TERN Senior Software Developer

(HEO4) $101,785 - $113,839 per annum plus an employer contribution of 17% superannuation applies.

Fixed term, full-time position for 12 months

The Senior Software Developer position is based with the TERN Ecosystem Surveillance team, located at the Waite Campus, Adelaide. Working under limited direction with a degree of autonomy, the Senior Software Developer contributes to the development of repositories and related applications to manage ecosystem data. The role will work very closely with other TERN members distributed across the country and to solve technical challenges and mentor junior staff as and when required.

TERN is an Australian Government NCRIS-funded environmental monitoring National Research Infrastructure.  It collects ecosystem data and samples from around Australia using highly instrumented monitoring sites, field surveys and remote-sensing techniques such as drones and satellites.  TERN shares this data to enable Australia's world-leading research on climate change, biodiversity, water and soil. TERN conducts field surveys and sampling across a national network of over 900 one-hectare plots, to collect soil and vegetation specimens and data. The TERN Ecosystem Surveillance field program enables consistent and ongoing monitoring to assess and address the direction and magnitude of change across Australian ecosystems.

To be successful you will need:

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience in developing modern web applications, containerisation and data modelling.
• Demonstrated experience working with , Vue3, Docker, Linux, PostgreSQL, git.
• Working familiarity with DevOps best practices (CI/CD, error monitoring, issue management).
• Demonstrated experience in full-stack, cloud-native development.
• Knowledge of modern software engineering concepts.
• Demonstrated experience with AI tools for Software Engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to promote the organisational values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery, and a commitment to positively comply with the associated behaviour expectations.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated contributions to open-source software development projects.
• Working familiarity with Linked-Data (JSON-LD, RDF) and OpenAPI 3.x (Swagger).
• Informed knowledge of IT trends which are relevant to TERN's development and data environment.

The path to Adelaide University

We are on an exciting path to Adelaide University as we prepare to open our doors in January 2026. Adelaide University will combine the strengths of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, and we are dedicated to creating an accessible and future-focused educational powerhouse that fosters economic and social wellbeing through ground-breaking research and innovative teaching. You can learn more about Adelaide University HERE and more information will be provided throughout the recruitment process.

Enjoy an outstanding career environment

We offer a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaborations - offers you vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-calibre people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work's cutting-edge nature - not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

We embrace flexibility as a key principle to allow our people to manage the changing demands of work, personal and family life.

In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive staff benefits. These include: salary packaging; flexible work arrangements; high-quality professional development programs and activities; and an on-campus health clinic, gym and other fitness facilities.

Learn more at:

Your faculty's broader role

The Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology is a multidisciplinary hub of cutting-edge teaching and research. Many of its academic staff are world leaders in their fields and graduates are highly regarded by employers. The Faculty actively partners with innovative industries to solve problems of global significance.

Learn more at: 

If you have the talent, we'll give you the opportunity. Together, let's make history.

Please click here to view the position description and apply. Please ensure you submit a cover letter, resume, and upload a document that includes your responses to all of the selection criteria for the position as contained in the position description or selection criteria document.

Applications close 11:55pm, 19 October 2025

The University reserves the right to close this advertisement before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

For further information

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, contact:

Caleb Coish

TERN Ecosystem Surveillance and Business Manager

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You'll find a full position description and/or selection criteria below: (If no links appear, try viewing on another device)

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Female applicants, people with a disability and/or and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the requirements of this position are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application.