App Developer @ UK Management College

Salary: £29,000 - 48,000 per year

Requirements

• We require a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a closely related subject.
• We require demonstrable experience building and releasing mobile applications for Android and iOS.
• We require demonstrable experience building web APIs with Python and Django, or a comparable framework, using a relational database such as PostgreSQL.
• We require practical experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning, including building agentic AI applications with large language models and training and evaluating machine learning models.
• We consider a postgraduate qualification in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data science advantageous.
• We consider experience supporting a live service with real users, ideally in education or involving student data, advantageous.
• We consider working knowledge of Django Channels, WebSockets, Redis, Firebase, Docker, GitHub Actions, and Microsoft Azure advantageous.
• We consider a relevant professional certification, for example in cloud services, mobile development, or machine learning, advantageous.
• We require proficiency in React Native and TypeScript.
• We require proficiency in Python, including machine learning libraries such as PyTorch or scikit-learn, and experience with large language model APIs.
• We require competence in automated testing with Jest and pytest, and in Git and GitHub, including code review.
• We require a secure and careful approach to handling personal data.
• We require the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet agreed deadlines.
• We require clear written and verbal communication with non-technical colleagues and students.
• We require a commitment to our values and to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• We consider experience evaluating AI systems for accuracy, bias, and safety advantageous.
• We consider experience deploying and monitoring machine learning models in a production environment advantageous.
• We consider experience publishing applications to the App Store and Google Play advantageous.
• We consider experience training or supporting users advantageous.
• We require the successful candidate to have the right to work in the United Kingdom. We do not provide visa sponsorship for this post.

Responsibilities

• Develop, release, and support our Career App alongside the Career App Lead Developer, bringing new programmes, cohorts, and campuses onto the service reliably as it grows.
• Develop and maintain features across the React Native and TypeScript mobile application and the Python and Django server, following agreed specifications, coding standards, and release timelines.
• Design, implement, and evaluate AI features, including agentic AI workflows using large language models, with appropriate tool use, retrieval, and safeguards.
• Prepare and curate data, and train, evaluate, and monitor machine learning models, including job and skills matching and early identification of students who may need additional support.
• Diagnose and resolve reported defects and incidents, and improve the services performance, accessibility, security, and reliability.
• Produce automated tests and technical documentation, participate in peer code reviews, and follow our release and change management process.
• Prepare and publish Android and iOS releases through the App Store and Google Play, including test builds for staff and students.
• Prepare, validate, and load programme content and student data for new cohorts, programmes, and campuses, and configure staff access and permissions.
• Support deployment, monitoring, and operational resilience of the live service on Microsoft Azure.
• Process student personal data, including data used within AI features, in compliance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and our data protection and information security policies.
• Provide training, onboarding, and user support to staff and students across our campuses, and contribute to user guidance and communications.
• Work collaboratively with the Career App Lead Developer, Course Directors, Personal Academic Tutors, the Wellbeing team, Registry and Academic Services, and the IT Department; contribute to planning, prioritisation, and reporting on the services development.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as reasonably required by the Career App Lead Developer.

Technologies

• Agentic AI
• AI
• Android
• Azure
• Cloud
• Django
• Docker
• Firebase
• Git
• GitHub
• Support
• Jest
• Machine Learning
• Mobile
• PostgreSQL
• PyTorch
• Python
• React
• React Native
• Redis
• Security
• TypeScript
• Web
• iOS
• pytest

More

We are UK Management College (UKMC), a higher education institution committed to high-quality education and an outstanding student experience. We deliver degree programmes with awarding university partners across Manchester, Derby, Newcastle (North Shields), and Sunderland, and foster a supportive, inclusive, and forward-thinking environment focused on academic excellence, professional development, and continuous improvement. Our Career App team builds and operates our Android and iOS app for students and staff. The app helps students map skills to module learning outcomes, plan their semester pathway, build an employability record, and message and book appointments with Personal Academic Tutors and the Wellbeing team.

It is in live use with University of Wolverhampton and Canterbury Christ Church University cohorts and is being extended across our campuses and partner programmes. The role also contributes to our next stage of development, including AI features built on app data. The post is full-time and permanent, with a salary of £32,000–£35,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience, and a proposed start date of ASAP. The role reports to the Career App Lead Developer and is based at one of our Manchester campuses: College House, Abarna, or Salford.

Travel to our other campuses may be required. Working hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The role is office-based, with no hybrid working arrangement available. We are committed to an inclusive working environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and welcome applicants from all backgrounds, skills, and experiences.

last updated 45 week of 2026