Senior Research Software Engineer

We are seeking an experienced Research Software Engineer (RSE) with a passion for research and demonstrable experience in managing research data, whether in academic or government contexts. The ideal candidate is proactive, collaborative, and ready to take technical responsibility across the entire project lifecycle—from requirements gathering to costing, design, and delivery. Your role will include:

• Designing, developing, and implementing research software solutions that are aligned to best practices in FAIR, CARE, and responsible design principles.
• Leading the technical delivery of projects, ensuring high standards are maintained across every stage of the process.
• Working closely with researchers from a variety of fields, helping them turn research ideas into reality through robust and scalable software solutions.
• Mentoring less experienced engineers, fostering a supportive and knowledge-sharing team culture.

We welcome candidates with full-stack experience, but also encourage applications from those specializing in specific areas like data science, repository development, spatial computing, front-end development, machine learning, or DevOps.

• Build from the Ground Up: Work closely with the Principal RSE to establish a new team, shaping everything from our software development lifecycle to data management workflows.
• Diverse Project Work: Lead on technical aspects across a broad spectrum of research disciplines, acting as a key contributor to multiple high-impact projects.
• Mentorship and Collaboration: Guide and mentor team members while providing expert support to academic colleagues, fostering a collaborative and research-focused environment.
• National Impact: Develop and support nationally and internationally significant projects in the humanities and social sciences (HASS), playing a critical role in the development of cutting-edge research software.
• Future-Focused: Contribute to skills and development training programs, ensuring Australian HASS is optimized for the next decade.
• Innovation: Help drive the advancement of national research infrastructure and methodologies.

The ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) is one of six Colleges at ANU. The College, which is structured into two main research schools, offers degrees in more than 20 discipline areas and excels in research across the creative arts, humanities and social sciences. The College has a substantial international research presence and is a major source of national policy advice. Our academic staff are internationally recognised for their research, and 57 are members of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, the Academy of the Social Sciences of Australia, or both. We also host 13 Australian Research Council Future Fellows and three ARC Laureates. A hub of vibrant activity, we host more than 270 lectures, concerts and exhibitions each year, most of which are open to the public. Our students, staff and graduates come from more than 60 nations, bringing a diversity of perspective to campus life.

For further information please contact, Professor James Smithies at E: James.Smithies@anu.edu.au

The University actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information on employment opportunities, contact our Indigenous Employment Consultant on indigenous.employment@anu.edu.au 

Application information

In order to apply for this role please make sure that you upload the following documents:

• A statement addressing the selection criteria.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) which includes the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees you can complete these online when prompted in the application form.
• Other documents, if required.

Applications which do not address the selection criteria may not be considered for the position.

Please note: The successful candidate must have rights to live and work in this country and will be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process. An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.