About the Role

At The Open University, we believe that where you start in life shouldn’t limit where you can go. Established over 50 years ago, The Open University is committed to providing accessible education to anyone, anywhere in the world. Our unique approach to education has transformed millions of lives, and we are continually innovating to help more people succeed.

Through initiatives like our partnership with the BBC, OpenLearn and digital pioneering distance learning methods, we reach more people than any other university, offering flexible, distance learning that fits into any lifestyle. We proudly serve all four nations of the UK, making higher education accessible for all.

Digital Services is at the heart of delivering life-changing learning experiences that enrich society. We combine trusted design, data expertise, and cutting-edge technology to support lifelong learning.

Our objectives are to:
•    Enhance the student and staff experience through simple, evidence-based solutions.
•    Deliver value iteratively, securely, and at speed.
•    Foster a vibrant, supportive workplace that embraces continuous learning and growth, empowering everyone to succeed.

As a service-led institution, we are committed to simplifying and improving how we work by organizing ourselves around the services we provide. This enables us to design and deliver outstanding services effectively and efficiently.

With our ethos of being “open to people, places, methods, and ideas,” we proudly support students in every setting imaginable—from submarines to prisons, and everywhere in between. We take pride in enabling our academics to teach and our students to learn, no matter the circumstances.

As an Engineer at The Open University, you will be part of the Teaching and Learning group, a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to delivering world-class online educational software to our staff and over a hundred thousand students. Collaborating closely with engineers, designers, and product owners, you will build scalable and efficient solutions that meet user needs and support the organisation’s goals.

You will actively participate in all stages of the software development lifecycle, from analysing requirements and designing system architectures to coding, testing, and deploying applications. Your contribution will ensure our solutions are secure, reliable, robust, accessible and user-friendly.

We’re looking for a motivated engineer with a solid foundation in software development and a passion for learning and innovation. If you enjoy solving complex problems, thrive in a collaborative environment, and are eager to grow your skills, this role offers the perfect opportunity to work on meaningful projects and advance your career.

Join our friendly, dynamic team and help shape the future of our applications across our diverse technology stack, including both on-premises and AWS cloud platform. Work with a range of applications and tools including Moodle, the open source platform used as a basis for all our online learning systems, and Azure DevOps, used in our agile workflow and for automation.

As a vital part of our agile team, you’ll contribute ideas, tackle technical challenges, and mentor junior engineers while supporting our commitment to continuous improvement and development.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in Software Development: Contribute to the development and enhancement of software systems throughout the software lifecycle, from design to deployment, following best practices and industry standards 
• System and Software Design: Assist in the design and documentation of software and system architectures, ensuring that solutions are scalable, reliable, and meet The Open University needs 
• Program and Debug Software: Write, test, and maintain high-quality code with accompanying test scripts and documentation, ensuring that it is well-structured, efficient, and aligns with project requirements 
• Assist with System Integration: Support the integration of various software components and systems, ensuring seamless interoperability and functionality 
• Lead Testing Efforts: Design and execute test plans to validate software quality, ensuring functionality, performance, and security requirements are met 
• Support Software Configuration Management: Manage software configuration and version control, ensuring that changes are tracked, documented, and easily retrievable 
• Data Modelling and Database Design: Contribute to data modelling and assist with database design to support application development and data integrity 
• User Experience and Analysis: Support user experience design and analysis to ensure that the software solutions are user-friendly and meet stakeholder expectations
• Monitor Emerging Technologies: Stay updated with emerging technologies and assess their potential impact on current and future projects 
• Information Security & Quality Assurance: Implement security measures and contribute to quality assurance processes to maintain the integrity and reliability of software systems 
• Contribute to Services, Products & Requirements Analysis: Engage in business analysis to understand stakeholder needs and help define and document technical requirements 
• Evaluate Feasibility: Conduct feasibility assessments for proposed solutions to determine their technical viability and alignment with project goals 
• Non-functional Testing: Perform non-functional testing to ensure systems meet performance, scalability, and security standards
• Support Application and System Operations: Provide support for application and system operations, assisting in incident management, including out-of-hours as required, and ensuring smooth functioning of services
• Availability and Capacity Planning: Contribute to managing system availability and capacity, ensuring that services are reliable and scalable to meet current and future needs
• Problem Management: Participate in problem management processes, helping to identify and resolve underlying issues to improve system stability 

Skills and Experience

• Software Development Lifecycle: Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle, including design, development, testing, and deployment.
• Software Design and Development: Strong skills in designing and developing software solutions that are scalable and efficient.
• Advanced Testing Knowledge: Proficient in functional and non-functional testing to ensure the delivery of high-quality software products.
• Data Modelling and User Experience: Experience in data modelling and supporting user experience design to enhance software usability and effectiveness.
• Emerging Technology Awareness: Keen interest in exploring new technologies and their potential applications within the organization.
• Security and Quality Focus: Understanding of information security and quality assurance practices to maintain the reliability and security of software solutions.
• Analysis and Requirements Management: Ability to analyse requirements and translate them into technical specifications.
• System Support and Operations: Basic experience in supporting application and system operations, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring system stability.

Behaviours:

• Problem Solver: You approach challenges with a logical and analytical mindset, finding effective solutions to complex problems.
• Collaborative: You work well in team environments, communicating effectively, sharing knowledge and ideas, and contributing to collective success.
• Adaptable: You thrive in a dynamic work environment and are open to learning new skills and technologies.
• Detail-Oriented: You have a keen eye for detail, ensuring that your work is accurate, high-quality, and aligns with project goals.
• Curious and Innovative: You stay updated on the latest industry trends and are always looking for ways to incorporate new ideas and technologies into your work.
   

Essential Requirements

As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (maximum of 1000 words) that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria listed above. We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you. 

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We anticipate this being once per month on average. 

*Early Close: We may choose to close the application date early if we reach a high number of applications.