Research Software Engineer

University Information Services

Closing Date: 23 October 2024

Job Reference: VC43465
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Research Software Engineer

Salary: Purpose of the role • Communicate complex
ideas about application
£40,521 - £54,395 The Research Software performance to other
Engineer is a member of a members of the team and
Contract: highly specialised team that to customers.
Permanent develops and optimises
complex scientific • Occasionally engage in
Location: applications to enable the first-line user support.
Cambridge research agendas of the
• Work with RCS systems
Cambridge research
engineering teams to
Division: community and beyond. The
improve overall service
Information Services
role holder will have the
delivery within the RCS.
opportunity to work in close
Responsible to:
synergy with researchers • Identify actions required to
across multiple disciplines to maintain and improve levels
Head of Research Software
create and optimise research of service.
Engineering
software to tackle large scale
problems in science and Key responsibilities
Working Pattern:
engineering. Software design
Full Time
• Help researchers Selects, adopts and adapts
scope and benchmark appropriate software design
their applications. methods, tools and techniques;
selecting appropriately from
• Identify and
predictive (plan-driven)
implement
approaches or adaptive
opportunities to
(iterative/agile) approaches.
improve performance
Specifies and designs large or
of the applications.
complex software components.
• Discussion and Undertakes impact analysis on
planning of user major design options, makes
requirements recommendations and assesses
and manages associated risks.
Specifies prototypes/simulations to
enable informed decision making.
Evaluates the quality of others'
systems designs to ensure
adherence to standards and
identifies corrective action, if
needed. Ensures that the system
design balances functional,
quality, security and systems
management requirements.
Contributes to development of
organisational software design
and architecture policies and
standards.
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Key responsibilities…continued
Testing
Programming/software development
Accepts responsibility for creation of test cases
Takes technical responsibility across all stages
using own in-depth technical analysis of both
and iterations of software development. Plans and
functional and non-functional specifications (such
drives software construction activities. Adopts and
as reliability, efficiency, usability, maintainability
adapts appropriate software development
and portability). Creates traceability records, from
methods, tools and techniques selecting
test cases back to requirements. Produces test
appropriately from predictive (plan-driven)
scripts, materials and regression test packs to
approaches or adaptive (iterative/agile)
test new and amended software or services.
approaches. Measures and monitors applications
Specifies requirements for environment, data,
of project/team standards for software construction
resources and tools. Interprets, executes and
including software security. Contributes to the
documents complex test scripts using agreed
development of organisational policies, standards,
methods and standards. Records and analyses
and guidelines for software development.
actions and results, and maintains a defect
Methods and tools register. Reviews test results and modifies tests if
necessary. Provides reports on progress,
Provides advice, guidance and expertise to anomalies, risks and issues associated with the
promote adoption of methods and tools and overall project. Reports on system quality and
adherence to policies and standards. Evaluates collects metrics on test cases. Provides specialist
and selects appropriate methods and tools in line advice to support others.
with agreed policies and standards. Implements
methods and tools at programme, project and Release and deployment
team level including selection and tailoring in line
Assesses and analyses release components.
with agreed standards. Manages reviews of the
Provides input to scheduling. Carries out the
benefits and value of methods and tools. Identifies
builds and tests in coordination with testers and
and recommends improvements. Contributes to
component specialists maintaining and
organisational policies, standards, and guidelines
administering the tools and methods – manual or
for methods and tools.
automatic - and ensuring, where possible,
Specialist Advice information exchange with configuration
management. Ensures release processes and
Actively maintains knowledge in one or more procedures are maintained.
identifiable specialisms. Provides detailed and
specific advice regarding the application of their Research
specialism(s) to the organisation's planning and
Within given research goals, builds on and
operations. Recognises and identifies the
refines appropriate outline ideas for research, i.e.
boundaries of their own specialist knowledge.
evaluation, development, demonstration and
Collaborates with other specialists, where
implementation. Uses available resources to gain
appropriate, to ensure advice given is appropriate
an up-to-date knowledge of any relevant field.
to the needs of the organisation.
Reports on work carried out and may contribute
sections of material of publication quality.
Networking
Actively contributes to the University IT
Community in order to share knowledge, best
practice, and technical expertise.
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Person Specification

Criteria Essential Desirable

Experience

Code benchmarking and software performance evaluation. ✔️

Experience in software development and productivity tools (e.g.,
Git/GitHub, JIRA, …). ✔️

Working within a research-based environment. ✔️

Experience and knowledge in High Performance Computing
parallelization (MPI and OpenMP) and optimization (SSE4/AVX2, ✔️
explicit vectorization, ...).

