Research Software Engineer
| Posting date: | 10 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £27,208.00 to £134,598.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £27208.00 - £134598.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 March 2026 |
| Location: | Preston, PR2 9HT |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | C9435-26-0113 |
Summary
The post holder will be a core technical contributor within the research and data engineering function, responsible for building and maintaining secure software that enables federated health data analysis. This includes developing software connectors, cohort discovery tools, and OMOP-aligned analytical pipelines that operate within privacy-preserving frameworks such as DataSHIELD. The role will involve writing robust, production-ready code in R and Python, supporting secure execution of complex analytical workflows within air-gapped or highly regulated environments. The post holder will contribute to the technical implementation of agent-based and AI-enabled workflows, including the integration of Model Context Protocols to support safe interaction between AI tools and sensitive data. The post holder will be expected to work to high standards of software quality, security, and documentation, ensuring that all solutions are reproducible, auditable, and compliant with NHS information governance requirements. They will collaborate closely with researchers, clinicians, and digital teams, contributing technical expertise while operating within defined project priorities and governance frameworks.