Software Engineer (Python and AI Solutions)
University of the Built Environment · Reading, United Kingdom · hybrid
JOB DESCRIPTIONEmployment status and working hoursPermanent, full time.
Full time hours at the University are 35 per week with the standard working pattern Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00, with some flexibility in start/finish times.
Organisation structureChief Operating Officer, Technology.
Your line manager will be Tony Phillips, Solutions Architecture and Development Manager.
Place of work flexibilityYour time will be split between the Horizons, Reading office and your home*. The exact split of days/hours is negotiable but must include a minimum of two working days each week in Horizons. *Working from home is only possible if your environment is suitable – please see the ‘Working from home’ section on our Careers Site for further information.
High level summary of job roleAs the Software Engineer, you will design, develop, test, and maintain software applications and services that support organisational objectives. You will focus on leveraging modern Python development practices and Artificial Intelligence technologies, including Microsoft Copilot and Generative AI tools, to improve business processes, enhance user experiences, and accelerate software delivery.
You’ll work collaboratively with stakeholders, technical teams, and business users to identify opportunities for automation, intelligent solutions, and digital transformation initiatives.
Specific job role accountabilities and responsibilitiesSoftware development- Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain robust software applications using Python and related technologies.
- Produce high-quality, secure, and maintainable code following agreed development standards.
- Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, and support.
- Develop APIs, integrations, and backend services to support business applications.
AI and automation- Design and implement AI-enabled solutions that deliver measurable business value.
- Evaluate and integrate Generative AI technologies, including Microsoft Copilot and AI-assisted development tools.
- Develop and maintain AI-powered workflows, automation solutions, and intelligent applications.
- Ensure AI implementations align with governance, security, privacy, and ethical standards.
Collaboration and stakeholder engagement- Work closely with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
- Contribute to technical design discussions and architectural decisions.
- Provide technical advice and guidance on software engineering and AI adoption opportunities.
Quality and continuous improvement- Perform code reviews and contribute to development best practices.
- Partner with business stakeholders through Functional and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate requirements and ensure high-quality releases.
- Create and maintain technical documentation.
- Design and execute automated test suites within robust CI/CD pipelines to ensure rapid, reliable software delivery.
- Monitor application performance and resolve issues in a timely manner.
- Continuously evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements.
Security and compliance- Ensure solutions comply with organisational security policies and data protection requirements.
- Implement secure coding practices and support vulnerability remediation activities.
- Contribute to governance processes relating to AI usage and software development.
Other duties- Undertake any other related duties commensurate with the scope and level of the role.
- Some out of hours work may be required on occasion to support upgrades/changes.
Other important features of the job roleLine management responsibilities: None.
Budget responsibility: None.
In this role you will liaise with the following: All staff groups including employees and Associate Lecturers, students, 3rd party suppliers, and contractors.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONE = Essential person requirement; D = Desirable person requirement
How the person requirement will be assessed:
A = Application; I = Interview; T = Test or other assessment
Please be aware that as part of safer recruitment and onboarding processes, we will seek original documentary evidence of the relevant academic and/or professional qualifications which you include within your job application. This is all part of our comprehensive pre-employment screening which also includes checking your identity, right to work, criminal record history (basic disclosure unless specified otherwise), and three years employment history. This is all part of our commitment to safeguarding our students. Keeping our students safe is a responsibility shared by everyone within the University.
Qualifications and trainingDegree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience (E, A).
Evidence of continuing professional development in software engineering, Python development, and/or AI/ML (E, A, I).
Previous experienceDesigning, developing and supporting enterprise software applications and services (E, A, I).
Developing, integrating and supporting AI-enabled solutions, including generative AI, machine learning or LLM-based services (E, A, I).
Developing solutions using Python and other relevant programming languages, frameworks and development tools (E, A, I).
Developing and consuming APIs, integrations & data services (E, A, I).
Working with cloud platforms (Azure preferred) and cloud-native application architectures (E, A, I).
Applying modern software engineering practices including source control, automated testing and CI/CD (E, A, I).
Translating user, business or operational requirements into technical solutions (E, A, I).
Troubleshooting, optimising and maintaining complex software systems in a production environment (D, A, I).
Behaviours and attitudesAlignment to the University’s core values and growth mindset approach, which reflect our culture. Refer to the specific behaviours within the Competency Framework (E, I) – summarised within the careers site.
Skills, knowledge, other requirementsStrong software engineering skills with the ability to produce secure, maintainable and scalable code (E, A, I).
Strong knowledge of Python and contemporary software development frameworks and tools (E, A, I).
Good understanding of application architecture, design patterns and software engineering best practices (D, A, I).
Knowledge of cloud technologies, API design, integration patterns and distributed systems (D, A, I).
Knowledge of AI, machine learning and generative AI concepts, including the practical application of LLM technologies (E, A, I).
Understanding of software security, data protection and accessibility requirements relevant to application development (E, A, I).
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate technical options and recommend appropriate solutions (D, A, I).
Effective communication and collaborative working skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences (D, A, I).
Digital skills confidence: We use MS Office which includes Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and several other systems/technology (E, I, T).
Commitment to delivering positive outcomes for our students regardless of your area of work within the University; we want our students to be successful (E, I).
You must be prepared to undertake mandatory online training should you be appointed. The University is regulated by the Office for Students and Ofsted, and we have specific requirements and expectations around safeguarding, Prevent, and anti-harassment and bullying. This is all part of our Competency Framework requirements (E, I).
PAY AND BENEFITSSalary: Salary range £40,000 to £45,000 per annum.
Holiday: 26 days paid holiday (rising to 28 with service) plus paid bank/public holidays plus up to five paid closure days (typically between Christmas and Ne