The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Are you a skilled software engineer who loves solving complex integration challenges and building seamless system architectures? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as a Senior Software Engineer and lead the development of our core interoperability infrastructure.

You will join the AMRC at the University of Sheffield, as part of a growing interoperability team currently funded by a UKRI Future Leadership Fellow. We are tackling critical system interoperability barriers preventing organisations from leveraging leading-edge technology, such as digital twins and AI, by unifying the current siloed infrastructures. While the wider project focuses on accelerating industrial interoperability approaches, this role is dedicated entirely to the core software infrastructure that underpins it.

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will lead the development of robust, cross-cutting software architectures that allow disparate systems, datasets, and platforms to communicate seamlessly. With 2-3 years of software engineering experience, you will collaborate with industry partners, and end-user stakeholders to build the integration layers, APIs, and data pipelines necessary to deliver structured, reusable data outputs.

Please submit a CV and cover letter. In your cover letter, please include:

1. A link to or description of a software system or integration you have architected (e.g., a technical design prose, a GitHub repository with clear documentation, or explained API specification).

2. A brief account of a specific challenge you faced when integrating two or more disparate systems, including the technical approach you took and how you overcame it.

3. A short description of a cross-functional collaboration where you translated connectivity or data requirements from non-technical stakeholders into a working technical solution.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement software pipelines, APIs and middleware to ensure seamless communication between disparate systems, databases, and research tools.

• Build and manage data pipelines and orchestration layers (e.g. containerisation and microservices) that govern how information moves between systems, ensuring reliability and data integrity.

• Architect pragmatic solutions to connect and extract data from legacy manufacturing systems, enabling their transformation into a modern digital ecosystem.

• Evaluate existing infrastructure and recommend architectural improvements, protocols, and communication standards (e.g., REST, MQTT, GraphQL, SPARQL).

• Write clean, maintainable, and scalable software solutions to support integration projects, transitioning proof-of-concept scripts into robust backend services, including management of open-source repositories.

• Champion modern software engineering practices within the team, including version control, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Produce detailed and accurate technical documentation, including system architecture diagrams, API specifications, and data flow maps.

• Work closely with project engineers, researchers, and shop floor staff to understand their workflows and translate their connectivity needs into technical requirements.

• Lead technical project meetings and maintain strong communication channels with collaborators and partners.

• Make ethical and sustainable technical decisions, embedding the organisation's sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

We are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities which benefit the individual and University.

Next steps in the recruitment process

The selection process will consist of an in-person interview at Factory 2050, Sheffield consisting of: a short presentation from applicants, a series of questions from a panel, followed by a tour around the facility. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. Contact Jonathan Eyre if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways / Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

  • access to menopause support in the workplace

  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment

  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Criminal record

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page.

Baseline personnel security standard 

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.