Research Software Engineer

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Job details Posted 01 December 2025 Salary Grade 7: £41,064 - £46,049 per annum End date 04 January 2026

Location:

Glasgow Job Type: Technical And Specialist Reference: 187194 Expiry: 04 January 2026 at 23:45

As a Research Software Engineer at the Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC), University of Glasgow, you will play a key role in building robust, scalable software systems that unlock the potential of urban data for research and public impact. You’ll design and develop production‑ready applications and intuitive user interfaces that make complex datasets accessible, interactive, and actionable for researchers, policymakers, and the wider public.

You will lead the development and maintenance of data‑driven platforms, including databases, APIs, data pipelines, and authentication services, while ensuring seamless integration with dynamic front‑end environments. Applying user‑centred design principles, you will create tools and interfaces that are not only technically sound but also tailored to the needs and workflows of diverse users—ensuring usability, accessibility, and engagement across stakeholder groups.

This is a collaborative role where you’ll work closely with interdisciplinary teams of researchers, data scientists, and external partners across several projects. You’ll be part of a mission‑driven environment that values innovation, technical excellence, and real‑world impact, helping shape the future of cities through data. We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced research setting, brings strong software engineering skills, and is excited to contribute to meaningful societal change through thoughtful, user‑focused software development.

• Design, development and maintenance of production‑grade frontend applications and visual interfaces to support data exploration, analysis, and public engagement.
• Operationalisation and maintenance of backend and platform technologies (e.g., databases, ETL pipelines, Graph
  
  QL APIs via Hasura, REST APIs, file storage and authentication services) to ensure secure, efficient data delivery.
• Support UBDC researchers with ad hoc technical tasks relating to dataset generation, model development, and analysis.
• Database administration and query development, including performance optimisation and SQL‑based analytics.
• Maintain and update landing websites hosted in Webflow.
• Liaise with UBDC researchers, administrators, and external stakeholders to capture requirements and translate them into effective technical solutions.
• Document developed systems and provide training, client manuals, and technical workshops as needed.
• Support publication of data assets, including preparation of formats, metadata, and access methods.
• Continue to learn new methods, frameworks, and technologies to support innovation in software engineering for urban data research.

• A1 Degree (or equivalent experience) in IT, Computer Science, or related discipline.
• A2 Specialist knowledge of software engineering and frontend development methodologies.
• A3 Strong programming expertise for data‑driven, user‑facing applications (e.g., JavaScript/React/Next.js, Python, Node).
• A4 Skills in database administration (e.g., Postgre
  
  SQL) and integration of APIs.
• A5 Experience with designing, developing, deploying and maintaining production‑ready web systems.
• A6 Excellent communication skills and ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

• B1 Knowledge of geospatial data structures and visualisation tools.
• B2 Skills in user‑centred design, including working with collaborative design software such as Figma or Adobe Creative Suite.
• B3 Familiarity with SCRUM project management, including backlog tracking and sprint planning.
• B4 Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and containerisation/orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• B5 Experience maintaining CMS‑driven websites (e.g., Webflow).

• C1 At least 2 years’ professional experience (or equivalent) in software engineering roles.
• C2 Strong experience building frontend applications for…