Senior Software Engineer (Interoperability)

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:

• 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).

• 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.

• 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, Proven track record in designing and implementing interoperable software systems, APIs (e.g., REST, GraphQL, OpenAPI), message brokers, and robust data integration pipelines utilising standard data exchange formats (e.g. JSON, XML). Essential Interview / Application Advanced familiarity with reproducible software development, including rigorous testing (unit/integration), comprehensive documentation, CI/CD, and version control. Essential Interview / Application Solid practical skills in software architecture, system design, and database management. Essential Interview / Application Experience with containerisation and orchestration (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) for deploying and managing interoperable microservices, including proficiency in terminal scripting environments (e.g. Linux, Bash) and maintaining software in live production environments. Essential Interview / Application Understanding of security best practices for API and data pipeline design, including authentication, authorisation, and input validation.

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., 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., Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related area, coupled with 2-3 years of practical software engineering experience., Proficiency in one or more languages used in data integration and backend development (e.g., Python, Java, or equivalent), with a portfolio of relevant work developed collaboratively with source control (e.g. Git)., Ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment and collaborate with researchers to translate their requirements into scalable, interoperable software solutions., Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to write high-quality technical/API documentation and system architecture reports., Ability to work effectively as part of an agile team (e.g. scrum, kanban) with a demonstrated capacity to operate independently, alongside excellent time, project management, and collaborative skills., Experience working within manufacturing, engineering, or IoT sectors, or familiarity with industrial communication protocols (MQTT, OPC-UA)., Familiarity with semantic web technologies (RDF, SPARQL), linked data principles, or large language model (LLM) APIs and agentic frameworks for automated data integration.

• 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

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 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.