Research Software Engineer

NHS; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading NHS Foundation Trust as a Research Software Engineer in Cambridge, where you will develop advanced data solutions to enhance patient outcomes. Work collaboratively within a prestigious medical environment, leveraging your expertise in data engineering and cloud technologies to support innovation in healthcare.

Benefits

On-site leisure facilities

Flexible working arrangements

Subsidised parking

Qualifications

• Master's degree in related field.
• Significant experience in data architectures.
• Strong expertise in leading data projects.

Responsibilities

• Deliver advanced data engineering solutions for large datasets.
• Support development of data-driven applications.
• Manage deployment of decision support tools.

Skills

Data engineering

Cloud platforms

Programming

Stakeholder management

Data integration

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Azure

Apache Spark

AWS

Job description

Job summary

Our Innovation agenda is nascent but has grand aspirations. We work within a unique ecosystem on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, part of the largest centre of life science and medical research in Europe. Addenbrooke's is one of the largest single-site hospitals in the country with a mature Epic EHR and plans afoot for new children's, cancer research and acute hospitals. Our academic partner, Cambridge University, has a global reputation in healthtech, artificial intelligence, engineering, manufacturing and life sciences. And our neighbours on campus include the recently rebuilt Royal Papworth Hospital and Astrazeneca's global R&D facility, the Discovery Centre. We are collectively brought together through Cambridge University Healthcare Partners, which has been a driving force for the innovation and life sciences agenda nationally.

We recognise that the Trust's data represents one of our most potent assets to support innovation, as well as research and quality improvement. But we have yet to fully exploit its potential.

Main duties of the job

Our new Clinical Data Science and Engineering Unit will be the vital engine room for curating, sharing and utilising our data for novel purposes outside of the routine operations of hospital. It will work collaboratively with the Trust's core digital and data functions, performance and analytics, clinical and operational staff, academics and commercial partners to discover new insights and develop data-driven applications. It will also play a key role in managing the safe, secure and efficient deployment of such solutions - from predictive analytics to medical device-grade decision support tools - in line with policies and processes that it takes the lead in designing.

The Research Software Engineer is a key role in this new unit, contributing to the delivery of advanced data engineering solutions to manage large volumes of data effectively. The role has a particular focus on supporting the technical delivery and implementation of key commercial partnerships, curating viable, deep, longitudinal and anonymised research datasets, with an initial focus on oncology. In doing so, you will support the generation of new insights and cutting-edge applications that enhance patient outcomes, operational efficiency and service transformation.

About us

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Details Date posted

02 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year p.a. pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

23 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

180-F-255138

Job locations

Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can only apply for this post as a secondment and must have the approval of your current line manager before applying.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 19th June 2025

Interviews are due to be held on 3rd July 2025

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can only apply for this post as a secondment and must have the approval of your current line manager before applying.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 19th June 2025

Interviews are due to be held on 3rd July 2025

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Strong specialist knowledge and ongoing education in data engineering.

Desirable

• Professional certifications in data architecture (e.g., TOGAF, DAMA).
• Advanced qualifications in cloud computing or data engineering or equivalent experience.

Experience Essential

• Significant experience designing and managing enterprise data architectures in a complex organisation.
• Proven track record of leading and delivering large-scale data integration, engineering, and analytics projects.
• Strong expertise in cloud platforms (e.g. Azure, MS Fabric, AWS) and modern data tools (e.g. Apache Spark, Hadoop).
• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g. Python, SQL, Java).
• Extensive experience in stakeholder management and collaboration across health and local government to drive improvements and change.
• Experience in strategic and organisational business planning, including writing and implementing policy, guidance documents, and complex operational business cases.
• Experience presenting complex technical material in an accessible format to senior audiences, supporting decision-making.
• Experience supporting team activities or mentoring colleagues.
• Experience applying for and securing research funding.
• Practical experience in data engineering and software development in the NHS.
• Experience working with routinely collected clinical data and large-scale NHS data engineering projects.

Desirable

• Experience working in or with health-tech SMEs.
• NHS experience in a senior analytical or data engineering role.
• Experience with generative AI-supported coding and software development workflows.

Knowledge Essential

• Extensive knowledge of cloud environments and architectures.
• Strong understanding of best practices in data engineering, ETL, and data science, including test-driven development, continuous integration, and version control.
• Knowledge of information technology and its impact on data systems.
• Comprehensive understanding of data protection laws (GDPR) and cybersecurity principles.
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks and ethical considerations in data use.

Desirable

• Familiarity with health technology and NHS operations, policies, and governance.
• Knowledge of common health data models (e.g., OMOP) and healthcare ontologies (e.g., SNOMED CT, ICD-10).
• Experience using machine learning, network analysis, and NLP in healthcare settings.

