Overview
Job Description
British Antarctic Survey (BAS). BAS Reference 26/22. Contract type: 1 Year Fixed Term Appointment. Location: BAS Cambridge. Salary: £46,444 (per annum). Closing date: 12 February 2026. Interview date: 25 February 2026.
Purpose
A Research Software Engineer (RSE) is required to join the Digital Innovation Team (DIT), a team producing best-practice, innovative technological solutions for operational, scientific and technical departments within the organisation. The team helps BAS develop its digital capability to support BAS and NERC long-term goals, including net zero, environmental digital twins, world-class digital research infrastructure, sustainable software, and enterprise-level solutions.
The successful applicant will work with support from more senior DIT staff to develop solutions in collaboration with the BAS IT department, AI Lab, MAGIC, PDC, engineering departments and researchers. The RSE will also support developers in these groups and engage with BAS partner institutions, including The Alan Turing Institute, universities, Centre for Polar Observation and Monitoring, and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Earth Observation and AI for Environmental Risk. The role requires delivering complex technical projects and collaborating across departments to advance software engineering practice.
Duties
* Work with researchers to improve the performance and reproducibility of their research code.
* Promote reproducible research and open source tooling and advocate for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) principles for all digital assets.
* Develop tools for other digital groups to support all parts of BAS science and operations.
* Deliver high-quality, efficient and maintainable software by applying structured development approaches, including: writing clear documentation; developing robust testing suites; following conventions for code quality (styling, semantic versioning); promoting collaboration with version control, code review, and reproducible examples; considering sustainability and maintenance of software in deployment scenarios.
* Collaborate with BAS HPC team and IT department to improve digital services that support researchers and operations.
* Work with other BAS departments (PDC, MAGIC, Web Applications, AI Lab, Science) on joint software engineering projects and promote best practices.
* Organise and participate in events, training and workshops for RSE community best practices for BAS students and staff.
* Engage with the wider RSE community and UKRI/NERC and others to promote best practices and stay updated on developments.
* Understand and consider the environmental impact of research software.
* Support proposal writing efforts for BAS-led projects.
* Undertake other duties as requested by the BAS Director.
Note: While working in the Antarctic or Arctic and at sea is not guaranteed, opportunities may arise for candidates capable of going south.
Qualifications And Experience
The job is based in Cambridge with remote working options. For candidates physically capable and medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions, opportunities may arise for travel to the Antarctic or Arctic or working at sea on the BAS research ship, though that is not a major part of the role.
Essential: experience with software engineering in Linux and HPC environments; demonstrable experience in developing with at least one of: machine learning libraries, workflow management systems, cloud and/or distributed infrastructures, numerical modelling, or operational data management. Ability to interpret and share knowledge by understanding researcher requirements and guiding others.
Highly desirable: experience or willingness to learn and communicate good practice for reproducible research, sustainable software practices and working with large datasets; experience of community-led software development (e.g., GitHub/GitLab); project management ability is desirable but not required.
Advantageous knowledge: Linux system administration; multiple programming languages (Python, R, C/C++, Fortan, Julia, Matlab); cloud infrastructure; DevOps; UK HPC environments or HPC in the cloud; web front-end/back-end development; small board computer and micro-controller systems.
There are no formal educational requirements, but candidates should be able to demonstrate and discuss technical abilities in an interview. Willingness, adaptability and enthusiasm are key qualities.
Skills, Qualifications, and Experience
* Experience with software engineering in Linux and HPC environments.
* Demonstrable experience in developing with at least one: Machine Learning libraries; Workflow management systems; Middleware and distributed infrastructure; Numerical modelling; Operational data management.
* Ability to interpret requirements and propose solutions.
* Excellent written and oral communication skills; fluent in written and spoken English.
* Able to work as part of a team and independently.
Desirable
* Experience training and guiding others in software engineering.
* Understanding best practices for reproducible research, sustainable software practices, and working with large datasets.
* Experience of community-led software development; project management and governance; Linux system administration; scientific programming languages; cloud/infrastructure development; UK HPC environments and/or HPC computing; web development; collaboration with external institutes; stakeholder engagement or funding applications; ability to show initiative and tackle problems independently; ability to explain complex problems.
About Us
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI brings together seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. We support world-leading research and innovation, operating remarkable scientific facilities and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy.
More information at www.ukri.org. UKRI offers benefits including a defined benefit pension, holidays, discounts and salary sacrifice schemes. For details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
EDI And Disability
UKRI promotes equal opportunities and inclusive environments. For information about our EDI support, please see the guidance on How we support EDI in the workforce. Disability Confident Employer: candidates who opt into the scheme will be shortlisted for interview and reasonable accommodations provided upon request.
How To Apply
Online applications preferred. Submit a CV and covering letter outlining how you fulfill the criteria and your motivation for UKRI and the role. Include the job reference number in the filename. Applications may be screened on covering letter and CV content. UKRI is committed to openness, fairness and inclusion.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting for the role. UKRI reserves the right to re-run security clearance as required.
About The Team
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Our staff across Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic work to advance understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UKRI. More information at www.ukri.org.
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