Senior Software Engineer (Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

41 days annual leave

Job summary

University of Cambridge’s Information Services is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team delivering high-profile web systems and cloud-native services. You will work in a hybrid role building API-driven applications, containers, and automated tests, with emphasis on security, maintainability, and CI/CD in GitLab.

You will mentor junior engineers, shape technical standards, and collaborate with staff and students across a world-leading university.

Qualifications

• Experience in modern software development, testing, security, and operations.
• Expertise in architecting secure, maintainable web applications and APIs.
• Proven ability to integrate applications via APIs and event-driven approaches.
• Strong knowledge of CI/CD practices and DevOps methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop secure-by-design web applications and APIs with maintainability in mind.
• Build and integrate services using APIs, event buses, and asynchronous tasks.
• Lead and contribute to CI/CD pipelines in GitLab with Terraform.
• Mentor junior engineers and help define technical standards.

Skills

Secure web apps

API integration

Testing frameworks

Code reviews

AI-assisted coding

Tools

Google Cloud

Terraform

Docker

Python

Django

React

TypeScript

Job description

About The Role

The University of Cambridge's Information Services is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer. You will join a multidisciplinary development team within a Division of 50 engineers building high-profile bespoke web systems and cloud-native services, and modernising existing applications.

This is a hybrid position, with amazing benefits, like a defined benefit pension and 41 days of annual leave inclusive of public holidays.

Our services are public-facing and support University staff and students (~60,000 people), meaning your work will have a significant impact on the reputation of one of the world's leading universities. We develop new services using modern web architectural standards with an emphasis on reusability, APIs, test automation, and CI. Services are deployed to cloud infrastructure in Docker containers.

Our technology stack is published in our Guidebook and comprises technologies like Google Cloud, Terraform, Docker, Python, Django, React, and TypeScript. We maintain a DevOps culture and use Scrum for our day-to-day work. We have also adopted an \"open by default\" approach to new work and thus you can find much of our work to date in our GitLab. The team also produces a Guidebook that collects the team's practices and useful information at https://guidebook.devops.uis.cam.ac.uk/

What we're looking for

You will be highly skilled in modern software development, testing, security, and operations, and be an expert in:

• Architecting secure-by-design web applications and APIs with a focus on maintainability and stability, using clean code.


• Integrating applications via APIs, event buses, and asynchronous tasks.


• Writing expert-level Python and Django, with working knowledge of TypeScript and React (or comparable languages and frameworks).


• Packaging web applications in Docker containers.


• Writing and applying efficient tests with good knowledge of testing frameworks and testing best practices.


• Conducting thorough code reviews.


• Using AI coding assistants effectively, writing clear prompts, critically reviewing AI-generated code, and taking responsibility for its correctness, security, and maintainability.


• Building CI/CD pipelines in GitLab to test and deploy web applications to the cloud using Terraform.


• Working with Google Cloud or similar cloud platforms.


• Managing software requirements, priorities, and dependencies.


• Driving improvements in technical architecture, standards, and processes, and choosing the right solution for the problem (switching off, extending, building, or buying).


• Debug effectively in unfamiliar applications.

Ways Of Working

• Work in cross-functional teams using a DevOps approach, mentoring more junior engineers.


• Communicate clearly in both written and verbal forms, and collaborate with University colleagues, users, and business representatives to gather and refine detailed requirements.


• Focus on delivery while taking a continuous-improvement approach to existing services.


• Learn new skills proactively and stay current with modern practices.


• Apply AI tools pragmatically as they evolve, without compromising the quality, security, or ownership of the code you ship.


• Work across products and teams to build consistent architectures, thinking through their impact on other services and the wider organisation.


• Understand specifications and produce simple architectures from complex problems.


• Drive work to completion, adjusting pace to the urgency of the task.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part‑time working or other flexible working arrangements.

We particularly welcome applications from women and /or candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under‑represented at this level in our department.

If you would like more information about this role, informal enquiries can be directed by email to Abraham Martin, Head of DevOps [e-mail]

Please quote reference VC50478 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.