Senior Software Scientist - Team Leader

About Us
Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.

Software helps to enable the world-leading science performed at Diamond. Our software systems facilitate operations at all levels, including the low-level control of synchrotron and beamline hardware, the planning, execution and monitor of experiments, data archiving and retrieval, data processing and visualisation, the application for beamtime, and capture of remote experiment plans and samples. Our software engineers work alongside our scientists to develop innovative and robust solutions to keep Diamond at the forefront of scientific research.

About the Role
We now have an opportunity for a Senior Software Scientist to provide leadership within the group that develops and supports the data analysis software used for the success of experiments on Diamond’s beamlines and instruments.

The role will involve leading projects that enable new analytical capabilities for Diamond-II and ensuring continuity of data analysis support for our operational beamlines. The postholder will contribute to shaping Diamond’s data analysis strategy and lead cross-functional projects that combine experiment management, real-time analysis, and AI/ML-driven optimisation.

As a Senior Software Scientist, you will:

• Collaborate closely with beamline scientists and engineers on automation, mail-in, and remote-operation workflows, supporting the group’s strategic goal of increasing throughput and accessibility for industrial and academic users.
• Develop, maintain, and extend data reduction and analysis pipelines for SAXS, WAXS, IR imaging, and CD spectroscopy, integrating these with Diamond’s information management systems and computational infrastructure.
• Lead and contribute to the implementation of AI/ML-driven workflows for tasks such as beam and optics optimisation, instrument digital twins, signal and image denoising, and hyperspectral analysis.
• Work with partners such as the Ada Lovelace Centre (ALC) and STFC AI for Science to integrate computational models into operational platforms (e.g., Bluesky, MLExchange, Shapespyer) to support SCM experiments.
• Support the preparation and execution of new SCM techniques such as Diffracted X-ray Tracking and X-ray Footprinting Mass Spectrometry, which will demand new data structures, simulation tools, and integrated pipelines for multimodal experiments.
• Participate in developing a unified, cross-beamline analysis framework that enables interoperable data analysis across SCM and related Life Science instruments, in line with Diamond-II ambitions for standardised, scalable data processing.
• Act as the primary liaison between the Data Analysis Group and SCM beamlines, ensuring that emerging software and computing solutions are aligned with user needs and the evolving experimental landscape of Diamond-II.

This role is ideal for a candidate who enjoys working at the interface of experimental science and computational technology, and who can combine hands-on development with strategic vision and collaborative leadership.

About You
You will have a First degree in engineering, computing or science or equivalent experience, with a strong preference for a PhD, as well as experience and knowledge in the following areas:

• Information or data management and models in the context of data analysis and processing.
• Software development frameworks and applications such as Eclipse.
• Modern programming languages such as Python, Java, C, C++, and software tools for delivering and visualising large complex data.
• Developing JavaScript and/or PHP applications.
• Software testing systems in delivering robust services.

Prior experience with any of the following software environments would be an advantage:

Synchrotron data-reduction frameworks, SASView or ATSAS for model fitting, Quasar or Cytospec for hyperspectral and infrared analysis, CDApps for circular dichroism spectroscopy, and Python-based or Bluesky/Tiled workflows for experiment management and automated analysis. Familiarity with community standards for data handling and visualisation in soft-matter or spectroscopy research is desirable.

Benefits
Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 26 days annual leave plus Christmas closure, public holidays, 2 annual volunteering days and flexible working hours. We also offer an excellent defined benefit pension scheme. Staff also have access to a range of amenities on site including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.

This role qualifies for a non-pensionable allowance of £3,000 per annum.

As standard this role offers a hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of 3 days working onsite per week.

To Apply
Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role.

The closing date for applications is 30th November 2025; however, we encourage early applications as some candidates may be interviewed before this date.