Senior Research Software Engineering Lead

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution in Glasgow is seeking a Senior Research Software Engineering Lead to drive software and data science solutions for urban data analysis. The role emphasizes collaboration with researchers and managing a technical team, focusing on developing user-friendly applications and data pipelines. Candidates should have strong leadership skills, technical expertise, and a passion for societal impact through innovative software development. This full-time position offers a dynamic work environment and opportunities for substantial contributions to social research.

Benefits

Relocation assistance

Dynamic environment with creativity and collaboration

Access to high-performance computing resources

Qualifications

• Experienced Research Software Engineer capable of solving complex problems.
• Proven track record in managing teams and leading projects.
• Excellent communication skills for liaising with researchers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of data analytics pipelines and applications.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to create software solutions.
• Manage UBDC’s technician team and ensure high-quality software delivery.

Skills

Hands-on development

Technical leadership

Collaboration with researchers

User interface design

Data analytics pipelines

Job description

College of Social Sciences

School of Social & Political Sciences

Senior Research Software Engineering Lead

Vacancy Reference: 187193

Salary: Grade 8, £50,253 - £58,225 per annum

Are you an experienced Research Software Engineer who thrives on solving complex problems through hands‑on development and technical leadership? The Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC) is seeking a Senior RSE Lead to play a central role in designing and delivering innovative software and data science solutions that unlock the potential of urban data for research, policy, and public impact. This is a strategic yet technical role, ideal for someone who enjoys collaborating with researchers and end‑users, architecting systems, and building tools that make complex datasets accessible, interactive, and actionable.

As Senior RSE Lead, you will be responsible for the end‑to‑end development of robust data analytics pipelines, scalable applications, and intuitive user interfaces. You will work directly with interdisciplinary teams of researchers, data scientists, and external partners to co‑create impactful solutions that support data‑intensive social research. Your work will span the full software lifecycle—from requirements gathering and design to implementation, testing, and deployment—ensuring that research outputs are reproducible, user‑friendly, and technically sound. You will also contribute to the design of research projects and funding proposals, embedding software engineering expertise into the heart of UBDC’s research strategy.

In addition to your technical contributions, you will manage UBDC’s technician team, providing leadership, mentorship, and coordination across multiple projects. You will foster a collaborative and inclusive working environment, ensuring that the team delivers high‑quality software and support services to the UBDC research community. You will also act as a key liaison with infrastructure providers, helping researchers make optimal use of high‑performance computing resources, including cloud platforms and university services.

This is a unique opportunity to join a mission‑driven organisation that values innovation, technical excellence, and real‑world impact. At UBDC, you’ll be part of a dynamic environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning. You will also be associated with a team of Research Software Engineers working across the University through a close relationship with the university‑wide Research Computing as a Service. We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced research setting, brings strong leadership and software engineering skills, and is excited to contribute to meaningful societal change through thoughtful, user‑focused software engineering.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and is available for 3 years in the first instance. Relocation assistance will be provided where necessary.