UK Data Archive
The UK Data Archive is the lead partner of the UK Data Service, which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to meet the data needs of researchers, students and teachers from all sectors, including academia, central and local government, charities and foundations, independent research centres, think tanks, and business consultants and the commercial sector. Data is the heart of our business, and we hold the largest collection of social science survey data in the UK.
As we look towards deeper integration with European and North American infrastructures, we are increasingly working with different datasets from other sectors like Energy and deploying cloud-based infrastructures and Privacy Enhancing Technologies. Our strategy in the next three to five years is to be a world-class repository for cross-disciplinary data that allows customers to find and analyse the highest quality data both securely and quickly.
We are looking for someone to work in a small, motivated, multi-disciplinary team who isn’t afraid to challenge conventional wisdom and think differently about how we do things.
Duties of the Role
The Senior Developer (SD) is responsible for expanding and optimizing our data and data pipeline architecture, as well as optimizing data flow and collection. The post holder will liaise with software developers, data modelers and the wider business to optimize and re-design our department’s data architecture to support our next generation of products and data initiatives.
You will have line management responsibility for the Data Engineers working within the team and additionally play a pivotal role in supervising, mentoring and supporting these Data Engineers. This would include ensuring adherence to our ISO27001 SDLC procedures.
Finally, you will represent the UKDS at National, European and International levels forging collaborations on mutually beneficial projects.
A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found within the job pack.
Qualifications and Skills required
The ideal candidate might be an experienced data pipeline builder and data wrangler who enjoys optimizing data systems and also building them from the ground up.
The data we create, curate and disseminate includes tens of thousands of datasets in many formats including SPSS, STATA, CSV, XML and graph-based RDF data. You will have data skills including an understanding of statistical disclosure control and you will be highly experienced in cloud technologies, ideally AWS. Experience or a keen interest in machine learning / artificial intelligence would be beneficial skills as would UI skills such as React.js.
Much of our data is sensitive and so you will also have an appreciation of data security issues and are familiar with developing software within a Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
This post is fixed term until 31/03/2025 due to short term funding. Whilst this a full-time post (36 hours per week), we will also welcome part-time applications from anyone who can work a minimum of 0.8 FTE.
This post involves access to Government systems, information or data and will be subject to the staff vetting process. Further information can be found in the job pack.
At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.
To support this commitment we have our Global Forum, a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based Faith Centre, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives. For more information see: https://www.essex.ac.uk/life/student-facilities/religion-and-faith
Please see the attached job pack, which contains a full job description and person specification, which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role plus more information relating to the post. We recommend you read this information carefully before making an application. Applications should be made on-line, but if you would like advice or help in making an application, or need information in a different format, please email the Resourcing Team (resourcing@essex.ac.uk).
*More information: Working at the University
