Software Engineer – Web Application Developer

Software Engineer – Web Application Developer

Website DiamondLightSou Diamond Light Source

Business Area: Software, Science
Full Time Salary: £33,297 to £39,172 per annum (Discretionary range to £45,048)
Post Type: Full time / Fixed term
Term: 3 years
Closing Date: 25/08/2019
Ref No: 10205

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Join our Information Management Team to develop and support cutting-edge scientific software as part of an international research collaboration.

Your new role

Effective information management is essential for Diamond to conduct its critical work; providing scientists the tools to turn theoretical science into practical and often life-changing discoveries. A critical component of Diamond’s software architecture is its Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The LIMS is a web application that captures the full lifecycle of experiments at Diamond. The LIMS enables scientists from all over the world to plan and prepare their experiments, facilitates integration and interoperability with data analysis tools and provides visualisation of experimental activity and results.

To continue our innovative approach to information management, we are looking to recruit a Software Engineer to join the team developing and supporting the web based LIMS application for Macromolecular Crystallography (MX). The web application needs extending to support emerging requirements to streamline operations and support automated data collections. The software stack is also undergoing a technical refresh to take advantage of modern JavaScript libraries and frameworks. This would be an ideal opportunity for you to grow and develop with a world leading science facility, or utilise the skills and experience you already have in this rewarding role.

Your new team

As a member of the Data Analysis Software Group you will be working alongside a bright and motivated team in an open and collaborative environment. You will be required to interact with beamline scientists and translate their specifications for scientific capabilities into software requirements. You will also participate in international collaborations within this domain, sharing best practice and supporting other facilities and synchrotrons within the collaboration.

What you’ll need to succeed

Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate experience in the full Software Development Lifecycle. The candidate must be proficient in JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Experience with recent JavaScript libraries and frameworks (Vue.js, React.js) would be desirable. A degree level qualification in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science or equivalent experience is essential. An interest in supporting scientific stakeholders coupled with strong analytical and communication skills is also essential.

About Macromolecular Crystallography at Diamond

Diamond provides a range of techniques for academic and industrial researchers studying the machines of life. As one of those techniques, Macromolecular Crystallography (MX) reveals the shape and arrangement of biological molecules at atomic resolution, knowledge of which provides a highly accurate insight into function. This can be combined with complementary information from many other techniques available at Diamond alongside lab based investigations to reveal the broader picture of molecular interactions and their effects.

MX1 is a core activity at Diamond with seven beamlines dedicated to the technique alongside the XFEL Hub, Membrane Protein Laboratory and XChem fragment screening facility for the extensive UK structural biology community as well as researchers in Europe and beyond. The staff of the MX group are recognised as innovators in MX, moving the goalposts of what is feasible for ‘conventional’ MX as well as developing techniques and beamlines that transform MX to the next level. The group takes a long-term approach to enabling new experiments and methodologies at its suite of beamlines to meet the current and future demands of an exacting community of scientists. One of these enabling areas is the streaming of data management with a LIMS system to facilitate automation, improve the efficiency of our instruments, reduce delivery time and ultimately lead to FAIR2 data in accordance with the goals of the European Open Science Cloud initiatives.

[1] https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Instruments/Mx.html

[2] https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Users/Policy-Documents/Policies/Experimental-Data-Management-Pol.html

Other information

Where relevant, and possible for the role, we will consider flexible working arrangements and secondment opportunities.

Diamond attract talented individuals from around the world and currently employ 39 different nationalities.  Reflecting trends in our sector we employ more men than women (78% men and 22% women as at 5 April 2019). Therefore, in accordance with law and good practice, we particularly welcome applications from suitably qualified women.

If you are disabled and would like to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please let us know via the online application process.

Diamond are members of the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion and we have achieved the Athena SWAN Bronze award and Disability Confident Level One.