Software Engineer (Research and Development)

Kensington NSW (hybrid flexibility to work from home and on campus 3 days a week)

Fixed Term for 12 months

Full Time (35-hour week)

The Software Engineer will play a key role in the development maintenance and optimisation of the Centres API-driven digital infrastructure that underpins a range of high-impact planning housing and transport research projects. The position focuses on building and supporting robust efficient and secure cloudbased servicesfrom APIs to data pipelinesthat enable real-time data visualisation and machine learning applications. The Software Engineer will collaborate closely with front-end developers machine learning specialists and research teams to design implement and operate highperformance services and automation workflows in the cloud. The role reports to the Centre Digital Infrastructure & Labs Manager and has no direct reports.

Collaborate with Centre researchers and technical staff to support and maintain digital platforms and application services used for planning housing and transport analytics. Develop test and maintain front end and back-end APIs to support access to geospatial transport and planning data using established frameworks (e.g. FastAPI Flask Django NodeJS).

Apply standard security and access controls to applications and services in line with established practices and guidance.

Support the use and maintenance of relational databases (e.g. PostgreSQL) including data querying and routine optimisation tasks. Work collaboratively with researchers and developers to ensure data is accessible and fit for research visualisation purposes. Support the integration of software tools with analytical and modelling workflows under guidance from senior staff and researchers.

Assist with deploying and operating APIs in cloud environments (AWS) using Docker and appropriate CI/CD practices and tools (e.g. Prepare and maintain clear documentation for software code and systems processes to ensure transferability for future development phases.

Provide practical and proactive technical support to research platforms lab infrastructure and associated software environments.

Support the preparation of research outputs including reports publications and associated technical documentation where required.

A degree in Computer Science Software Engineering or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Demonstrated experience developing backend APIs using FastAPI Django Flask or NodeJS with strong understanding of REST principles and API lifecycle.

Demonstrated experience working with PostgreSQL (including PostGIS if applicable) with solid skills in database querying design and optimisation.

Demonstrated experience with supporting asynchronous programming and building scalable API endpoints.

Demonstrated experience with AWS services (e.g. ECS RDS S3 Lambda Bedrock) and containerbased deployment using Docker.

Experience with InfrastructureasCode tools such as Terraform or AWS CDK including environment automation (dev/stage/prod).

Experience or exposure to frontend development using modern frameworks (e.g. React JavaScript) including data visualisation tools where relevant.

Knowledge of authentication and security practices including tokenbased authentication and rolebased access controls.

Demonstrated experience developing within Unix/Linux environments including scripting and deploying applications to cloud environments (e.g. AWS).

Ability to work effectively within a small agile team and clearly document code systems and processes.

These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:

National and International Criminal history checks

Working With Children Checks

Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period

~ Submit both a Cover Letter and CV online via the UNSW Job Board before Sunday 22 nd February 2026 by 11:30pm. UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender sexual orientation cultural and linguistic backgrounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.