Skills

Good knowledge of a programming language such as Fortran, C++,

C, Python. ✔️

Good understanding of High Performance Computing or similar. ✔️

Application profiling and basic optimization. ✔️

Knowledge of heterogeneous parallel programming (e.g., CUDA,

OpenCL) and many-core architectures. ✔️

Compilation techniques and usage methodologies of a wide range of ✔️

scientific, technical and medical HPC applications.

Excellent communication skills. ✔️

Qualifications

A Masters’ degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science,

Computational Science-based discipline or equivalent experience. ✔️

Additional requirements

Ability to engage productively, with people of different background,

nationality and skills set. ✔️

Ability to present your ideas and outputs confidently and expertly to

stakeholders within and external to the University. ✔️
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Behavioural Attributes
This section summarises the behavioural attributes (or competencies) that we expect the role
holder to be able to demonstrate, at what level and whether this is an essential or desirable
requirement.
Full definitions are at: https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/policies-procedures/behavioural-
attributes.
Please review these and provide specific examples in your application of how you have
demonstrated these attributes in your work, education or other experience. It will assist your
application if you explain the situation, what you did and what the outcomes were.

Attribute Level

Valuing Diversity A

Achieving Results B

Communication B

Innovation and Change B

Negotiating and Influencing C

People Development B

Relationship Building B

Strategic Focus B

Professional Services Values

Developed by professional services staff, our values
underpin everything we do. By living the values in the
work we do, we hope to foster an environment where
staff feel empowered. The values encourage staff to;
work together and share skills to create a sense of
community, act with integrity, take an inclusive and
fair approach and develop honest and open
relationships that are underpinned by our shared
values. We encourage applicants to consider these
values within their application.
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

University Information Services

The UIS provides the digital The University of Cambridge consists of

infrastructure at the heart of the over 100 institutions (Departments,
University’s world-leading education Faculties and Schools) and employs around
and research. 12,000 staff. The Director of Information
Services leads a University Information
For example, our high performance
Services function which positively adds
computing team has developed the UK’s
value to the University. For the delivery of a
fastest academic computer and is
world – class computing service for all of
supporting groundbreaking medical,
the relevant stakeholder communities.
engineering and astronomy research. Our
networks team runs Europe’s biggest As a customer focussed organisation the
privately owned ultra-high speed fibre purpose of UIS is to provide business
optic network, connecting researchers, information services that underpin the
students and other organisations across critical management processes used across
Cambridge and beyond. And, the the collegiate University in research,
University’s finance, HR and student teaching and administration.
administration rely on our business
The UIS works strategically with Schools,
systems.
Faculties, Departments, Colleges and other
The University also has a bold ambition to institutions, in planning and delivering the
use digitalisation to transform education future information service requirements of
and research. The UIS’s team of the University, progressively improving
developers, designers, testers, analysts business processes, capabilities and
and support staff is leading this exciting information solutions that meet business
work. Our work ensures Cambridge needs.
continues to be one of the world’s top
universities.
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Terms of Appointment
Tenure and probation If you do not have the right to recruitment process. We will
Appointment will be made on a work in the UK already, any make adjustments to enable
permanent basis and subject offer of employment we make applicants to compete to the
to satisfactory completion of a to you will be conditional upon best of their ability wherever it
9 month probationary period. you gaining it. is reasonable to do so and, if
successful, to assist them
Hours of Work and Working Health declaration during their employment.
Pattern Once an offer of employment
The hours of work for the has been made the successful Information for disabled
position are full-time. candidate will be required to applicants is available at http://
complete a work health www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/h
We welcome applications from declaration form. r/staff/ disabled/
individuals who wish to be
considered for part-time Qualifications We encourage you to declare
working or other flexible The person specification for this any disability that you may
working arrangements. position lists qualifications that have, and any reasonable
are essential and/or desirable. adjustments that you may
Pension Please note that if you are require, in the section provided
You will automatically be offered the post you will be for this purpose in the
enrolled to become a member asked to provide your relevant application form. This will
of USS (Universities original certificates of these enable us to accommodate
Superannuation Scheme) – a qualifications. your needs throughout the
defined benefits pension process as required. However,
scheme. For further References applicants and employees may
information please visit: Offers of appointment will be declare a disability at any time.
www.pensions.admin.cam.ac.u subject to the receipt of
k/. satisfactory references. If you prefer to discuss any
special arrangements
Annual leave Equality and Diversity connected with a disability,
Full time employees are We particularly encourage please contact, the Department
entitled to annual paid leave of women and /or candidates from Administrator, who is
41 days inclusive of public a Black, Asian and Minority responsible for recruitment to
holidays. For new part-time Ethnic background to apply for this position.
employees, annual leave will this vacancy as they are
be pro rata’d based on days currently under-represented at
worked. this level within our University.

