At a Glance
- Tasks: Design, build, and support innovative software applications for researchers.
- Company: Join the University of Edinburgh, a globally recognised institution.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse community with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in research while developing your tech skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in Ruby on Rails and web application development is essential.
The predicted salary is between 48822 - 48822 £ per year.
Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum
Information Services Group / Digital Curation Centre and EDINA
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Open-ended (permanent)
The University of Edinburgh is a large, internationally recognised organisation with a wide range of activities across research, teaching and professional services. Within Professional Services, we support the University’s work by providing specialist services, systems and expertise.
The Opportunity:
We are looking for a Software Engineer to join DCC and EDINA, working initially on DMPonline - a web-based Data Management Planning service that helps researchers create, review, collaborate on, share and export data management plans that meet institutional and funder requirements.
The role will involve designing, building, testing and supporting secure, maintainable software applications and digital services for DMPonline. You will engineer and maintain full-stack features and fixes using Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, HTML, CSS and associated Rails patterns and libraries. You will also contribute to backend services, database and SQL changes, APIs, integrations, reporting, authentication, authorisation, exports and related data flows.
You will work with Git-based workflows, automated testing, continuous integration and deployment processes, Docker and containerised approaches, Linux, Nginx and related platform tooling. The role will also involve investigating and resolving defects, service incidents, dependency issues and performance problems, and contributing to code reviews, documentation and ongoing service improvement.
You will work collaboratively with software engineers across multiple partner sites, as well as product owners, testers, analysts, researchers, institutional administrators, users and the wider IT team within DCC and EDINA and the Information Services Group.
We are looking for someone with strong hands-on experience of engineering secure web applications, particularly using Ruby and Ruby on Rails, and with a good understanding of relational databases, web interfaces, APIs, testing, secure coding, accessibility and maintainable software engineering. Experience of research data management, DMPonline or DMP Roadmap, higher education services, authentication integrations, container platforms or production service support would be beneficial.
People are central to the University community and to the work we do. We welcome colleagues with commitment, curiosity and a practical interest in developing reliable services that support research and teaching. We also offer a range of policies and benefits designed to support flexibility, wellbeing and career development.
How to apply
Please include the following documents in your application:
- CV
- Cover letter
A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle:
- Opportunities to develop new skills and broaden your experience
- Work within one of the world’s leading universities
- Varied and meaningful technical work
- Excellent benefits and support
- The opportunity to contribute to the work and purpose of the University
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages. On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 7th August 2026. Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone. Interviews will be held in-person week commencing 24th August.
Software Engineer employer: University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises equality, diversity, and inclusion. With over 400 years of history, it provides unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and development within a supportive community of more than 17,000 staff and 50,000 students. As a leading research-intensive university, it empowers its employees to drive organisational transformation and innovate in a dynamic environment, making it a truly rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer
✨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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh.
✨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 Edinburgh.
✨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 Edinburgh 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 Software Engineer
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 Edinburgh.
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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh
✨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 Edinburgh 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.
