Scientific Software Engineer Summer Placement

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £23,493 per annum
Contract Type:
Fixed Term –10 to 12 weeks
Hours:
Full-time
Location:

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX

Closing date:8th March 2026
Interview:
Virtually via Microsoft Teams or onsite in April
Start date:
June 2026

The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, located at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford, is recognised as a world-leading research centre. Its suite of neutron and muon instruments offers unique insights into the atomic-scale properties of materials. The Engineering and Imaging (ENGI) group comprises scientists from three ISIS instruments: the Imaging and MaTerials instrument (IMAT), the Italian Neutron Experimental Station (INES), and the Engin-X instrument.

This group supports users in a broad range of imaging and diffraction experiments involving advanced materials.

The ENGI group also develops new techniques to enhance experimental capabilities, thereby facilitating further scientific discoveries. The group are excited to welcome a student who will play a key role in optimizing the current fragmented Python workflow for a novel imaging technique, Spectroscopic Neutron Imaging (SNI), and will focus on streamlining data processing to increase accessibility and encourage wider adoption of the technique.

Full training and support will be provided on the current SNI data workflow to innovate its structure to make the technique more widely available. We are a highly collaborative ENGI group at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, and our student will be provided with regular feedback, access to technical resources, and the opportunity to participate in a culture that values experimentation and advancement.

STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start.

You will also be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team

• Familiarise themselves with existing scientific Python workflows and research methodologies to identify current assumptions, dependencies, and limitations.
• Design and develop a Jupyter notebook to implement the core data workflow in a clean, modular, reproducible, and accessible format.
• Document the workflow on Git Hub to facilitate long-term reuse and collaborative development of the methodology.

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential:

• You are in full time education at university, and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S)
• You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement(S)
• Interest in scientific software development (S&I)
• Experience with Python coding language (S)
• Interest in streamlining data workflow (I)
• Enthusiasm for science and interest in multi-disciplinary activities (I)
• Self motivated, with a strong problem solving skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team (S&I)
• Ability to communicate to both a technical and non-technical audience (S&I)
• Comfortable with mathematical and physics equations and handling data (S&I)
• Interest in image and image processing (S&I)

Desirable:

• Experience in organising Git Hub repositories (S&I)
• Experience in image analysis (I)

• 30 days holiday pro rata
• Flexible working hours.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Link to more benefits:

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.

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