The Open University
Software Engineer
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Software Engineer at The Open University
Are you passionate about building high-quality software and keen to grow your engineering career in a modern, cloud-first environment? Join The Open University as a Software Engineer and help deliver innovative, scalable digital services that make a real impact on students and staff.
About the Role
We are recruiting multiple Software Engineers across a range of Digital Services teams. These roles sit within agile, product-focused environments delivering business-critical digital services that support students, staff, and the wider University.
As a Software Engineer (known internally as an Engineer) at The Open University, you will contribute to the design, development, and support of high-quality software solutions, working across the full software development lifecycle, from requirements analysis and system design through to coding, testing, and deployment.
These positions will work within product teams delivering and evolving user-facing services, building scalable, secure, and user-centred applications.
Engineers will work with modern engineering practices, contributing to CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, cloud-based delivery, and DevOps ways of working. You will gain experience working with a diverse technology stack, including cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure and AWS, and will be supported in developing your technical capability and service ownership over time.
Engineers within Digital Services work across a modern technology landscape that includes .NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, REST APIs, React, Next.js, design systems and reusable component development, observability and OpenTelemetry, Microsoft Azure, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and Headless CMS platforms. The technologies used will vary across teams and services, providing opportunities to apply existing expertise while working with a broad range of modern engineering practices.
In addition to building new functionality, you will support the services you develop, contributing to application monitoring, incident management, and ongoing improvements to reliability and performance.
Candidates are not expected to have experience across all technical areas. The specific technologies, team context, and areas of focus will be discussed during the recruitment process, alongside opportunities for learning and professional growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Participate in Software Development: Contribute to the development and enhancement of software systems throughout the software lifecycle, from design to deployment, following best practices and industry standards.
- System & Software Design: Assist in the design and documentation of software components and systems, working within established architectural patterns and standards, ensuring that solutions are scalable, reliable, and meet The Open University needs.
- Program & Debug Software: Write, test, and maintain high-quality code with accompanying test scripts and documentation, ensuring that it is well-structured, efficient, and aligns with project requirements.
- Assist with System Integration: Support the integration of various software components and systems, ensuring seamless interoperability and functionality.
- Contribute to Testing Activities: Contribute to test design and execution to validate software quality, ensuring functionality, performance, and security requirements are met.
- Support Software Configuration Management: Manage software configuration and version control, ensuring that changes are tracked, documented, and easily retrievable.
- Data Modelling & Database Design: Contribute to data modelling and assist with database design to support application development and data integrity.
- User Experience & Analysis: Support user experience design and analysis to ensure that the software solutions are user-friendly and meet stakeholder expectations.
- Monitor Emerging Technologies: Stay updated with emerging technologies and assess their potential impact on current and future projects.
- Information Security & Quality Assurance: Implement security measures and contribute to quality assurance processes to maintain the integrity and reliability of software systems.
- Contribute to Services, Products & Requirements Analysis: Engage in business analysis to understand stakeholder needs and help define and document technical requirements.
- Evaluate Feasibility: Conduct feasibility assessments for proposed solutions to determine their technical viability and alignment with project goals.
- Non-functional Testing: Perform non-functional testing to ensure systems meet performance, scalability, and security standards.
- Support Application & System Operations: Provide support for application and system operations, assisting in incident management, including on-call rotas and out-of-hours as required, and ensuring smooth functioning of services.
- Availability & Capacity Planning: Contribute to managing system availability and capacity, ensuring that services are reliable and scalable to meet current and future needs.
- Problem Management: Participate in problem management activities, including contributing to root-cause analysis, post-incident reviews, and follow-up actions to improve system stability and resilience.
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About You
Key Skills and Experience:
- Software Development Lifecycle: Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle, including design, development, testing, and deployment.
- Software Design & Development: Strong skills in designing and developing software solutions that are scalable and efficient.
- Advanced Testing Knowledge: Proficient in functional and non-functional testing to ensure the delivery of high-quality software products.
- Data Modelling & User Experience: Experience in data modelling and supporting user experience design to enhance software usability and effectiveness.
- Emerging Technology Awareness: Keen interest in exploring new technologies and their potential applications within the organisation.
- Security & Quality Focus: Understanding of information security and quality assurance practices to maintain the reliability and security of software solutions.
- Analysis & Requirements Management: Ability to analyse requirements and translate them into technical specifications.
- System Support & Operations: Basic experience in supporting application and system operations, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring system stability.
- Modern Engineering Practices & AI Enablement: Experience working in a modern engineering environment, applying practices such as automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, cloud-native development, and DevOps ways of working. Demonstrates effective use of AI-assisted development tools to enhance productivity, improve code quality, support testing and documentation, and enable faster delivery, while being mindful of governance, security, and cost considerations.
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Technology Stack:
Our engineering teams work across a modern technology ecosystem including:
- .NET Core and ASP.NET MVC
- REST APIs and integrations
- React and Next.js
- Design systems and reusable component development
- Observability, monitoring, and OpenTelemetry
- Microsoft Azure
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- Headless CMS platforms
Candidates are not expected to have experience across all technologies listed but should be able to demonstrate strong engineering fundamentals and an eagerness to learn new tools and approaches.
Behaviours:
- Problem Solver: You approach challenges with a logical and analytical mindset, finding effective solutions to complex problems.
- Collaborative: You work well in team environments, sharing knowledge and ideas, and contributing to collective success.
- Adaptable: You thrive in a dynamic work environment and are open to learning new skills and technologies.
- Detail-Oriented: You have a keen eye for detail, ensuring that your work is accurate, high-quality, and aligns with project goals.
- Curious & Innovative: You stay updated on the latest industry trends and are always looking for ways to incorporate new ideas and technologies into your work.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
Why Join The Open University?
At The Open University, we’re proud to be a leader in accessible education and digital innovation. This is your opportunity to build impactful digital services while developing your skills in a supportive, forward-thinking engineering environment.
Our benefits include:
- 33 days annual leave, on top of bank holidays and a three-day Christmas closure period.
- Access to a leading pension scheme for UK higher education with generous employer contributions.
- Staff Fee Waivers for OU study, meaning you could earn a degree for free.
- Hybrid working, with limited requirement to attend the office in-person, with agile working and family friendly policies.
- Discounts, wellbeing support, and development opportunities.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply now and help us build the digital services that power the future of learning at one of the UK’s most respected institutions.
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