Aurora Energy Research
Principal Data Platforms Software Engineer
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Founding Software Engineer (Data Platforms) – Oxford, UK
Department
Tech – AI and Data Engineering
Location
Oxford, UK
Description
Aurora supports governments, investors, and utilities in making billion-dollar decisions for the transition to net-zero. Based in Oxford, you’ll contribute to a fast-growing engineering team building cloud-based software that tracks and models global power grids.
Our solutions generate some of the most data-intensive outputs in the energy sector—half-hourly, generator-level simulations spanning 30-year horizons. As a Founding Software Engineer on our Data Platforms team, you’ll design and own the infrastructure ensuring this data is fast, reliable, and actionable. Join a modest but high-impact engineering team with multi-day release cycles that demands exceptional problem-solving, teamwork, and the ability to deliver end-to-end projects.
Flexibility matters: Aurora is open to candidates at various experience levels—your role and compensation will reflect it.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead a team of Software Engineers
- Develop high-uptime platforms handling 100TB–1PB-scale data with speed and reliability
- Build tools and platforms that enable internal teams (engineers, modellers, analysts) to operate efficiently
- Shape the future of the Data Platforms team, defining its technical direction, culture, and development practices
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Required Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Core Requirements
- 10+ years of backend system development, with a track record of implementing mission-critical solutions
- Thrives in fast-paced, high-ownership environments with rapid iteration
- Proficient in Python (or another primary language)
- Strong testing and automation discipline (TDD, CI/CD, robust validation)
- Proven ability to leverage AI tools judiciously for coding/engineering tasks
- Experience managing teams of 5+ engineers
- Highly collaborative yet proactive—elevates teammates without low-ego heroics
- Passionate about transforming energy infrastructure and technological approaches to climate solutions
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Experience in distributed systems at scale (persistence, concurrency, resilience)
- Direct experience creating data platforms (including scheduling, data stream processing, storage systems, compute layers)
- Technologies: Python, lakehouse architectures, Terraform, or distributed systems on AWS
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What We Offer
Aurora aims to:
- Hybrid working culture (flexible office/home arrangement, adjustable hours*—discussed in interviews)
- Private Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Lifestyle Support (e.g., parental leave, EAP)
- Salary-Exchange Pension Scheme
- Employee Benefits:
- Free flu vaccinations
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Local Oxford discounts
About Aurora
We are committed to inclusivity and equal opportunity: No employee or applicant will face discrimination based on age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, pregnancy, marriage, or sexual orientation.
How to Apply
To be considered, submit via the provided portal a CV, a concise personal summary, salary expectations, and your notice period (if applicable).
Note: Aurora cannot process applications via email, phone, or social media. Apply only through the official submission link.
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