Scientific Software Engineer Summer Placement

UKRI; Harwell; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Harwell is offering a summer placement for a student to innovate Python workflows in scientific imaging. You will work within a collaborative group, focusing on optimizing data processing. Ideal candidates should be current university students with Python experience and a strong interest in scientific software development. This role provides training and the opportunity to contribute to advanced research projects while benefiting from flexible working hours and career development opportunities.

Benefits

30 days holiday pro rata

Flexible working hours

Free parking

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• In full-time education at university and returning to complete an undergraduate degree.
• Interest in scientific software development.
• Experience with Python coding language.

Responsibilities

• Familiarise with existing scientific Python workflows.
• Design a Jupyter notebook for core data workflow.
• Document the workflow on GitHub.

Skills

Python programming

Scientific software development

Data workflow streamlining

Communication

Image processing

Problem-solving

Education

Current university student

Tools

GitHub

Jupyter Notebook

Job description

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £23,493 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term –10 to 12 weeks
Hours: Full-time
Location:Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX
Closing date:8th March 2026
Interview: Virtually via Microsoft Teams or onsite in April
Start date: June 2026

The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, located at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford, is recognised as a world-leading research centre. Its suite of neutron and muon instruments offers unique insights into the atomic-scale properties of materials. The Engineering and Imaging (ENGI) group comprises scientists from three ISIS instruments: the Imaging and MaTerials instrument (IMAT), the Italian Neutron Experimental Station (INES), and the Engin-X instrument. This group supports users in a broad range of imaging and diffraction experiments involving advanced materials.

The ENGI group also develops new techniques to enhance experimental capabilities, thereby facilitating further scientific discoveries. The group are excited to welcome a student who will play a key role in optimizing the current fragmented Python workflow for a novel imaging technique, Spectroscopic Neutron Imaging (SNI), and will focus on streamlining data processing to increase accessibility and encourage wider adoption of the technique.

Full training and support will be provided on the current SNI data workflow to innovate its structure to make the technique more widely available. We are a highly collaborative ENGI group at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, and our student will be provided with regular feedback, access to technical resources, and the opportunity to participate in a culture that values experimentation and advancement.

Summer Placements at STFC

STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start.You will also be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Familiarise themselves with existing scientific Python workflows and research methodologies to identify current assumptions, dependencies, and limitations.
• Design and develop a Jupyter notebook to implement the core data workflow in a clean, modular, reproducible, and accessible format.
• Document the workflow on GitHub to facilitate long-term reuse and collaborative development of the methodology.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential:

• You are in full time education at university, and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S)
• You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement(S)
• Interest in scientific software development (S&I)
• Experience with Python coding language (S)
• Interest in streamlining data workflow (I)
• Enthusiasm for science and interest in multi-disciplinary activities (I)
• Self motivated, with a strong problem solving skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team (S&I)
• Ability to communicate to both a technical and non-technical audience (S&I)
• Comfortable with mathematical and physics equations and handling data (S&I)
• Interest in image and image processing (S&I)

Desirable:

• Experience in organising GitHub repositories (S&I)
• Experience in image analysis (I)

Employee Benefits

• 30 days holiday pro rata
• Flexible working hours.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.

You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

Application Guidance

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!