Senior Software Engineer - Python

digiLab; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

digiLab, an Exeter or Bristol on-site startup, is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (Backend) to advance The Uncertainty Engine. You will work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment focused on Python, API design, and scalable systems.

The role includes potential frontend tasks and AI-assisted workflows, with 9:00–17:30, Monday to Thursday hours. Join a team shaping cutting-edge AI for high-stakes uncertainty quantification, contributing to architecture, testing, deployment, and reliability

Qualifications

• Significant industry experience in software development.
• Proven experience building production APIs with FastAPI (or similar async Python frameworks).
• Experience with DevOps and MLOps.
• Degree-level qualification in computer science or related field.
• Professional experience with collaborative software development.
• Deep understanding of Python.
• Familiarity with Linux, bash, and the command line.
• Familiarity with modern statistical machine learning and AI, including Numpy, Scipy, and Pandas.
• Ability to write logical, consistent, self-explanatory code.
• Understanding of software design patterns, SOLID and DRY principles, and architectural patterns.
• Experience with Git/GitHub and best practices.
• Knowledge of the software testing pyramid and types of automated testing (smoke, component, unit, performance, load, end-to-end)
• Experience with Docker and other containerization platforms
• Proven ability to collaborate in a fast-paced “agile” team, preferably using “scrum”

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a cross-functional team to help lead on the design, development, and maintenance of high-quality software solutions
• Contribute to architectural design, development, testing, and deployment of software applications
• Utilise expertise in Python, MongoDB, and other relevant technologies to build scalable, secure systems
• Apply security best practices throughout the software development lifecycle
• Foster a collaborative, learning-oriented environment within the team
• Implement software design patterns, SOLID principles, and architectural best practices
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of CI/CD pipelines and ensure efficient deployment processes
• Apply site reliability engineering knowledge to enhance system reliability and performance
• Champion “Scrum” and contribute to team process improvements
• Collaborate with product management to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Provide technical support and lead incident investigations
• Ensure adherence to RESTful API design principles
• In addition to backend work, you may also be required to support tasks on the frontend.
• Adopt AI tools to assist and accelerate your work

Skills

Python

FastAPI

DevOps

MLOps

Git/GitHub

Docker

RESTful APIs

CI/CD

Linux

Scrum

Education

Degree-level qualification in computer science or related field

Tools

MongoDB

Job description

digiLab is a formative AI company with world-leading specialists in uncertainty quantification, applied where the stakes are highest and the margin for error is smallest.

Our customers are among the largest and most advanced engineering and science-led organisations in the world, and they’re using our technology to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges. How do we make fusion energy a commercial reality? Can we drive down the cost of renewable energy and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future? How do we support coral reef restoration, or strengthen Britain’s national security? These are just a few of the critical questions our technology is helping to answer.

At the heart of our work is the Uncertainty Engine, digiLab’s trustworthy and explainable AI platform, enabling our customers to accelerate innovation, reduce risk, and deliver real value through more confident decisions.

We are looking for ambitious team members to help shape our pioneering technology and tackle some of the world’s most impactful problems.

Summary:

The Senior Software Engineer (Backend) is a full-time position (Monday to Thursday), reporting directly to the Lead Software Engineer. This role is central to the ongoing development and maintenance of digiLab’s core product, The Uncertainty Engine. It encompasses a broad range of responsibilities that leverage expertise in software engineering and machine learning, with a strong focus on Python development within a fast-paced, collaborative, and dynamic engineering environment.

The role:

As a Senior Software Engineer (Backend) at digiLab, responsibilities include::

• Collaborate with a cross-functional team to help lead on the design, development, and maintenance of high-quality software solutions
• Contribute to architectural design, development, testing, and deployment of software applications
• Utilise expertise in Python, MongoDB, and other relevant technologies to build scalable, secure systems
• Apply security best practices throughout the software development lifecycle
• Foster a collaborative, learning-oriented environment within the team
• Implement software design patterns, SOLID principles, and architectural best practices
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of CI/CD pipelines and ensure efficient deployment processes
• Apply site reliability engineering knowledge to enhance system reliability and performance
• Champion “Scrum” and contribute to team process improvements
• Collaborate with product management to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Provide technical support and lead incident investigations
• Ensure adherence to RESTful API design principles
• In addition to backend work, you may also be required to support tasks on the frontend.
• Adopt AI tools to assist and accelerate your work

Duties may evolve, and you may be asked to take on other reasonable responsibilities within your competence to support our growth.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Significant industry experience in software development
• Proven experience building production APIs with FastAPI (or similar async Python frameworks)
• Experience with DevOps and MLOps
• Degree-level qualification in computer science or related field
• Professional experience with collaborative software development
• Deep understanding of Python
• Familiarity with Linux, bash, and the command line
• Familiarity with modern statistical machine learning and AI, including Numpy, Scipy, and Pandas
• Ability to write logical, consistent, self-explanatory code
• Understanding of software design patterns, SOLID and DRY principles, and architectural patterns
• Experience with Git/GitHub and best practices
• Knowledge of the software testing pyramid and types of automated testing (smoke, component, unit, performance, load, end-to-end)
• Experience with Docker and other containerization platforms
• Proven ability to collaborate in a fast-paced “agile” team, preferably using “scrum”

In addition, some ‘nice to haves’ are:

• A Master’s-level qualification in a STEM field.
• Experience with front-end development: HTML; CSS; React; Javascript/Typescript.
• Experience with UI/UX design principles.
• Experience with PyTorch or other deep-learning libraries.
• An understanding of Bayesian statistics.

Location:

This role is on-site at our Exeter or Bristol office.

As an ambitious, rapidly-growing start-up, we’re looking for proactive, adaptable people who thrive in a fast-paced environment. Our standard working hours are 9.00–5.30pm, Monday to Thursday, though some flexibility outside these hours may be required to meet business needs.

Our Culture and Values

We foster a culture of innovation, trust, and collaboration. Our values include:

• Creativity & Agility: Encouraging innovation and flexibility in goal achievement.
• Trust & Responsibility: Supporting each other in taking calculated risks for bold innovation.
• Open & Honest Collaboration: Ensuring transparent communication and alignment.
• High-Performance Standards: Continuously challenging ourselves to excel in delivery.
• Value-Driven Work: Regularly assessing our contributions toward company goals.

Equal Opportunities:

digiLab is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fair, inclusive, and legally compliant. We take equality, dignity, and non-discrimination seriously.

Final Note:

We aim to respond to every applicant, but due to high application volumes, we may not be able to respond individually. Thank you for your interest in joining the digiLab team. The information you provide will be stored and used in line with our Privacy Notice.