Research Software Engineer - ATLAS
Research Software Engineer - ATLASMPLS Doctoral Training Centre, 1-4 Keble RoadThe Oxford Research Software Engineering Group (OxRSE - ) is looking to recruit a Research Software Engineer (RSE) to join our team. We work with other research groups across the University of Oxford to create, improve and maintain software used for scientific research and translational projects, as well as providing consulting and training to other researchers on best practices in software development and reproducible research. This post is part of OxRSE's embedded RSE group within the Department of Physics.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team and work as an RSE on world-leading and impactful projects. For the first two years, the RSE will work exclusively in the Department of Physics, on the expansion of the ATLAS project to include new scientific capability related to the Breakthrough Listen project. ATLAS is an asteroid impact early warning system developed by the University of Hawaii and funded by NASA.
It consists of five telescope units (2 in Hawaii and 1 each in Chile, South Africa and Tenerife), which automatically scans the whole sky several times every night, looking for moving and transient objects. The University of Oxford is a key partner in the data management, data processing, and public data availability.
The project has become the leading "all-sky every night" transient and a collaboration with the SETI Institute and Breakthrough Listen at Oxford has resulted in the construction of the sixth ATLAS unit at the HAT Creek Radio Observatory in California, USA. This will give further longitude coverage and weather redundancy and will also provide a fast readout capability for technosignature searches.
The RSE will work on integrating the HCRO site data into the ATLAS network and develop software to enable data access and analysis for technosignatures.
We offer
RSEs the potential to advance their career and to make a significant contribution to the development of good software practices at a world-leading university. The successful candidate will, following the initial two year period, have the opportunity to work on a variety of research projects across the Physics subject area and the broader University of Oxford. They will also have the opportunity to deliver workshops and training in software development best practices, and further develop their own technical and research skills as well as those outside of software development, such as project management and consultancy.
We are looking for candidates who hold a doctoral degree (or are close to completion, i.e., thesis submitted) with a significant software development component. We will also consider candidates without a doctoral degree but with equivalent experience of software development in a research environment. Candidates must be able to collaborate effectively with other researchers to design and implement reliable and maintainable software solutions to scientific questions and must be able to rapidly acquire skills in new programming languages, libraries and technologies. The successful candidate will have substantial experience, and proven efficiency across the majority of: Python and web frameworks (especially Django) programming; REST API development; Linux and shell scripting; implementation, deployment and management of large (multi-billion row) relational databases.
This post is offered as an open-ended position subject to external funding. It is full time, but flexible options will be considered (e.g., part-time, job share).Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application. Your supporting statement must utilise the provided form. You will also be asked to provide a sample of your software engineering work which demonstrates your approach.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 23rd October 2026.For further information, please contact Kaustubh Rajwade at kaustubh.rajwade@dtc.ox.ac.uk. Contact Person : Daniel BlancheVacancy ID : 188929Contact Phone : Closing Date & Time : 23-Oct-2026 12:00Pay Scale : RESEARCH GRADE 7Contact Email : daniel.blanche@dtc.ox.ac.uk