Software Engineer; Development

About the Role

As a Software Engineer (Development) (known internally as an
Engineer (Development)) at The Open University, you will be part of the Teaching and Learning group, a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to delivering world‑class online educational software to our staff and over a hundred thousand students. Collaborating closely with engineers, designers, and product owners, you will build scalable and efficient solutions that meet user needs and support the organisation’s goals.

You will actively participate in all stages of the software development lifecycle, from analysing requirements and designing system architectures to coding, testing, and deploying applications. Your contribution will ensure our solutions are secure, reliable, robust, accessible and user‑friendly.

As a vital part of our agile team, you’ll contribute ideas, tackle technical challenges, and mentor junior engineers while supporting our commitment to continuous improvement and development.

• Participate in Software Development
  :
  Contribute to the development and enhancement of software systems throughout the software lifecycle, from design to deployment, following best practices and industry standards.
• System & Software Design
  :
  Assist in the design and documentation of software and system architectures, ensuring that solutions are scalable, reliable, and meet the Open University’s needs.
• Program & Debug Software
  :
  Write, test, and maintain high‑quality code with accompanying test scripts and documentation, ensuring that it is well‑structured, efficient, and aligns with project requirements.
• Assist with System Integration
  :
  Support the integration of various software components and systems, ensuring seamless interoperability and functionality.
• Lead Testing Efforts
  :
  Design and execute test plans to validate software quality, ensuring functionality, performance, and security requirements are met.
• Support Software Configuration Management
  :
  Manage software configuration and version control, ensuring changes are tracked, documented, and easily retrievable.
• Data Modelling & Database Design
  :
  Contribute to data modelling and assist with database design to support application development and data integrity.
• User Experience & Analysis
  :
  Support user experience design and analysis to ensure that the software solutions are user‑friendly and meet stakeholder expectations.
• Monitor Emerging Technologies
  :
  Stay updated with emerging technologies and assess their potential impact on current and future projects.
• Information Security & Quality Assurance
  :
  Implement security measures and contribute to quality assurance processes to maintain the integrity and reliability of software systems.
• Contribute to Services, Products & Requirements Analysis
  :
  Engage in business analysis to understand stakeholder needs and help define and document technical requirements.
• Evaluate Feasibility
  :
  Conduct feasibility assessments for proposed solutions to determine their technical viability and alignment with project goals.
• Non-functional Testing
  :
  Perform non-functional testing to ensure systems meet performance, scalability, and security standards.
• Support Application & System Operations
  :
  Provide support for application and system operations, assisting in incident management, including out-of-hours as required, and ensuring smooth functioning of services.
• Availability & Capacity Planning
  :
  Contribute to managing system availability and capacity, ensuring that services are reliable and scalable to meet current and future needs.
• Problem Management
  :
  Participate in problem management processes, helping to identify and resolve underlying issues to improve system stability.

Key Skills and Experience

• Proven Software Development Experience
  :
  At least 2 years’ experience in a software development role.
• Software Development Lifecycle
  :
  Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle, including design, development, testing, and deployment.
• Software Design and Development
  :
  Strong skills in designing and developing software solutions that are scalable and efficient.
• Advanced Testing Knowledge
  :
  Proficient in functional and non-functional testing to…