General information
Information if you have a
Pre-employment checks disability
Right to work in the UK The University welcomes
We have a legal responsibility applications from individuals
to ensure that you have the with disabilities. We are
right to work in the UK before committed to ensuring fair
you can start working for us. treatment throughout the
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

The University
The University of Cambridge is one of the Our capital investment projects include the
world’s oldest and most successful West Cambridge site, the North West
universities. We are a renowned centre Cambridge development and the growth of
for research, education, and scholarship the Biomedical Campus in the south of the
that makes a significant contribution to city. The North West Cambridge
society. The University is consistently development includes the opening of a
ranked amongst the top universities in
primary school – the first in the UK to be
the world. Our affiliates have won more
managed by a University. So we are deeply
Nobel Prizes than any other University.
embedded in, and committed to serving,
Our sustained pursuit of academic our local community. These are all
excellence is built on a long history of first- conspicuous signs of a University that is not
class teaching and research within a only adapting to new needs, but also
distinctive collegiate system. For eight anticipating the future.
centuries our ideas and innovations have
shaped the world. Our principal goal is to
remain one of the world’s leading
universities in an increasingly competitive
global higher education sector. Today the
University of Cambridge is at the centre of a Our mission is to contribute to society
cluster of over 4,300 businesses employing through the pursuit of education, learning,
58,000 people. and research at the highest international
levels of excellence. Our core values are:

• freedom of thought and expression; and

• freedom from discrimination.
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

About Us
The University is one of the world's The University awards degrees and its
leading academic centres. It comprises faculties and departments provide lectures
150 faculties and departments, together and seminars for students and determine
with a central administration and other the syllabi for teaching and conducting
institutions. Our institutions, museums research.
and collections are a world-class resource
Our instinct for seeking out excellence and
for researchers, students and members of setting up enduring and mutually beneficial
the public representing one of the collaborations has led us to establish
country’s highest concentrations of strategic partnerships across the globe.
internationally important collections.
Whether it is the successful Cambridge-
The University has an annual income of £2 Africa Programme involving universities in
billion. Research income, won competitively Ghana, Uganda and elsewhere on the
from the UK Research Councils, the African continent; or the close association
European Union (EU), major charities and with the government of India to pursue new
industry, exceeds £500 million per annum research in crop science; or the creation,
and continues to grow. with Germany’s Max Planck Institutes, of a
Cambridge-based centre for the study of
The Colleges and the University remain ethics, human economy and social change
committed to admitting the best students – international partnerships are now an
regardless of their background and to inextricable part of the University’s make-up.
investing considerable resources both in
widening access and financial support. The
31 Colleges are self-governing, separate
legal entities which appoint their own staff. “Cambridge graduates and researchers
Many academic staff are invited to join a have made – and continue to make – a
College as a Teaching Fellow, which colossal contribution to human knowledge
provides a further social and intellectual and the understanding of the world around
dimension. The Colleges admit students, us. Their work touches on the lives and
provide student accommodation and deliver livelihoods of everyone from patients
small group teaching. diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, to
residents of areas critically affected by
climate change, to children growing up in
conflict zones. It has a lasting impact on our
society, our economy and our culture: the
world is truly a better place thanks to their
efforts.”
Stephen Toope, Vice Chancellor 2019
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Working at the University

Working at Cambridge you will join a
diverse, talented and innovative
community, with more than 18,000
students and over 16,000 staff from all
walks of life and corners of the world.

