Research Software Engineer Job Glasgow area,Scotland UK,Software Development

Job Purpose

Are you a Software Engineer who thrives on solving complex problems through hands‑on development and in collaboration with researchers and end‑users? The Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC) is seeking a Research Software Engineer to play a central role in designing and delivering innovative software and data science solutions that unlock the potential of urban data for research, policy, and public impact.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys collaborating with researchers and end‑users, architecting systems, and building tools that make complex datasets accessible, interactive, and actionable.

As an RSE, you will be responsible for the end‑to‑end development of robust data analytics pipelines, scalable applications, and intuitive user interfaces. You will work directly with interdisciplinary teams of researchers, data scientists, and external partners to co‑create impactful solutions that support data‑intensive social research.

This is a unique opportunity to join a mission‑driven organisation that values innovation, technical excellence, and real‑world impact. At UBDC, you’ll be part of a dynamic environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Apply and direct the use of state‑of‑the‑art software engineering (including agile project management, data science and artificial intelligence) to address challenges faced by University of Glasgow researchers.

Liaise with UBDC and external researchers, administrators, and end‑user stakeholders to capture requirements and translate them into effective technical solutions.

Design, develop and maintain production‑grade front‑end applications and visual interfaces to support data exploration, analysis, and public engagement.

Operationalise and maintain backend and platform technologies (e.g., databases, ETL pipelines, GraphQL 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.

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.

Knowledge and Qualifications Essential Knowledge and Qualifications

A1 Degree (or equivalent experience) in IT, Computer Science, or related discipline.
A2 Specialist knowledge of software engineering, including backend 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., PostgreSQL) 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.

Desirable Knowledge

B1 Knowledge of geospatial data structures and visualisation tools.
B2 Skills in user‑centred design, including 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).

Essential Skills

C1 Sufficient professional experience (or equivalent) in software engineering roles.
C2 Strong experience building software applications for data‑driven contexts.
C3 Proven experience integrating APIs and operating production databases.

Desirable Skills

D1 Experience supporting data‑intensive research projects.
D2 Experience developing or maintaining geospatial applications.
D3 Experience with deploying software services on cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and…