Software Engineer; Development

Job Location:

Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Closing Date: 8 November 2026

Weekly

Working Hours:

37

Contract Type:
Permanent

Fixed Term

Contract:

End Date:
Not Applicable

Welsh Language:
Not Applicable

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part‑time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to You Tube by clicking this link).

Digital Services is at the heart of delivering life‑changing learning experiences that enrich society. We combine trusted design, data expertise, and cutting‑edge technology to support lifelong learning.

Our objectives are to:

• Enhance the student and staff experience through simple, evidence‑based solutions.
• Deliver value iteratively, securely, and at speed.
• Foster a vibrant, supportive workplace that embraces continuous learning and growth, empowering everyone to succeed.

As a service‑led institution, we are committed to simplifying and improving how we work by organizing ourselves around the services we provide. This enables us to design and deliver outstanding services effectively and efficiently.

With our ethos of being “open to people, places, methods, and ideas,” we proudly support students in every setting imaginable—from submarines to prisons, and everywhere in between. We take pride in enabling our academics to teach and our students to learn, no matter the circumstances.

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
  :
  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…