The University continually explores strategies

to attract and retain the best people. It is
committed to supporting its staff to achieve
their best. We are a fair, diverse and inclusive
society and we believe our staff are our
greatest asset. There is strong commitment
to developing institutional leadership and
supporting and encouraging staff
development at all levels.

We offer a variety of roles including

academic, research, professional, managerial
and support roles. We also offer extensive
benefits and excellent learning opportunities
within a stimulating working environment.
Equality & diversity
The University’s estate is undergoing the The University has built its excellence on the
most significant transformation in its history. diversity of its staff and student community.
Cambridge has been able to create a new We aim to be a leader in fostering equality
science and technology campus to the west and inclusion, and in promoting respect and
of the city centre, and is now expanding a sense of belonging for all. We encourage
further to the north west of Cambridge applications from all sections of society. All
including investing in affordable homes for appointments are made on the basis of
University key workers and community merit. We have an Equal Opportunities
facilities. Even with our continued Policy, along with a range of diversity
development, the University remains within networks for women, black and minority
walking or cycling distance across the ethnic and lesbian, gay, bisexual and
campus. The University is a major partner on transgender staff. More details are available
the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and we here: http://www.equality.admin.cam.ac.uk/
continue to redevelop our historic city centre
sites demonstrating our determination to The University has a bronze Race Equality
ensure that we can offer the best facilities Charter aware, with framework for improving
and opportunities for our staff and students. the representation, progression and success
of minority ethnic staff and students within
higher education. Furthermore, the
University’s Athena SWAN award
recognises and celebrates good practice in
recruiting, retaining and promoting women.
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Living in Cambridge
Cambridge is rich in cultural diversity. Relocation Support
From beautiful University and College The University recognises the importance of
buildings, museums and art galleries, helping individuals to move and settle into a
quaint gardens and punts on the River new area. We provide support and guidance
Cam, to a vibrant restaurant and café to those relocating internationally or
scene, our employees are surrounded by domestically to take up a post at the
the wonderful features of this unique city. University of Cambridge, liaising with other
You can find a wide-range of high street University offices and selected
shops and 3 shopping centres, with partners to ensure comprehensive relocation
independent alternatives at the historic support is available. This includes:
market and nestled within the passageways accommodation, childcare, schools, banking,
in the city centre. You will find a cinema, immigration and transport. If you would like
bowling alley, a nightclub and various live further information, please visit
performances At the Cambridge Leisure https://www.accommodation.cam.ac.uk/reloc
Park, with further entertainment options at the ation. The Shared Equity Scheme and the
Corn Exchange, Arts Theatre and the ADC Reimbursement of Relocation Expenses
Theatre. Further information can be found on Scheme provide financial assistance to
the Visit Cambridge website. qualifying new members of staff with the
costs of relocating to Cambridge.
If you prefer the faster pace of life, London is
a 45-minute train journey away. For those
travelling from overseas, Stansted Airport is
just 45 minutes away and Heathrow Airport
Accommodation Service
under 2 hours away. The University is a short
distance from a host of other attractions such The University Accommodation Service
as Ely Cathedral, Newmarket Races and helps staff, students and visiting scholars
various wildlife parks and stately homes. who are affiliated to the University in their
Cambridge is also within easy reach of the search for suitable accommodation in
beautiful Broads and coastlines of Norfolk
Cambridge. The dedicated
and Suffolk.
accommodation team can provide access
to a wide range of University-owned
furnished and unfurnished properties, and
has a database of private sector
accommodation available for short and
long-term lets. For further information and
to register with this free service please
visit https://www.accommodation.cam.
ac.uk/
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

What Cambridge can offer

We offer a comprehensive reward package
to attract, motivate and retain high
performing staff at all levels and in all
areas of work.
The University offers a wide range of
competitive benefits, from family leave
entitlement, to shopping and travel discount
schemes. Our generous annual leave
package contributes to the positive
wellbeing of our University employees.
Sabbatical leave enables academics to
focus on research and scholarship, whilst
still maintaining their full salary. The
University also has a career break scheme
for academic and academic-related staff,
with additional flexible working policies for
all other staff.

