Software Engineer

Job Title: Software Engineer

Salary: £39,200 - £50,900

Location: Cambridge/Hybrid

Contract: Fixed Term/Secondment -15 months

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

We're looking for a Software Engineer to join our Content Tools team. You'll help build and improve AI-driven applications that power how learning and assessment content is created and managed. This is a hands-on role with real impact, working on live systems used across the business.

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

About the role

You'll work as part of a collaborative engineering team, contributing to the development of a critical internal application built using Retool, n8n, and LLM-based workflows.

Your focus will be on building features, improving performance, and helping scale AI-driven content solutions that support our wider strategy.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

• Develop, test and maintain scalable software solutions within the content tools domain
• Build new features and resolve bugs in production applications
• Work closely with engineers, product owners, and SMEs to deliver practical solutions
• Implement and integrate AI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Apply best practice to ensure security, scalability, and performance standards
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to engineering quality standards
• Identify technical risks and help resolve them early
• Troubleshoot and debug complex issues independently
• Stay up to date with AI, LLMs, and software engineering trends

Team and collaboration:

• Contribute to a collaborative, knowledge-sharing engineering culture
• Take part in stand-ups, planning, retrospectives, and design
• Communicate progress, challenges, and solutions clearly to the team

This role directly supports the development and quality of AI-driven content generation tools used across the organisation.

This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition.

About You

You'll bring solid engineering fundamentals and a genuine interest in AI-driven development.

Essential requirements:

• Strong grounding in computer science fundamentals, data structures and algorithms
• Experience building and delivering software in a professional environment
• Proficiency in at least one language such as Python or TypeScript
• Good understanding of AI/ML concepts, especially Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Experience working in an agile, team-based environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently on defined
• Clear communication skills with the ability to explain technical
• Familiarity with SQL and relational databases

If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Experience with tools like Retool or workflow automation platforms such as n8n
• Exposure to AWS (e.g. S3, RDS) or cloud-based systems
• Experience working with PostgreSQL
• Hands-on experience deploying AI/LLM-based application

For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.

We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, and disclose a disability or a long-term health condition, and who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable and/or appropriate, we prioritise those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.

Please note, Cambridge University Press & Assessment is unable to sponsor this role under the Skilled Worker Visa route as it does not meet the minimum skill requirements.

Rewards and benefits

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package , featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Group personal pension scheme
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
• Green travel schemes

Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.

We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications will be 5 th June. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place shortly after it closes.

If you are shortlisted and progressed through the stages, you can expect: :

• 1hr interview involving 30 minute live technical assessment
• Final stage interview: in-person or virtually.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.

We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. As such, applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter.

Pursuing Your Potential

At Cambridge University Press & Assessment, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where your career aspirations are not only recognised but actively supported. Whether you are looking for new responsibilities within your current team, interested in a promotion or secondment, or exploring a different career path, we offer various resources to support your professional development. Our Online Learning Platform, leadership development pathways, and mentorship schemes are readily available to all employees, ensuring you have the tools to reach your fullest potential.

If you are ready to take the next step in your Cambridge journey, we welcome your application. Together, we continue to shape a culture where everyone feels empowered to succeed and motivated to make a difference- for ourselves, for each other, and for learners worldwide.

Documents

• ALICE Software Engineer Job Description (1).pdf (118.46 KB)