Software Engineer; Development - Hybrid EdTech Projects

Are you passionate about building scalable, user-focused software that powers world-class digital learning?

Join The Open University as a Software Engineer (Development) and help shape the future of online education through innovative, secure, and high-performing applications.

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.

We’re looking for a motivated engineer with a solid foundation in software development and a passion for learning and innovation. If you enjoy solving complex problems, thrive in a collaborative environment, and are eager to grow your skills, this role offers the perfect opportunity to work on meaningful projects and advance your career.

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.

The Open University is an employer committed to the ongoing development of staff both through its own award-winning distance teaching and industry standard training programmes. As an organisation it promotes a healthy work life balance with a generous leave allowance, a Christmas closure period and flexible working. Our team work remotely and at the university main campus in Milton Keynes. You should be able to attend in-person meetings, on campus, when required.

• Participate in Software Development
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  Support the integration of various software components and systems, ensuring seamless interoperability and functionality.
• Lead Testing Efforts
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  Design and execute test plans to validate software quality, ensuring functionality, performance, and security requirements are met.
• Support Software Configuration Management
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  Manage software configuration and version control, ensuring that changes are tracked, documented, and easily retrievable.
• Data Modelling & Database Design
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  Contribute to data modelling and assist with database design to support application development and data integrity.
• User Experience & Analysis
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  Support user experience design and analysis to ensure that the software solutions are user-friendly and meet stakeholder expectations.
• Monitor Emerging Technologies
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  Stay updated with emerging technologies and assess their potential impact on current and future projects.
• Information Security & Quality Assurance
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  Implement security measures and contribute to quality assurance processes to maintain the integrity and reliability of software systems.
• Contribute to Services, Products & Requirements Analysis
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  Engage in business analysis to understand stakeholder needs and help define and document technical requirements.
• Evaluate Feasibility
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  Conduct feasibility assessments for proposed solutions to determine their technical viability and alignment with project goals.
• Non-functional Testing
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  Perform non-functional testing to…