Full-stack software engineer - developing open source technology with real world Impact

Join the team at the Humanitarian Technology Trust building the OpenFlexure Microscope. The OpenFlexure Microscope is an open-source, digital, robotic microscope used in more than 60 countries across education, research and agriculture; it is also undergoing evaluation for use in medical diagnostics. Ultimately the goal of the OpenFlexure project is to enable manufacturers in underserved areas of the world to sell certified diagnostic microscopes into their local healthcare systems. We are looking for a full-stack software engineer to help us build the next generation of the OpenFlexure software. We are building a microscopy interface that is flexible enough for a global open-source community, yet reliable enough for scientific and medical applications. We will be working in collaboration with manufacturers, healthcare professionals and regulators across the world, with a focus on enabling implementation in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. The OpenFlexure Microscope runs on an embedded Raspberry Pi computer with a customised Linux-based OS, powered by a Python backend and a modern JavaScript interface accessible via a browser or Electron desktop application. You’ll join a small team working across embedded systems, scientific imaging, web technologies, robotics, and UX. The project spans a wide range of technologies and disciplines, so your most important quality is a willingness to learn new skills, tools, libraries, and techniques. We care as much about curiosity, adaptability, and collaborative problem-solving as we do about your existing experience. Python, JavaScript, and Git are essential foundations for the role. We also use a lot of other tools and libraries, but you do not need prior experience with every technology we use. If you enjoy learning quickly, working across disciplines, and contributing to ambitious open-source technology with real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you. Learn More https://openflexure.orghttps://gitlab.com/openflexure/openflexure-microscope Job Details Salary: £40,000–£55,000 depending on experience and skill set. A higher salary could be negotiated for the right candidate. Contract: Full Time, permanent. We are primarily seeking a full-time hire, though part-time arrangements may be possible for the right candidate. Location: This role includes hands-on work with hardware systems and therefore requires on-site work in our Bath office 2–3 days per week. Deadline: There is no fixed deadline, applications are reviewed as they come in. The role will close once a candidate is selected. About the Organisation The Humanitarian Technology Trust is a UK-registered charity (Charity number 1212197) that develops technologies that benefit humanity. The OpenFlexure Microscope is currently our core development project. What You’ll Work On Developing and maintaining the OpenFlexure microscope software stackBuilding reliable, user-friendly interfaces for scientific and medical imagingImproving embedded software running on Raspberry Pi hardwareDesigning extensible systems that support both research experimentation and production reliabilityCollaborating openly with contributors and users around the worldContributing to an active open-source ecosystem spanning hardware, software, and documentation Essential Skills & Qualities Willingness to learn new skills and technologiesGood teamwork and collaboration skillsStrong knowledge of PythonExperience with JavaScriptConfidence using GitGood understanding of software engineering best practices Particularly Valuable Experience Experience in any of the following areas would be beneficial: Open-source software developmentLinux development or system administrationFastAPI or other Python web frameworksScientific Python tooling (NumPy, SciPy, OpenCV)GitLab and CI/CD workflowsVue.js or similar frontend frameworksElectron, Android, or iOS application developmentEmbedded systems, robotics, Raspberry Pi, or ArduinoBash scriptingSoftware packaging (PyPI, NPM, APT, Snap)Networking and IoT technologies (mDNS, Web of Things, etc.)UX/UI designTranslation and i18n toolingExperience working in (or collaborating with teams in) low-resource settingsScientific instrumentation or calibrationMedical or regulated software environmentsIEC 62304 training or certificationWebsite and documentation development Why Join the Humanitarian Technology Trust? Work on technology with real-world scientific and healthcare impactContribute to a globally recognised open-source projectCollaborate with an international community of researchers, developers, educators, and cliniciansBuild software that bridges embedded systems, robotics, imaging, and web technologiesHelp shape tools that improve access to microscopy worldwideOpportunities for international travel to meet users of the software you writeA budget and time for relevant training and continued professional development How to Apply Apply by email: Send your CV and a short covering note to careers@httrust.org