 6 in Birmingham employer: University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant academic environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee development, the School of Chemistry provides ample opportunities for career advancement and leadership roles, all while being situated in a dynamic city known for its rich cultural heritage and supportive community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Full Stack Developer - UX Focus (Web and Digital) - IT Services - 102651 - Grade 6 in Birmingham
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at University of Birmingham or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to University of Birmingham.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like University of Birmingham.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like University of Birmingham that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Full Stack Developer - UX Focus (Web and Digital) - IT Services - 102651 - Grade 6 in Birmingham
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 University of Birmingham.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at University of Birmingham 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 University of Birmingham
✨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 University of Birmingham 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.