Senior/Data Acquisition Software Engineer for SWIFT

Diamond Light Source; South Oxfordshire; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading scientific facility in South Oxfordshire is seeking a Software Engineer to develop DAQ software for the SWIFT Diamond-II Flagship Beamline. The role involves collaborating with scientists, translating their specifications into requirements, and providing ongoing support for DAQ capabilities. Candidates should possess a degree in a STEM subject and experience in software development. The position offers a competitive benefits package including flexible working hours and extensive annual leave.

Benefits

26 days of annual leave

Flexible working hours

Excellent pension scheme

On-site amenities including nursery and restaurant

Qualifications

• Experience in software for scientific or industrial equipment.
• Familiarity with large codebases is advantageous.
• Experience with IoT preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support DAQ software for the SWIFT Beamline.
• Translate scientists' specifications into software requirements.
• Collaborate with various engineering teams.

Skills

Software Development Lifecycle

Good software design principles

Analytical skills

Strong communication

Education

Degree in a STEM subject or equivalent experience

Tools

Python

Java

Spring

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

We now have an opportunity for a software engineer within the DAQ group team that supports and develops software for Diamond’s Spectroscopy science group.

The work is primarily focused on developing the DAQ software for the planned SWIFT Diamond-II Flagship Beamline using the new Athena services under the technical supervision of the Spectroscopy DAQ team leader and in collaboration with the DAQ Core team. This is a significant and high priority long-term programme of work, comprising early feature prototyping and refinement, productionisation, integration and testing. Once SWIFT starts to accept users you will provide ongoing support and extension of the DAQ capabilities. You will also be required to work with your teammates to provide support to the existing Spectroscopy beamlines and assist with their migration from GDA to Athena.

As a software engineer in the DAQ Group, you will work alongside other software engineers supporting a range of experimental techniques and developing DAQ capabilities in an open and collaborative environment. You will be required to interact with scientists and translate their specifications for scientific capabilities into software requirements.

You will liaise with controls, data analysis, and information management engineers to put these requirements into action. You will collaborate with the beamline scientists and DAQ Core team members to deliver SWIFT’s DAQ features using the new Athena services and provide insight to the Core team to help them refine Athena’s generic capabilities. You may also participate in international collaborations within this domain, sharing best practices and supporting other facilities and synchrotrons within the collaboration.

Applicants will be considered at either Data Acquisition Software Engineer or Senior Data Acquisition Software Engineer level, depending on your skills, experience, and qualifications.

About You

You will be qualified to degree level in a STEM subject or equivalent experience, with experience in the full Software Development Lifecycle, using a modern high-level language, and an understanding of good software design principles and usability considerations. Knowledge and experience of developing software to control and monitor scientific or industrial equipment or IoT is preferable.

Experience working with large and complex codebases would be advantageous, as would familiarity with Python, Java, Spring, JMS message-oriented middleware, Java RMI, the HDF5 file format, the Eclipse RCP platform, REST, and Kubernetes.

You should demonstrate good communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills, with a personal interest or experience in science.

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package supporting staff in achieving a positive work/life balance, including 26 days of annual leave plus 13 statutory and company holidays, 2 annual volunteering days, flexible working hours, and an excellent pension scheme. On-site amenities include a nursery, cafes, a restaurant, and sports and leisure facilities. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.