Research Software Engineer (Open Philanthropy) (Fixed Term)

The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI), University of Cambridge, is seeking a part-time Software Engineer to contribute to a two-year project focused on developing a benchmark for measuring the ability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents on real-world data science tasks. The Software Engineer will join the Kinds of Intelligence team at CFI, a multidisciplinary team comprising expertise in Computer Science, AI, cognitive science, and others.

The Software Engineer's main duty will be creating the interface through which the AI agents interact with the tasks and helping with running experiment with baseline agents based on state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs). Further, the Software Engineer will help with designing the overall structure of the benchmark, determining the grading criteria of the tasks and developing the tasks composing the benchmark, which will be adapted from university-level courses or built from new tasks in collaboration with industry professionals.

Applicants should have, or about to obtain, an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. The degree should be in a technical field including (but not limited to) software engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, and data science. We expect the successful candidate to be capable to work independently and in collaboration with others, to possess very strong programming skills (preferably in Python) and command of the Linux operating system (including via Bash scripting), as well as familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and with computing servers. Experience with creating Python libraries, handling virtual coding environments, using GPUs and working with and evaluating LLMs would be beneficial but are not required. All applicants should be able to demonstrate strong motivation in line with the goals of CFI and the desire to improve their research skills.

This role is part time (0.2 FTE) and will be fixed term until 30 September 2026.

In order for your application to be considered, please ensure to upload the following:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Covering letter of no more than 500 words explaining your interest in the position and outlining how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification within the further particulars; in the covering letter, you can optionally include a link to a coding project you carried out and you believe demonstrates your programming ability
• Contact details of two referees who are familiar with your work

If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. 

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Lorenzo Pacchiardi on lp666@cam.ac.uk. If you have any queries on the application process, please contact the School's HR Team on sahhr@admin.cam.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications is midnight (GMT) on Sunday 5 January 2025. Interviews are planned for the week commencing 20 January 2025, subject to change.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Please quote reference GO44328 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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.

Advert information