"Senior Research Software Engineer"

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.

The Department of Computer Science and Technology is an academic department that encompasses computer science along with many aspects of engineering, technology and mathematics. We have a worldwide reputation for academic research with consistent top research ratings. The Department has an open and collaborative culture, supporting revolutionary fundamental computer science research, strong cross-cutting collaborations internally and externally, and ideas which transform computing outside the University. Please follow the link at: https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk to find out more about our department.

We are seeking a full-time Senior Research Software Engineer (SRSE) with a background in software compartmentalisation and the CHERI architecture to contribute to the CHERI Project. This post will maintain and enhance existing software-compartmentalisation prototypes on Arm's CHERI-enabled Morello processor and arising CHERI-RISC-V application cores. CHERI is the result of a highly successful 15-year research collaboration between the University of Cambridge, SRI International, Arm, Google, Microsoft, and other collaborators, with support of the US and UK governments, to develop new architectural security primitives. The CHERI protection model extends off-the-shelf processor Instruction-Set Architectures (ISAs) and processors with new capability-based security primitives supporting fine-grained C/C++-language memory protection and scalable software compartmentalization.

Successful candidates will have significant research and engineering expertise in the CHERI ISA, software compartmentalization, and compiler toolchains and/or OS internals.

The position will benefit from strong existing experience with the C/C++ programming languages, RISC-V or Armv8-a assembly, decentralised development tools, release engineering, continuous integration, and participation in distributed collaborative research projects. Strong interpersonal and organisational skills and the ability to work in a diverse international team at multiple sites will also be important in this role.

This post will require active engagement with downstream industrial and open-source user communities, as well as research collaborators and sponsors. This will involve greater UK and international travel.

This post is intended to start on 1 April 2026, but there is potential flexibility with respect to earlier or later start dates.

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae (including details of relevant past projects, and of at least two references)
• Brief statement of the contribution you could make to the project, drawing attention to relevant experience with OS research and/or development
• A completed form CHRIS6: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/CHRIS6/

Remote work is supportable, and some other members of the CHERI team primarily work remotely, but a mutually satisfactory arrangements must be successfully negotiated to complete the hiring process. If the successful candidate is primarily remote, they will be required to travel to Cambridge for in-person meetings and collaboration multiple times annually.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Questions about the post and the recruitment process may be addressed to the HR Team at hr-admin@cst.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference NR48602 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Key information

Department/location
Department of Computer Science and Technology

Salary
£47,389-£59,966

Reference
NR48602

Category
Academic-related

Date published
28 January 2026

Closing date
6 February 2026

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