Senior Research Software Engineer

The Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) at the University of Cambridge is seeking a Senior Research Software Engineer to join our team. Based at the Whittle Laboratory in West Cambridge, you will lead efforts to develop robust, interactive tools that disseminate our analyses and transform aviation research, while engaging with key stakeholders to drive meaningful impact. 

The Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) uses a combination of physics-based and data-driven modelling to develop its first-order models of the aviation sector and beyond. These models compose to create a single comprehensive systems-of-systems model. In contrast to most academic modelling, we lean heavily on functional programming as a paradigm as this, along with computer algebra, immutability, and more, allows the computational implementations of our models to align more closely with their mathematics. The AIA's modelling toolboxes (there is broadly one per aviation system being modelled) are written in modern typed Python. About 90% of our current software development is greenfield, meaning that everyone helps shape the architecture of, and idioms used in, our codebases. 

The role involves leading and contributing to the design, development, and maintenance of the AIA's software platform for building and analysing complex systems models. Working within a multidisciplinary team of researchers, modellers, analysts, and software engineers, you will help shape engineering standards and best practices across the software lifecycle. You will contribute to impactful industrial and government-facing research projects with opportunities to influence both research direction and production-grade software. 

The work is technically demanding and intellectually engaging: the software platform spans scientific and high-performance computing, data-intensive pipelines, cloud infrastructure, and interactive web applications for visualising high-dimensional data. 

The role also offers opportunities to mentor students and colleagues, contribute to reports and publications, and engage with external partners and software contractors where appropriate. We value code quality, testability, automation, and maintainable research software. This role is suitable for engineers looking to deepen their expertise in scientific and data-intensive software while maintaining industry-aligned practices. 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 March 2027 in the first instance.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

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

Please ensure that you include both a CV and covering letter within your application which should detail how you feel you meet the criteria in the person specification.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and if you have any queries regarding either the vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR Office in the first instance on hr-office@eng.cam.ac.uk or 01223 332615.

Please quote reference NM48655 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.

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