Senior Research Software Engineer

About this role

As part of UWE’s Computer Science Research Centre,  you will join a national team delivering “TREvolution”. This ambitious Transformation Programme project sits at the heart of the UK’s aim to establish a safe and collaborative, AI-enabled network of Trusted Research Environments  where approved researchers can efficiently access and analyse sensitive data to advance research for public benefit.

You will to be part of a team working at the cutting-edge where advanced analytics meets cybersecurity. The team will be creating tools for assessing and managing the vulnerability of research outputs (including AI models) produced from sensitive data to subsequent attacks that might disclose individuals’ confidential data. These will be embedded within vendor-neutral cloud solutions on cutting-edge systems and high performance (AI) compute resources.

You will play a key role in the project delivery by:

• Helping produce software prototypes as part of the co-design process with stakeholders;
• Guiding the transformation of research outputs into robust production-ready implementations that conform to high standards of trustworthiness and safety;
• Contributing to the maintenance and extension of the open-source repositories within the sacro family;       
• Liaising with other TREvolution partners and our international stakeholder community to agree common standards and best practice for development and documentation.

This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with leading academics, data governance practitioners, and industry stakeholders, to shape the transformation of how the UK makes sensitive data accessible to researchers.  

With access to state-of-the-art research facilities, you will contribute to high-quality technologies and publications, shape national policy discourse, and help create innovative approaches to privacy risk management. This is a rare chance to advance your career while making a tangible impact on unlocking the potential of data and advanced analytics.

About you

We’re looking for motivated people with the ambition to help deliver research outcomes that matter, enabled by trustworthy software. You will be passionate about the social good that AI and advanced analytics might bring, but respectful of people’s concerns about privacy, and the need to ensure inclusive benefits for all.

You will hold a BSc. in Computer Science or related subject and be able demonstrate continuing professional development of your software engineering expertise.  A higher degree (Level 7 eg. MSc) or a technical or managerial qualification or professional body membership in a relevant subject or area would be desirable.

You will be proficient in high-level languages such as Python and JavaScript,  and experienced in distributed project management using GitHub or similar, and CI/CD practice and workflows.

It would be a benefit if you had some experience of:

• engineering user interfaces using frameworks such as Django,
• some analysis languages such as R or Stata,
• Machine Learning frameworks such as pytorch or tensorflow.

Prior experience of working in a research environment would also be a benefit.

You thrive in collaborative environments and have the communication skills to work with a diverse range of stakeholders. Proficiency in managing complex collaborative software projects is essential, and an understanding of secure data environments would be desirable.

Where is this role based?

This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed.

Why UWE Bristol?

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in Bristol, one of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking cities, we are regionally embedded and globally connected, with an established network of employer and academic partners.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including progressive pay rates, generous annual leave and career average pension schemes as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.

Add your individuality to ours

UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community.

We are proud to be part of a vibrant, multicultural city that celebrates diversity, we’re always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our growing community and find yourself in a stimulating and supportive environment where you’ll thrive.

We particularly encourage applications from global majority and female candidates as we are currently under-represented in this area of the organisation, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

As a Disability Confident employer, we welcome applications from those who identify as having a disability.

Further information

If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role please contact Professor Jim Smith on 0117 328 7417 or email: James.Smith@uwe.ac.uk

This is a full -time, fixed-term post until 31^st March 2027, working 37 hours per week. This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part time.

UWE Bristol is a campus-based University and it is vital to our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus based for at least 20 percent of your time, with the opportunity to work from home on the remaining days.

To ensure fairness and equity all salary offers will be made in line with the University's salary assessment guidelines and will be based on your relevant skills and experience.

Right to Work in the UK

The University has a legal responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. You will therefore be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK, please refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist for information on which documents are acceptable.

We may be able to sponsor qualifying candidates for this role under the Home Office Skilled Worker visa route. Please read our Skilled Worker Guidance to assess if you will be eligible.

Please note that UWE Bristol does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.

Advice to applicants

We’d love to hear from you - if you are excited about joining us at UWE please complete our application form as soon as possible.

Tell us about how your skills and experience relate to the requirements of this role by describing how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the Job Description, and include specific examples wherever possible.

Once we have completed shortlisting we will let you know the outcome of your application by email, so please check your inbox for updates.