Pay and benefits CAMbens employee benefits

The University salary structure includes We offer a CAMbens scheme for University
automatic service-related pay progression employees, providing access to online and in-
in many of its grades and an annual cost of store shopping discounts and cashback. With
living increase. In addition to this, more than 2,000 participating retailers,
employees are rewarded for outstanding employees can save money on a wide range of
contribution through a number of regular household expenses, from groceries
pay progression schemes. The University and clothes, to holidays and insurance and
offers attractive pensions schemes for much more. A range of local discounts are also
employees, with an additional benefit of a available, helping employees to save money
salary exchange arrangement providing tax whilst also supporting local Cambridge
and national insurance savings. Payroll businesses and a CAMbens Cycle to Work
giving is also a simple, tax-efficient way for salary sacrifice scheme is also available, which
employees to make monthly donations to enables employees to save money on transport
charity. costs. A 10% discount rate on the purchase of
train season tickets, bulk buy tickets and an
interest free travel to work loan are also
available for staff of the University.
University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

What Cambridge can offer

Family-friendly policies Your wellbeing
The University recognises the importance of The University’s Sport Centre, Counselling
supporting its staff. We have a range of family- Services and Occupational Health are just
friendly policies to aid employees’ work-life some of the support services available to
balance including a generous maternity, University employees to promote their
adoption and shared parental leave entitlement physical and mental wellbeing. There are
of 18 weeks full pay and emergency family care many societies in Cambridge catering for
support via My Family Care. almost every taste and interest. Whether you
want to take part in a sport, participate in
Other family-friendly support includes: music or drama, pursue a hobby, or join a
Our highly regarded workplace nurseries, a political group, you will almost certainly find
childcare salary exchange scheme and a high that a society exists for this purpose. The
quality holiday Playscheme may be available to University also hosts the Cambridge Science
help support University employees with caring Festival and Cambridge Festival of Ideas, as
responsibilities (subject to demand and well as Open Cambridge weekend, which
qualifying criteria). Further childcare information together attract over 50,000 visitors per year.
can be found here: The festivals are a great opportunity to get
https://www.childcare.admin.cam.ac.uk/ your first taste of public engagement, through
volunteering, supporting hands-on activities
or proposing a talk.
The Newcomers and Visiting Scholars Group is
an organisation within the University run by
volunteers whose aim is to help newly arrived Development opportunities
wives, husbands, partners and families of We support new employees to settle in
Visiting Scholars and members of the University through various activities. The
to settle in Cambridge and give them an encouragement of career development for all
opportunity to meet local people. The Office of staff is one of the University's values and we
Postdoctoral Affairs supports the postdoctoral put this into practice through various services
community within Cambridge. Further details and initiatives. Our Personal and Professional
are available here: https://www.opda.cam.ac.uk/ Development Department provides
development opportunities and courses for all
University employees. These include face-to-
face sessions, online learning modules and
webinars. Employees may also apply for
financial support to undertake training that will
lead to a qualification. We offer reduced staff
fees for University of Cambridge graduate
courses and the opportunity to attend lectures
and seminars held by University departments
and institutions. The CareerStart@Cam
programme also supports employees in
assistant staff roles who do not hold higher
education qualifications to develop their skills,
experience and qualifications.
 University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

How to apply
Applications should be submitted online via the University of
Cambridge jobs page www.jobs.cam.ac.uk by clicking “Apply
online” in the job advert. You will need an email
address to register for our online system.

Conversations about flexible working are encouraged at the

University of Cambridge. Please feel free to discuss flexibility
prior to applying (using the contact information below) or at
interview if your application is successful.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to:

recruitment@uis.cam.ac.uk in the first instance, quoting
vacancy reference VC43465..

The closing date for applications is 23 October 2024.

UNIVERSITY OF
CAMBRIDGE