Software Engineer; Python and AI Solutions

Permanent, full time.

Full time hours at the University are 35 per week with the standard working pattern Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00, with some flexibility in start/finish times.

Chief Operating Officer, Technology.

Your line manager will be Tony Phillips, Solutions Architecture and Development Manager.

Your time will be split between the Horizons, Reading office and your home*. The exact split of days/hours is negotiable but must include a minimum of two working days each week in Horizons.
* Working from home is only possible if your environment is suitable – please see the ‘Working from home’ section on our Careers Site for further information.

As the Software Engineer, you will design, develop, test, and maintain software applications and services that support organisational objectives. You will focus on leveraging modern Python development practices and Artificial Intelligence technologies, including Microsoft Copilot and Generative AI tools, to improve business processes, enhance user experiences, and accelerate software delivery.

You’ll work collaboratively with stakeholders, technical teams, and business users to identify opportunities for automation, intelligent solutions, and digital transformation initiatives.

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain robust software applications using Python and related technologies.

• Produce high-quality, secure, and maintainable code following agreed development standards.

• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, and support.

• Develop APIs, integrations, and backend services to support business applications.

• Design and implement AI-enabled solutions that deliver measurable business value.

• Evaluate and integrate Generative AI technologies, including Microsoft Copilot and AI-assisted development tools.

• Develop and maintain AI-powered workflows, automation solutions, and intelligent applications.

• Ensure AI implementations align with governance, security, privacy, and ethical standards.

• Work closely with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.

• Contribute to technical design discussions and architectural decisions.

• Provide technical advice and guidance on software engineering and AI adoption opportunities.

• Perform code reviews and contribute to development best practices.

• Partner with business stakeholders through Functional and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate requirements and ensure high-quality releases.

• Create and maintain technical documentation.

• Design and execute automated test suites within robust CI/CD pipelines to ensure rapid, reliable software delivery.

• Monitor application performance and resolve issues in a timely manner.

• Continuously evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements.

• Ensure solutions comply with organisational security policies and data protection requirements.

• Implement secure coding practices and support vulnerability remediation activities.

• Contribute to governance processes relating to AI usage and software development.

• Undertake any other related duties commensurate with the scope and level of the role.

• Some out of hours work may be required on occasion to support upgrades/changes.

Line management responsibilities:
None.

Budget responsibility:
None.

In this role you will liaise with the following:
All staff…