Job Description

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Salary: 24,340 per annum

(rising annually throughout the apprenticeship)

Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 48 months

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX

Closing Date: Sunday, 2nd February 2026

Interview Date: Feb 2026 / Mar 2026

Start Date: September 2026

Are you fascinated by cutting-edge science and emerging technologies? Join us as an Apprentice Software Engineer and play a hands-on role in developing digital solutions that support world-class research and innovation. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside scientists, engineers, and technologists--contributing to real projects that drive discovery in areas like data science, AI, and high-performance computing. If you're curious, analytical, and ready to build a career at the intersection of software and science, we'd love to hear from you.

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

We're looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals ready to develop their skills through formal training and hands-on experience. As an apprentice, you'll gain real-world experience, build technical and professional skills, and contribute to cutting-edge research and innovation in a dynamic, supportive environment.


You'll be fully supported throughout the programme with regular check-ins from a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator, structured training, practical experience, and mentorship from industry professionals. Plus, you'll have access to workshops, a peer network, and career development support, helping you feel confident and prepared for new challenges.

Why join one of our exciting teams at STFC?

We are offering roles in the following departments:

Scientific Computing

Scientific Computing provides large-scale computing facilities, computing data services and infrastructure. The services and infrastructure that the department provides UKRI underpins almost every key calculation across STFC and beyond.


Initially, you'll be placed in either the Data & Software Engineering Group (DSEG), Data Analysis as a Service (DAaaS) or the Data & Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure (DAFNI) team. Each team is involved in designing, developing & supporting a wide range of high-quality software enabling large-scientific facilities & researchers to manage their data. Among many things, this enables researchers to discover their experimental data, catalogue it and store analysis workflows.


The department offers a rotational apprenticeship where you'll undertake a handful of rotations within different departments across STFC. This means you gain a breadth of knowledge and skills from several key parts of the organisation. You will develop your expertise in object-oriented programming, data modelling, systems development, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), agile, systems analysis and design among many other areas.

Particle Physics

The Particle Physics Department (PPD) undertakes and funds world-leading research and development, and data analysis, in particle physics. We are one of the major collaborators at CERN and support UK researchers working on the Large Hadron Collider detectors as well as neutrino and dark matter experiments. Our work includes construction of large detector systems, computing, and data analysis, we are responsible for the Boulby Underground Lab, which is one of just a few facilities in the world suitable for hosting ultra-low background and deep underground science projects. We also run outreach events for schools and the public, including the annual STFC Summer School for Experimental High Energy Physics Students.


This is a non-rotational placement within PPD undertaking both business and scientific IT support including a secondment to an experiment group for one day per week to provide breadth of experience working on software development to directly support scientific research.

Qualifications gained

Level 6 (Degree) Digital & Technology Solutions Apprenticeship

Digital and technology solutions professional / Skills England

What you'll learn:

The primary role of the Software Engineer is to undertake all requirements during the solution development life-cycle from gathering requirements to analysis, design, code, build, test, implementation and support. They will apply software engineering principles to all stages of the solution life-cycle, from gathering requirements, undertaking analysis and design, development of code and data requirements whilst also ensuring security feature are addressed. As well as creating new code, they can support existing code by troubleshooting, reverse engineering and conducting root cause analysis. They typically work as part of a large collaborative team and will have responsibility for significant elements of software solutions.

Training provider

Buckinghamshire New University: Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6) | Buckinghamshire New University


Learning is delivered as day release, both remotely and in person at the campus in High Wycombe.

What You'll Be Doing

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Day-to-day responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:


Communicate and work with fellow team members on a daily basis Communicate with users, scientists, engineers and management to understand their requirements and translate these into a specification Take an active role in both technical and non-technical meetings Show initiative especially regarding learning new things Work independently at times and ask questions if unsure Take responsibility for ensuring your work does what is needed and meets the quality criteria specified Write documentation for technical and non-technical users Analyse evidence and data in order to solve problems Help deploy solutions to production and help provide support after release Use a variety of tools and technologies used by the teams to develop and manage software and computer systems Present a topic to a small group of people and answer questions Participate in the wider department and STFC apprentice training programme Partake in the promotion activities for STFC and STEM

Entry Requirements

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).


We are looking for the following:

Essential

GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) (S) A minimum of two A levels at grade A or above OR three A levels at grade C or above OR a BTEC Level 3 in Computing (or similar subject) or equivalent (S) + Please give subjects and resulted/expected results in CV
An awareness of basic health and safety (I) (Included for all roles) Right to live and work in the UK at time of starting employment (S) Enthusiastic and motivated to learn, both in the workplace and through formal training (I)(Included for all roles) Good written communication skills and the ability to work in a team, as demonstrated in your CV and cover letter (S) Some knowledge of and enthusiasm for computer hardware and software (S&I) Your CV and/or cover letter should explain why you have applied for this computing apprenticeship scheme and should contain example(s) of personal or school projects that involved learning about and using a computer system and what you enjoyed and should (S&I) Ability to/examine evidence and data in order to understand it and solve problems + As a minimum, a successful candidate will be able to work systematically through straightforward problems, examine data, and link it to their understanding of computer systems in order find the cause of problems (I)
Good at keeping things on track and getting tasks done on time. (I) Enjoys solving problems, thinking things through, and coming up with ideas that work (I)

Desirable

A/AS/BTEC/T Level (or equivalent) in computing or other technical discipline + Please give subjects and results / expected results in CV (S)
Experience in customer-focused roles such as retail, OR examples of how you've helped others in educational or personal settings (S&I) A flair for communicating in clear, positive terms; understanding that helping staff of all abilities understand problems and solutions is central to successful customer service. (S&I)

Important Information

To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A-C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2026, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.
You will need to have achieve, or predicted to achieve 96 UCAS points or equivalent by September 2026. When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. To check your eligibility please click here . The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.
We will be in touch after the closing date, however, please reach out on apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org if you have any questions.

Employee Benefits

Your salary will increase annually as you progress through your apprenticeship, in line with policy. 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days). Flexible working hours. An excellent defined average salary pension scheme. Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking. Excellent learning and development opportunities. Cycle to work scheme.
For a list of our full benefits, please visit here .



As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

How to apply

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

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!