Life at Earlham Institute
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Applications are invited for a Research Software Engineer (SC6) or Senior Research Software Engineer (SC5) to join Dr Rahuman Sheriff's AI integrated Digital Twins Group in the Research Faculty of the Earlham Institute, based in Norwich, UK.
Background
The group develops systems-biology models and biological Digital Twins that combine mechanistic modelling, AI/ML and high-dimensional biological data. These approaches require robust software capable of connecting heterogeneous models and datasets with simulation, AI model training and inference, optimisation, model serving and scalable computing.
The position is core funded and will work across the group's research programme while collaborating with EI's research e-infrastructure and computational and biological research teams. A key component will be supporting the maintenance and continued development of BioModels and extending its infrastructure for emerging computational modelling, AI/ML and Digital Twin use cases.
The role
We are seeking a research-focused software engineer with a strong interest in AI/ML to design and build reusable infrastructure for biological Digital Twins. You will connect mechanistic simulators, AI/ML models, omics and multimodal datasets, inference and optimisation tools, and HPC/GPU/cloud resources into robust and reproducible scientific workflows.
This is a RSE position with substantial scope for hands-on AI/ML model implementation and engineering.
The work will include software architecture, Python libraries and APIs, implementation of AI/ML training and inference pipelines, model serving, model/data interfaces, workflow execution, provenance and versioning, containers, automated testing and CI/CD, performance optimisation and open-source releases.
You will work directly with scientists developing new AI/ML and hybrid mechanistic-AI methods and help turn research prototypes into reliable, scalable tools.
You will also contribute to the engineering and operation of BioModels repository, maintaining existing services while developing new APIs and execution workflows, including secure and reproducible online execution of computational and AI/ML models using cloud, HPC and GPU resources.
The ideal candidate
You will have strong software engineering and Python skills, experience building complex scientific, AI or data-intensive software, and a good understanding of professional development practices including testing, version control and documentation.
Hands-on experience with ML frameworks, AI model implementation, HPC/GPU environments, cloud deployment, model serving, scientific modelling, workflow systems or FAIR model/data standards would be advantageous. Experience maintaining a production scientific platform or repository would also be valuable.
Appointment will be made at SC6 or SC5 according to experience and evidence against the published criteria. SC5 candidates will additionally demonstrate ownership of software architecture and technical roadmaps, leadership of engineering standards and mentoring or coordination of other developers/researchers.
Additional information
- This is a full-time post for a contract of 2 years, with the possibility for extension depending on funding.
- Salary on appointment will be within the range £39,000 to £46,500 per annum depending on qualifications and experience for the SC6 level post, and £47,450 to £52,560 per annum for candidates who meet the SC5 level criteria.
- Depending on the level of the appointment, this role may not meet the full salary requirements set by UKVI to allow for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. However, some individuals may still be eligible for visa sponsorship depending on their personal circumstances.
- If you require visa sponsorship, please visit the GOV.uk website to find out if you qualify before applying. Please note, the occupation code for this role is 2134, which is not on the immigration salary list.
- As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.
- The closing date for applications will be 2 December 2026.
