Senior Research Data Engineer
This full-time post is offered as a fixed term contract and is funded by South West SDE programme from July 2026 until June 2027. In line with the University’s fair employment for all principles,, any further funding opportunities identified will be reviewed and discussed during the contract.
The starting salary will be from £50,253 on Grade G, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.
This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.
We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.
The NHS South West Secure Data Environment (SWSDE) is part of a national programme developing secure infrastructure for research that requires access to sensitive health data. The SWSDE aims to provide faster, fairer and safer access to health and care data from the South West for research.
To achieve this, the programme will create a secure environment to bring together regional health and care data from primary care, acute, community, social care and multi-modal sources for research.
About you:
You are an experienced data engineer or data scientist with a strong foundation in building secure, scalable and well documented data pipelines. Ideally, you have experience working with clinical data (e.g. SNOMED, ICD, EHR systems) and an understanding of data standards such as OMOP.
You enjoy working collaboratively with clinicians, researchers, technical teams and external stakeholders. You can translate complex technical issues for different audiences and thrive in environments that require creative problem solving, high quality communication and the ability to balance competing priorities.
You are motivated by the opportunity to make a real contribution to the future of data driven healthcare research in the South West and nationally. You are proactive, detail oriented, and keen to help shape new processes as the programme scales.
About the role:
This role will join a SWSDE cluster homed at the University of Exeter supporting researchers to access the SWSDE for health data research projects.
The Senior Research Data Engineer will play a central part in shaping the technical foundations of the South West Secure Data Environment, SWSDE. You will work with NHS partners, researchers and technical colleagues (including at the Bristol-based BRIDE hub), to create high quality data pipelines and research ready datasets that enable safe and efficient use of health and care data. The role blends hands on engineering with technical leadership, and it offers the opportunity to contribute to a programme that is establishing new standards for secure data access across the region.
You will lead the transformation of a wide range of clinical datasets into structured, well documented formats that support future research. You will help ensure that all dataset development meets agreed standards for reproducibility, validation, information governance and auditability.
You will also act as a technical partner for SWSDE users. This includes working with clinicians and researchers to understand study requirements, helping shape data specifications, supporting dataset onboarding, and communicating technical considerations clearly and confidently. As a senior member of the team, you will contribute to national networks and best practice communities, mentor colleagues and support the development of processes and technical capabilities across the programme.
The role will include (expenses paid) travel across the South West region, including regular travel to Bristol and occasional travel for national events, including overnight trips.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.
About the Research Division and Research Software and Analytics team
The Research Division is a key enabler to the delivery of the University’s Strategy 2030, the Research and Impact Strategy, successful REF performances, and generating external research income, by:
- supporting the full research project lifecycle from inception to impact;
- offering research infrastructure support;
- providing leadership for the Exeter Doctoral College;
- delivering joint strategic, policy and planning support to the University and Faculties.
The division consist of four service groups: Doctoral College; Research Services; Research Software and Analytics; and Technical Strategy and Operations.
The Research Software and Analytics Group provides specialist skills to enable data-driven research across the university. The Group consists of Research Software Engineers, Research Data Scientists, and Research Data Stewards who together deliver bespoke research software, data science solutions and professional data management services to improve reproducibility and bolster impact. The SW SDE cluster is a team withing the RSA group.
Further information
Please contact Henry Ireland (Programme Director, SWSDE) with any questions about the role:
[email protected]
The University of Exeter is a proud supporter of the Technician Commitment, a charter focussing on the visibility, recognition and career development of our technical staff. For further information please see our website.
Research Division
The Research Division is a key enabler to the delivery of the University's Strategy 2030, the Research and Impact Strategy, successful REF performances, and generating external research income, by:
- supporting the full research project lifecycle from inception to impact
- offering research infrastructure support
- providing leadership for the Exeter Doctoral College
- delivering joint strategic, policy and planning support to the University and Faculties
The division consists of four service groups: Doctoral College; Research Services; Research Software and Analytics; and Technical Strategy and Operations.
Technical Strategy and Operations is a centralised team of research and teaching technical staff across the university delivering our institutional technical strategy working in specialist areas, leading on technical infrastructure, equipment and facilities. In addition, the group undertakes and support research and teaching and promoting compliance and best practice, in the labs, studios, workshops, and field.
We are proud signatories of the Technician Commitment, working to raise the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical careers.
Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future
We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit-based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.
You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
Why our colleagues love working here
- Flexible working opportunities and leading parental leave initiatives
- Generous annual leave (39-41 days including bank holidays)
- Competitive pension contributions
- A genuine dedication to supporting the health and wellbeing of all colleagues - see initiatives here
- Sustainability and the environment being at the heart of what we do
How we can help
If you're considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at
[email protected]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.
The University of Exeter is a proud supporter of the Technician Commitment, a charter focussing on the visibility, recognition and career development of our technical staff. For further information, please see our website.
