Research Software Engineer

Lancaster University; Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious UK university located in Lancaster is seeking a Research Software Engineer to develop innovative software in probabilistic AI. This full-time position involves collaboration with renowned researchers while contributing to a pioneering research hub. Ideal candidates should have a postgraduate degree in a relevant field, extensive Python knowledge, and a strong publication record. The role supports flexible working arrangements and encourages applications from diverse groups.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Statistics, machine learning or a related discipline with a track record of methodological research relevant to Prob_AI.
• Extensive knowledge of Python, including package development and experience of the academic research software development cycle.
• Demonstrable ability to publish; high-quality academic writing is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop software packages implementing new methods in collaboration with hub members.
• Contribute to and support the methodological research of the hub.
• Allocate roughly equal time to both software development and methodological research activities.

Skills

Extensive knowledge of Python

Methodological research

High-quality academic writing

Education

Postgraduate degree in Statistics or related field

Job description

Overview

We invite applications for a Research Software Engineer to join the Prob_AI Hub. This £8.5M programme is funded by EPSRC and brings together research groups from the Universities of Lancaster, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and Warwick. The role is based at Lancaster University but will involve interaction with researchers across the hub and the UK.

This is a fixed-term position, up to the end of January 2029. Therefore, the position is available for up to three years. The vision of the Prob_AI hub is to develop a world-leading, diverse and UK-wide research programme in probabilistic AI. The hub will develop the next generation of mathematically-rigorous, scalable and uncertainty-aware AI algorithms. This will be achieved through: bringing together world-leading researchers across Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Probability and Statistics, who engage with a range of non-academic partners; transforming the people pipeline; and producing a culture change within the mathematical sciences more broadly, so that cross-disciplinary mathematics research in AI is the norm.

Responsibilities

• Develop software packages implementing new methods in collaboration with hub members.
• Contribute to and support the methodological research of the hub.
• Allocate roughly equal time to both software development and methodological research activities.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Statistics, machine learning or a related discipline with a track record of methodological research relevant to Prob_AI.
• Extensive knowledge of Python, including package development and experience of the academic research software development cycle (deployment, maintenance and user support).
• Demonstrable ability to publish; high-quality academic writing is essential for this post.

Terms and Diversity

This is a full-time position, though we will consider applicants requesting part-time or other flexible working arrangements. The role is particularly well suited to remote working. We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups.

Inquiries

Informal inquiries can be made by contacting Prof Paul Fearnhead ([e-mail]).

More information

For more details of the hub, see https://probai.ac.uk.