Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Digital Research Environment (DRE) as a Data Engineer, funded through Great Ormond Street Hospital's Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC). In this role, you'll work at the heart of the Digital Research Environment (DRE), partnering with clinicians and researchers to deliver high‑impact projects in AI, genomics and rare disease research. The role offers the chance to combine advanced data engineering, nationally leading research, and a clear social purpose - improving outcomes for children with rare and complex conditions, every single day.
This role is ideal for a motivated data engineer who thrives in complex environments, enjoys solving challenging problems and wants their work to make a tangible difference. You'll design and optimise data pipelines, support cutting‑edge analytics and collaborate across multiple Trusts and academic partners.
We aim to hold interviews in the last week of February, please hold these dates and an invite will be sent to you, should you be shortlisted.
Advert
The BRC Data Engineer will be a member of the DRE Team with a primary focus on working with researchers to deliver several specific research projects that will utilise the DRE. The post holder will provide essential technical support for a range of innovative research projects, including both GOSH initiatives and collaborative efforts with partner institutions, including:
1. Real-Time Integration of Brain Tumour Volumetry into Neuro-Oncology Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (Kshitij Mankad)
2. Multimodal Artificial Intelligence for the Detection of Necrotising Enterocolitis (Stavros Loukogeorgakis)
3. Real-world EPIC data for health economic analysis of rapid genetic testing in epilepsy (Amy McTague)
4. Support PEI projects and requests across all three partner sites (Sheffield, Birmingham and Alder Hey)
5. A neonatal screen data project between GOSH and a partner site
6. Developing a craniofacial database with 2 PEI partners
7. Developing an NLP tool around babygram and friends and family tests between GOSH and a partner site.
Through these activities, the Data Engineer will ensure that data-driven research and operational projects are effectively supported, contributing to advancements in paediatric healthcare.
Working for our organisation
We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic heritage, people with a disability, and people from LGBTQ+ communities. By growing an ever more diverse workforce, we'll have a greater range of perspectives and knowledge, meaning that we can provide the children and young people at our hospital with even better care.
Our hospital is committed to creating an environment that is open and inclusive. Our staff are encouraged to engage with colleagues through the following networks: REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) ENABLED (Enhancing Abilities & Leveraging Disabilities Network), PRIDE and Women's networks; all of which are sponsored by a member of our Executive Management Team.
We want to ensure that all of our people, regardless of their background, are seen and heard. We want to attract applicants that share our commitment to inclusion and that understand diversity is a strength that is embraced and valued.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Data Engineering
1. Provide Data Engineer support across multiple BRC projects
2. Extract, process and provision data for research, audits and operational analysis;
3. Optimise existing and develop new data pipelines, tools and quality controls to support additional data types and make the data integration and provisioning processes faster and more reliable;
4. Develop data summaries and simple analytics to understand our processes and data;
5. Initiate, arrange, chair and/or participate in meetings, with or without the supplier, researchers, Trust staff and colleagues to discuss data workflows, requirements, areas of concern and take notes of any action points;
6. Document data integration and processing workflows, data collections and metadata, as well as support reporting requirements;
7. Support the Data Scientists and users with tools that enable their analyses/research;
8. Liaise with the REDCap supplier to optimise its use for projects;
9. Liaise with Aridhia to optimise the use of the research platform for data engineering tasks;
10. Assist in the co-ordinating and performing the validation of REDCap with the supplier and R&D;
11. Be responsible for the implementation of best practice guidelines for the use of data and tools;
12. Be responsible for the ongoing development and documentation of tools and methods which are FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable);
Testing
1. Develop test scripts which cover wide ranging scenarios and involve interfaces with other systems;
2. Self-teach from supplier manuals or open source tool documentation to solve problems in testing;
3. Ensure testing activity is completed, tracked and meets published deadlines;
4. Review progress with testing and analyse any variances highlighting any risks or issues to the Lead Engineer;
5. Generate guidelines and other documentation in relation to testing;
Training and support
1. Develop and deliver user training programmes as required for systems within the DRE, and ensure user feedback is incorporated into development of systems wherever possible
2. Support end-users through meetings, open sessions and email;
3. Develop and deliver training to encourage adoption of best practice guidelines on the use of data for research and operational projects across GOSH, the BRC and ICH;
4. Become an expert in REDCap and the research platform and associated systems and provide support to users and other engineers in interpreting user identified problems, solutions and possible side effects;
General
1. Supervise and provide day to day line management of junior staff and/or interns/students;
2. Ensure the work of junior staff and/or interns/students conforms to the design integrity of the research platform and the overall DRE;
3. Work autonomously to plan and organise workload to meet multiple and often conflicting deadlines;
4. Participate in regular DRE Team and Data Engineering and ACHI monthly operational meetings;
5. Produce reports or other documentation as required for management and the Groups that oversee the DRE;
6. Log issues with the use of the system as they arise and escalate unresolved issues to the Lead Engineer;
7. Present and publish tools and methods in meetings, workshops, conferences;
8. Develop and maintain effective networks and relationships with internal and external contacts;
9. Act as an ambassador for the Trust's DRE and BRC Teams at all times.
Please be advised that:
The recruitment process for all admin and clerical roles at Bands 2-4 will be a two stage recruitment process whereby shortlisted candidates will undertake an online literacy, numeracy, ICT and typing test. Only those candidates who pass the competency test will proceed to a formal interview.
The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification criteria for this post will be shortlisted. Please note that where high volumes of applicants have been received, additional criteria may on occasion be used to determine the final shortlist.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
We are an accredited Living Wage Employer.