Senior Software Engineer

The University of Queensland; Long Pocket; On-site; AUD 107,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

17% superannuation

Free parking

Job summary

The University of Queensland (UQ) is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) data services team at Long Pocket. You will design, develop and operate cloud-native software and digital infrastructure that turns diverse ecosystem data into analysis-ready resources for researchers, government and industry.

You will lead technically, mentor colleagues, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enable long-term ecological research, climate

Qualifications

• A degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education.
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, deploying and maintaining complex software systems, web applications or digital infrastructure.
• Strong technical skills in Python, JavaScript, database technologies, REST APIs and cloud native development environments.
• Experience working with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively, mentor colleagues, and deliver solutions that meet user needs.

Responsibilities

• Designing, implementing, deploying and maintaining software systems and digital research infrastructure supporting TERN’s national ecosystem monitoring programs.
• Developing scalable cloud native applications, APIs and data services that support the management, integration and analysis of environmental data.
• Providing technical expertise and consultation to collaborators, stakeholders and end users across the Australian environmental research community.
• Contributing to project planning, mentoring colleagues, and driving best practice approaches across software engineering, DevOps and system operations.

Skills

Python

JavaScript

REST APIs

Cloud native

Docker

Kubernetes

DevOps

CI/CD

Automated testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/Computer Science

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Full time (100%), fixed term position through to June 2028. Base salary will be in the range $106,709 - $116,198 + 17% super (HEW Level 7). Join a collaborative team building Australia’s environmental research infrastructure and supporting world leading ecosystem science. Based at our conveniently located Long Pocket campus.

About This Opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) data services and analytics team. In this hands on technical leadership role, you will design, develop, deploy and maintain cloud native software solutions and digital infrastructure that transform diverse ecosystem datasets into analysis ready resources for researchers, government, and industry. Working within a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, you will help enable long term ecological research, climate monitoring, and ecosystem surveillance through innovative and scalable technology solutions that create meaningful impact.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Designing, implementing, deploying and maintaining software systems and digital research infrastructure supporting TERN’s national ecosystem monitoring programs.
• Developing scalable cloud native applications, APIs and data services that support the management, integration and analysis of environmental data.
• Providing technical expertise and consultation to collaborators, stakeholders and end users across the Australian environmental research community.
• Contributing to project planning, mentoring colleagues, and driving best practice approaches across software engineering, DevOps and system operations.

About You

You are an experienced software engineer who combines strong technical expertise with a collaborative and solutions focused mindset. You thrive in complex, data intensive environments and enjoy working with multidisciplinary teams to deliver scalable digital products that enable impactful research and real world outcomes. A degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education. Demonstrated experience designing, developing, deploying and maintaining complex software systems, web applications or digital infrastructure. Strong technical skills in Python, JavaScript, database technologies, REST APIs and cloud native development environments. Experience working with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively, mentor colleagues, and deliver solutions that meet user needs.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. As a globally recognised university, we bring together visionary researchers, technical specialists and professional staff who are united by a shared commitment to solving complex challenges and delivering meaningful impact. In this role, you will contribute to nationally significant digital infrastructure that supports environmental research, biodiversity monitoring and climate resilience across Australia. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.

Benefits and rewards

• up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave
• 17% super
• 17.5% leave loading
• flexible and hybrid working options
• health and wellbeing programs
• a heavily discounted Study for Staff program
• free parking
• salary packaging

Other Information

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications and criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements. You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We're dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We're also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [e-mail] or calling [phone].

Applications close 31 August 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-68115). Interviews are tentatively scheduled for 4 September 2026.

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million). Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries. UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way.

UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work. For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.