Salary: £39,748 to £44,166 per annum (dependent on skills and experience). A Specialist Allowance of up to £4000 per annum is also available for this role.
Benefits: 30 days holiday + 10.5 bank holidays + defined average salary pension
Contract Type: Open-ended (permanent)
Location: Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, WA4 4AD
Hours: Full Time or Part time minimum 30 hours per week
Closing date for applications is Sunday 3rd September 2023
Come and do the kind of computing that got you into technology in the first place. Work with cutting-edge tech and world-leading scientists and engineers. And harness the power of some of the country's most advances supercomputers to tackle work that improves daily life in the UK and far beyond.
STFC Scientific Computing provides large-scale computing facilities and data services at Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. The expertise Scientific Computing brings in scientific software, and data and computation infrastructure, underpins the innovative science across STFC and UKRI. We are seeking computing engineers who would like to join the team to deliver our advanced computing to scientific research.
About the Role
We have an opportunity for a Computational/Senior Computational Scientist (based on qualifications and experience) to join the Computational Biology group at STFC. The group is focused on developing and applying new methods for understanding complex phenomena within the life sciences field. We are particularly interested in computationally challenging problems, and the development and application of high-performance computing and data intensive computing methods to understand them.
The new role will initially focus on establishing the accessible regimes for biomolecular simulation with exascale computing. Work will focus on building sets of simulations that form benchmark suites to test for scientific application, performance and energy consumption. Testing will be performed on several hardware platforms at Tier1 (ARCHER2) and Tier2 regional supercomputers in addition to some novel hardware test-beds, which will require some software porting. We expect that beyond this initial one-year project, the role will naturally progress towards working on projects within our computational biology team, or elsewhere in the department, ranging from taking on new scientific research problems to developing cutting-edge research software.
Responsibilities will include:
Using simulation and modelling tools and techniques to understand natural phenomena.
Software development applied to the development of new tools and libraries for the purpose of scientific research.
Applying domain knowledge to construct simulation models that will form benchmarks across a wide range of biomolecular simulation software.
Representing the project at conferences, workshops and project meetings.
Crafting high-quality reports detailing how work has been carried out and how technologies operate.
Meeting and liaising with the wider biomolecular simulation community to understand requirements and to report on the project.
Person Specification:
Essential
Postgraduate degree (PhD, etc) in a relevant STEM subject, or equivalent experience.
Demonstrable experience either: undertaking research using biomolecular simulation technologies; or developing new software tools/methodologies for research in the life sciences field (preferably in biomolecular simulation)
Proven experience and competence with at least one software development language
An understanding of (or willingness to learn) the application of software development tools and practices such as version control, unit testing, code review, continuous integration, and containerisation
An understanding of the general workflow of setting up, carrying out and analysing biomolecular simulations
Flexibility to travel to partner sites (in UK) and present at meetings and workshops (day and occasionally extended trips)
Employee Benefits
We are offering an open ended role with a whole host of benefits including:
30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
Flexible working hours.
An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
Employee shopping/travel discounts.
Excellent learning and development opportunities.
We are committed to sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all, to help us achieve the highest possible standards in our work and organisation together. In this regard, we encourage applications from under-represented groups.
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
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.
We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
