Software Developers for Cloud-based Linux Engineering Systems Industrial Placement
| Posting date: | 02 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £24,961 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 October 2025 |
| Location: | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | STFC |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 1307 |
Summary
Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Salary: £24,961 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed-Term (12 months)
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
Start Date: September 2026
Closing Date: Sunday, 19 October 2025
Interview Date: December 2025 / January 2026
About the Role
Are you curious about computing beyond apps? Do you enjoy coding and want to expand your skills into cloud-based systems for high-performance engineering software?
We’re offering an exciting opportunity for a software developer to join our team in Oxfordshire. You’ll work alongside a small, dedicated group supporting Linux engineering systems in the cloud for a community of over 650 universities. This placement will allow you to broaden your skill set beyond conventional coding and explore the configuration of advanced cloud-based systems using DevOps principles.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop configuration management code for automated deployment of Linux virtual machines
- Customise and configure virtual private clouds, elastic IPs, and mass deployment of machine instances
- Collaborate with CAD software support engineers to meet system requirements
Identify and resolve system issues to maintain performance and reliability
- Optimise system performance through proactive monitoring and analysis
- Stay up to date with industry trends and technologies to keep systems innovative
Person Specification
Essential Criteria (assessed via shortlisting and/or interview):
✔Currently enrolled on an undergraduate degree and returning to complete your studies after the placement (S)
✔Required or have requested to undertake an industrial placement year (S)
✔Eligible to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S)
✔Available to start in summer 2026 (S)
✔Minimum of three A-levels at grade C or above, including Mathematics or equivalent qualifications (S)
✔Good knowledge of Linux computing (S&I)
✔Proven programming ability in procedural and scripting languages (S&I)
✔Experience with virtualisation and understanding of virtualisation principles (S&I)
✔Logical approach to software debugging and interest in cloud-based system architecture (S&I)
✔Conscientious, reliable, and able to communicate technical information clearly in English (S&I)
✔Submit a credible application that highlights relevant skills and project work
To view the full job description and explore our employee benefits, please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected to our careers site.
Employee Benefits
✔30 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days
✔Flexible working hours
✔Defined average salary pension scheme
✔Free parking and accessible public transport links
✔Excellent learning and development opportunities
✔Cycle to work scheme
More about our benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/
Application Guidance
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based on how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Why Join Us?
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!
Salary: £24,961 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed-Term (12 months)
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
Start Date: September 2026
Closing Date: Sunday, 19 October 2025
Interview Date: December 2025 / January 2026
About the Role
Are you curious about computing beyond apps? Do you enjoy coding and want to expand your skills into cloud-based systems for high-performance engineering software?
We’re offering an exciting opportunity for a software developer to join our team in Oxfordshire. You’ll work alongside a small, dedicated group supporting Linux engineering systems in the cloud for a community of over 650 universities. This placement will allow you to broaden your skill set beyond conventional coding and explore the configuration of advanced cloud-based systems using DevOps principles.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop configuration management code for automated deployment of Linux virtual machines
- Customise and configure virtual private clouds, elastic IPs, and mass deployment of machine instances
- Collaborate with CAD software support engineers to meet system requirements
Identify and resolve system issues to maintain performance and reliability
- Optimise system performance through proactive monitoring and analysis
- Stay up to date with industry trends and technologies to keep systems innovative
Person Specification
Essential Criteria (assessed via shortlisting and/or interview):
✔Currently enrolled on an undergraduate degree and returning to complete your studies after the placement (S)
✔Required or have requested to undertake an industrial placement year (S)
✔Eligible to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S)
✔Available to start in summer 2026 (S)
✔Minimum of three A-levels at grade C or above, including Mathematics or equivalent qualifications (S)
✔Good knowledge of Linux computing (S&I)
✔Proven programming ability in procedural and scripting languages (S&I)
✔Experience with virtualisation and understanding of virtualisation principles (S&I)
✔Logical approach to software debugging and interest in cloud-based system architecture (S&I)
✔Conscientious, reliable, and able to communicate technical information clearly in English (S&I)
✔Submit a credible application that highlights relevant skills and project work
To view the full job description and explore our employee benefits, please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected to our careers site.
Employee Benefits
✔30 days annual leave plus 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days
✔Flexible working hours
✔Defined average salary pension scheme
✔Free parking and accessible public transport links
✔Excellent learning and development opportunities
✔Cycle to work scheme
More about our benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/
Application Guidance
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based on how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Why Join Us?
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.