Research Software Engineer
Posted on August 31, 2025 (22 days ago)
Research Software Engineer
The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a technology institute for life science, creating innovative technologies that transform our understanding of life. Our technologies, borne out of innovation in physical sciences, create collaborations and new avenues in life science which will lead to new therapeutics and advance our understanding of human biology.
As a Research Software Engineer at the Franklin, you will bring scientific knowledge and skills to deliver a specific research project and/or you will bring independent, creative science, or specific skills to a team delivering a project or program. Through this work, you will build scientific independence, develop new science and leadership skills, and establish a growing reputation externally.
We seek to recruit a Research Software Engineer to support our research in native ambient mass spectrometry, and specifically the project to develop three-dimensional protein atlases of a mouse brain through fusion of 2D ion images. The ideal candidate will have expertise in at least one of the following:
- Managing and processing high dimensional datasets (4D or more) and experience of Next Generation File Formats.
- Dealing with sparse scientific data and compression methods.
- Interactive visualisation of volumetric datasets.
- Experience of working with mass spectrometry data would be desirable.
In this role, the Research Software Engineer will be responsible for developing tools for construction and visualisation of the brain atlas, including data handling pipelines, image registration, direct cloud native storage, interactive visualisation, adaption for visualisation hardware including new modalities. The postholder will collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for improved mass spectrometry imaging of intact proteins and their assemblies in tissue and advancing integrative spatial and structural biology. The project will be hosted in the new Rosalind Franklin Institute facilities at Harwell but will also involve working with investigators across the Franklin, collaborator laboratories and with member institutes.
Key Responsibilities
As a Research Software Engineer, you will:
- Plan and conduct experiments, analyse and interpret results and supervise delivery of outputs (e.g. research report, patent application) in a scientific/technology area of interest.
- Work within a project team, contributing to wider projects around key Challenges.
- Lead major contributions to outputs from research including papers, patents and both internal and external presentations.
- Support and develop others including day-to-day supervision of students or visitors in areas related to their own research.
- Have supervised, staged progression to first stages of scientific independence with opportunities to further develop science and skills/experience.
- Enhance your research through collaboration with other researchers and make active contributions to exchanging ideas through your own network.
- Be able to understand, interpret, create and communicate appropriately within a research context.
- Develop search and discovery skills and techniques.
- Be supervised by a Senior Scientist in delivery of research outputs, either in the context of a project or Challenge or as an early career development fellow.
The role requires candidates to hold a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent), or be near completion, with initial appointment salary £37,500 per annum rising to from £38,500 per annum depending on skills and experience.
Benefits include 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown, generous pension scheme up to 18% employer contribution, group life assurance, state-of-the-art lab facilities, hybrid and flexible working, training, transport discounts, cycle to work scheme, employee discounts, occupational health and wellbeing support, subsidised canteen, free parking, and campus location with social and sports clubs.
The institute embraces diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all around the world, making adjustments for candidates with specific needs.
Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter explaining suitability for the role including education and work experience.
How to Apply
To be considered for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job. Please include information about your education and work experience.
Closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 31st August 2025.
Applicants should refer to the Candidate Privacy Policy linked on the job page.
Adjustments for candidates with specific needs can be discussed confidentially by contacting [email protected].