Senior Optimisation Developer

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Optimisation Developer with a strong mathematical background and experience in numerical modelling or mathematically intensive software development. The role is a hands‑on senior software development position within the USC Optimisation team, developing advanced optimisation technology for refineries.

Key responsibilities

• Design, implement, maintain and improve industrial optimisation software and related numerical modelling components.
• Investigate complex mathematical, algorithmic and software engineering problems independently and drive them to resolution.
• Take ownership of large or technically challenging work items, breaking them down into manageable tasks.
• Work effectively within an existing, partly legacy codebase while introducing thoughtful technical improvements.
• Apply strong mathematical reasoning to modelling, optimisation and algorithmic challenges.
• Support robustness, performance, quality and maintainability through debugging, profiling and extensive automated testing.
• Demonstrate potential to lead technical projects or workstreams over time.
• Provide guidance, coaching and technical support to less‑experienced developers where appropriate.

Required profile

• Strong mathematical background supported by a postgraduate qualification (MSc, PhD or equivalent).
• Proven programming ability in at least one relevant language (e.g., C++, C, C#, Fortran).
• Experience of numerical modelling or mathematically intensive software development.
• Demonstrated potential to lead projects or technical workstreams.
• Ability to work effectively in a complex and evolving codebase.
• Clear communication of technical concepts and collaborative working style.
• Relevant industrial, research or advanced technical experience.

Required skills

• C++
• C
• C#
• Fortran
• Build and meta‑build systems
• Debuggers, performance profilers and memory profilers
• Git and Azure DevOps
• Linear algebra
• Lagrangian analysis

What we offer

• Flexible benefits fund, emergency leave days, adoption leave and 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Pension, life cover, private medical insurance, parental leave and education assistance program.
• Hybrid working model with an expectation of 50% on‑site presence.