Vacancy for Research Software Engineer at The National Archives

Digital Preservation Coalition; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading heritage organization is looking for two Research Software Engineers in Richmond upon Thames, London. Join a pioneering 3-year project aiming to enhance community-generated digital content. The ideal candidates will have proficiency in Python or JavaScript frameworks and a passion for human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence. An equal opportunities employer, it seeks diverse talent for this innovative role.

Qualifications

• Motivated with interests in human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, and linked open data.
• Excellent written and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to explain complex issues to non-specialists.

Responsibilities

• Develop software tools and end-user services to support the project.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team following agile methodologies.
• Manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines.

Skills

Human-computer interaction

Artificial intelligence

Linked open data

Agile methodologies

Programming in Python

JavaScript frameworks

User experience (UX) design

Interpersonal skills

Tools

Django

Wagtail

Job description

Vacancy for Research Software Engineer at The National Archives

15 February 2022

Richmond upon Thames, London

Fixed Term

TNA is looking for two Research Software Engineers (RSEs) to join a 3-year cutting-edge research project, Our Heritage, Our Stories: Linking and searching community-generated digital content to develop the people's national collection, part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s programme Towards a National Collection: Opening UK Heritage to the World (TaNC). The project will bring together a powerful partnership, including researchers in digital humanities, archives, history, linguistics, and computer science at our HEI partners, the Universities of Glasgow and Manchester, with world-leading archive and digital infrastructure development at The National Archives (TNA), the project's lead Independent Research Organisation (IRO).

We are looking for creative and self-motivated Research Software Engineers with interests in areas such as human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence and linked open data. You should be committed to software development best practices, and know how to adapt these for research contexts. You will need to have excellent communication skills and a talent for technical problem solving. You will be working within a multi-disciplinary team that will follow an agile way of working to deliver software tools and end-user services to support the project.

We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community and from people of diverse ages, experience and backgrounds, including people with disabilities. We are keen to explore the widest possible pool of talent for all our roles.

Essential criteria

• Highly motivated with interests in areas such as human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence and linked open data.
• Experience of using agile methodologies (such as Scrum and Kanban) across the entire development life cycle.
• Excellent written, communication and interpersonal skills, including in academic writing and with the ability to explain complex and/or technical issues and concepts to non-specialists.
• Proficiency in programming in Python and/or JavaScript frameworks.
• Experience of different software testing methodologies.
• Experience of web frameworks such as Django and/or Wagtail development.
• Experience or knowledge of user experience (UX) design.
• Highly motivated with a proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines, working independently or as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working with Research Software Engineering team or within a research environment.
• Experience of delivering digital services in accordance with GDS Service Manual and Technology Code of Practice.
• Understanding of the digital landscape, with experience of interdisciplinary working in relevant sectors, for example government, culture and heritage, archives, information science, software engineering, and humanities/digital humanities.