There has been a huge growth in RSE career opportunities since the RSE campaign launched in 2013. Current vacancies for RSE positions can be viewed on our vacancies page.

There are opportunities for RSEs in many countries around the world. These are often on research projects or at the over many research organisations in the UK and internationally that now host an RSE group. Our case studies detail some of the different paths into the RSE career.

Some Research Software Engineers start off as researchers who spend time developing software to progress their research. Because they enjoy this work and have invested in developing specialist skills, they continue to focus on software and its use in research. Others start off from a more conventional software-development background and are drawn to research by the challenge of using software to further research.

The attraction of being a Research Software Engineer is similar to that of being a researcher: the role attracts people who want to know how the world works. The Research Software Engineer works with researchers to gain an understanding of the problems they face and then develops, maintains and extends software to provide the answers.

There are many benefits to being an RSE, and it can be a hugely satisfying career. However, there has been a lack of formal recognition for people whose contribution to research is through software. We are helping define a career structure for RSEs and the importance of their contribution to research.