Senior Research Software Engineer

Salary: £45,585 to £48,350 with progression to £54,395 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 30 April 2024

The Role

We are looking to hire a Senior Research Software Engineer (RSE) to lead the development and implementation of an online database platform to support an international research project into childhood leukaemia (a type of blood cancer). 

You will join the Leukaemia Research Cytogenetics Group (LRCG) - part of the Newcastle University Centre for Cancer (NUCancer) - a multidisciplinary team based in our impressive Herschel building, in Newcastle City Centre.

You will be responsible for leading the delivery of the technical part of the project and are expected to proactively collaborate with researchers across Europe, supporting the use of relevant technologies and contribute significant software engineering skills into the research project.

We are looking for an individual with experience in developing online tools, leading projects, and web development. You will not be tied to a pre-existing technical environment meaning you can shape what that looks like. 

This post is fixed term for a period of 2 years.

Some national and international travel will be required. 

To apply for this position, we’ll need a copy of your CV and a covering letter which should outline how you are suitable for the role, with a particular focus on the essential criteria in the knowledge, skills and experience.

If you have any questions prior to applying, please contact Anthony Moorman (Professor of Genetic Epidemiology) for further information. 

Key Accountabilities

•    Responsible for leading the technical delivery of the project, assisting collaborating researchers through the use of significant technical skills
•    To be the technical lead in future research funding bids to enhance and extend the wider research initiative
•    To lead on the selection and use of software and data infrastructure, including technologies for version control, continuous integration, deployment and code review
•    Collaborate with researchers to develop appropriate technical solutions to research problems
•    Provide expert advice and assistance to clients and colleagues in problem-solving relating to team activities
•    Present work and provide updates, including the effective communication of complex or technical information, at project meetings and events
•    Develop and deliver training and support technical staff and researchers to ensure effective use of relevant technologies
•    Represent the team and disseminate information about the team and its work at national and international events
•    To lead on learning and development at the team through the provision of documentation, training and advice in order to support the wider research community
•    Undertake relevant training and development activities in order to develop an awareness of own professional development needs
•    Maintain and develop extensive knowledge to keep abreast of the latest/most relevant technologies
•    Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

•    Extensive experience or taught specialism in one or more areas of Software Engineering. Including, but not limited to; Cloud Computing, Data Visualization, Web Applications, Data Analytics, Database Design
•    Software development experience in a commercial or research environment
•    Understanding of software development tools and methodologies, including programming languages, documentation, testing, version control, issue tracking, and continuous integration
•    Track record of developing software that is used by others
•    Ability to manage own work, including planning and execution

Desirable
•    Understanding of a range of data manipulation methods and tools 
•    Experience of working in wide variety of application domains 
•    Excellent communication skills including the ability to present complex or technical information and the ability to work with others to understand technical and user requirements 
•    Experience of deployment and management of complex software solutions onto cloud infrastructure 
•    Cross-organisation collaboration on software development projects 

Attributes and Behaviour

Delivering Service 

•    Works continually towards achieving success through understanding and meeting or exceeding the expectations of  project collaborators, the University, students, colleagues and other stakeholders

•    Is enthusiastic in getting the job done on time and demonstrates high energy and commitment to the delivery of excellent service

Finding Solutions 

•    Generates a range of viable options and decides on an appropriate course of action that best fits organisational and area goals

•    Encourages creative and innovative thinking in self and others and makes decisions based on understanding the wider organisational needs and having considered a range of possible options

Team Working 

•    Operates in a number of different teams and groups across the organisation, confident in adopting a range of team roles

•    Looks at ways of developing cross functional co-operation and support and looks to build alliances and relationships outside of the group

Understanding Others 

•    Understands individual or group motives, understands the culture of a particular area, school or faculty

•    Is able to quickly and effectively learn the methods and language used within other groups

Planning and Organising 

•    Works in a planned and structured way, uses own and others’ time effectively

•    Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives

•    Quickly identifies what is important and prioritises accordingly whilst monitoring and controlling work flow of teams

Qualifications

•    Significant relevant experience of research and development in computing or equivalent software experience
•    Qualified to degree level or equivalent
 

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 26873