Technical Specialist / Technical Expert - OSS Developer

Technical Specialist / Technical Expert - OSS Developer

We're looking for a Development Specialist to take the lead on 'BOMNADO', a Python/Django-based bill of materials management software on an open-source platform. You'll be hands on in building new features, driving releases, and ensuring code quality, while also representing 'BOMNADO' in the wider community through events and collaborations. This is a rare chance to combine deep technical work with open source stewardship, shaping a product used well beyond our walls.

This role will be based in the Digital Communications team with the responsibility for working with H&E Inventions, the pro network+ team and target end users for the software to make it suitable for use by individuals and small companies for fabricating and replicating digital devices. This person will play a leading role across a breadth of products and services, ranging from experimental prototypes to delivering live services while championing a user centred approach. It will be a self starting role, ideal for someone that is comfortable liaising across multiple teams and differing stakeholders, including industry, academics and people within the maker/hacker community.

They will work closely with several IT teams to develop and implement standards, tools and working practices that will set the bar for the quality of front end development at the University, ensuring that internal colleagues and third parties adhere to them.

Depending on your skills, experience, and knowledge, this position will be designated as either a Technical Specialist (Grade J - £43,482 - £50,253 per annum) or Technical Expert (Grade K - £50,253 - £58,225 per annum)

What will you be doing?

• Lead the front end development of 'BOMNADO', a solution for managing and integrating Bills of Materials (BOMs), assembly instructions, quality control, and supply chain details for digital device production.
• Have a comprehensive working knowledge of the BOMNADO tech stack including Python and Django and carry out refactors, for example converting to Stencil or React.
• Use open source software (OSS) development skills and tools such as release notes, readmes, issue tracking and community events/streams to engage with the community of people who will ultimately use the software.

You should apply if

Key Skills & Experience:

• Expert level Python and Django development in production environments.
• Proven track record of releasing and maintaining open source software.
• Strong knowledge of Git/GitHub (or GitLab) workflows, including community contributions.
• Experience with packaging, documentation, licensing, and versioning of OSS projects.
• Solid grounding in CI/CD, automated testing, and software best practices.
• Ability to engage with and represent projects at community events, conferences, or forums.
• Excellent problem solving and communication skills. Problem Solving and Debugging: Strong analytical skills and a methodical approach to diagnosing issues and delivering efficient, maintainable solutions.
• Continuous Learning: A proactive attitude towards learning and applying new programming languages, frameworks, and development best practices.
• Be the main point of contact for front end development solutions, working alongside the H&E Inventions team to ensure relevant tools, techniques and services are part of a technical roadmap and can be implemented effectively within the team.
• Manage technical reports on the performance and status of BOMNADO.

Why should you apply for this role?

We are proud to be one of the most popular and successful universities in the UK, currently ranked 54th in the QS World University Rankings 2025. As the second largest employer in Bristol, we offer competitive pay and rewards, an attractive pension scheme, generous leave entitlements, and a range of development opportunities. Additionally, we prioritise the wellbeing of our staff through various initiatives designed to support a healthy work life balance.

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

The grade of the role offered will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience you bring to the position.

School/Unit: Science and Engineering Faculty Team

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Wednesday 7th January 2026.

Interview dates will be confirmed in due course but are expected to take place between 12th and 23rd January 2026.

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The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.