Skills Essential

• Strong adaptability to new software and programming languages.
• Skilled in data management system implementation and optimisation (Databases, Data Lakes, Lakehouses).
• Ability to design and implement data pipelines that extract, process, and analyse sensitive data for decision-making.
• Experience with test-driven development and continuous integration in data pipeline designs.
• Ability to communicate complex data insights to senior executives, using tact and diplomacy to influence decisions.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present technical concepts clearly to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex programs efficiently.
• Flexibility in workload management, including handling multiple projects with conflicting demands.
• Experience participating in and leading Agile project teams.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and highly organised.
• Strong ability to deliver work to deadlines and manage competing priorities.

Desirable

• Strong documentation skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to conduct statistical analysis, including Bayesian statistics, inferential statistics, probability distributions, and dimensionality reduction.
• Strong numerical and statistical analysis skills.
• Ability to analyse complex and conflicting data sets logically.

Additional Requirements Essential

• Willing to be flexible in working practices
• Improvement mindset - able to identify flaws in our internal Quality Management processes, prioritise, and lead/complete improvement actions
• Enthusiasm and commitment to learn new skills
• Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work
• Seeks and uses professional support appropriately
• Able to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Understands the principle of confidentiality
• Understanding of need for sensitivity and discretion in particular circumstances.
• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Desirable

• Able to deal with occasional distressing topics

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Strong specialist knowledge and ongoing education in data engineering.

Desirable

• Professional certifications in data architecture (e.g., TOGAF, DAMA).
• Advanced qualifications in cloud computing or data engineering or equivalent experience.

Experience Essential

• Significant experience designing and managing enterprise data architectures in a complex organisation.
• Proven track record of leading and delivering large-scale data integration, engineering, and analytics projects.
• Strong expertise in cloud platforms (e.g. Azure, MS Fabric, AWS) and modern data tools (e.g. Apache Spark, Hadoop).
• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g. Python, SQL, Java).
• Extensive experience in stakeholder management and collaboration across health and local government to drive improvements and change.
• Experience in strategic and organisational business planning, including writing and implementing policy, guidance documents, and complex operational business cases.
• Experience presenting complex technical material in an accessible format to senior audiences, supporting decision-making.
• Experience supporting team activities or mentoring colleagues.
• Experience applying for and securing research funding.
• Practical experience in data engineering and software development in the NHS.
• Experience working with routinely collected clinical data and large-scale NHS data engineering projects.

Desirable

• Experience working in or with health-tech SMEs.
• NHS experience in a senior analytical or data engineering role.
• Experience with generative AI-supported coding and software development workflows.

Knowledge Essential

• Extensive knowledge of cloud environments and architectures.
• Strong understanding of best practices in data engineering, ETL, and data science, including test-driven development, continuous integration, and version control.
• Knowledge of information technology and its impact on data systems.
• Comprehensive understanding of data protection laws (GDPR) and cybersecurity principles.
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks and ethical considerations in data use.

Desirable

• Familiarity with health technology and NHS operations, policies, and governance.
• Knowledge of common health data models (e.g., OMOP) and healthcare ontologies (e.g., SNOMED CT, ICD-10).
• Experience using machine learning, network analysis, and NLP in healthcare settings.

Skills Essential

• Strong adaptability to new software and programming languages.
• Skilled in data management system implementation and optimisation (Databases, Data Lakes, Lakehouses).
• Ability to design and implement data pipelines that extract, process, and analyse sensitive data for decision-making.
• Experience with test-driven development and continuous integration in data pipeline designs.
• Ability to communicate complex data insights to senior executives, using tact and diplomacy to influence decisions.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present technical concepts clearly to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex programs efficiently.
• Flexibility in workload management, including handling multiple projects with conflicting demands.
• Experience participating in and leading Agile project teams.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and highly organised.
• Strong ability to deliver work to deadlines and manage competing priorities.

Desirable

• Strong documentation skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to conduct statistical analysis, including Bayesian statistics, inferential statistics, probability distributions, and dimensionality reduction.
• Strong numerical and statistical analysis skills.
• Ability to analyse complex and conflicting data sets logically.

Additional Requirements Essential

• Willing to be flexible in working practices
• Improvement mindset - able to identify flaws in our internal Quality Management processes, prioritise, and lead/complete improvement actions
• Enthusiasm and commitment to learn new skills
• Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work
• Seeks and uses professional support appropriately
• Able to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Understands the principle of confidentiality
• Understanding of need for sensitivity and discretion in particular circumstances.
• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Desirable

• Able to deal with occasional distressing topics

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ

Employer's website

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate

Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ

Employer's website

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)