Senior GIS Application Developer, WorldPop Spatial Data Infrastructure

Population, Health & Wellbeing (PHeW)

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £44,263 to £54,395 Per annum
Full Time Fixed Term (31/12/2024)
Closing Date:  Monday 05 February 2024
Interview Date:   To be confirmed
Reference:  2592524WR

Be part of the world-renowned WorldPop Group  at the University of Southampton, a global top 100 university (QS World Rankings 2021). WorldPop is an award winning, multi-sectoral team of researchers, technicians and project specialists working on producing data on population distributions and characteristics at high spatial resolution.  

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated GIS Python Developer to join WorldPop SDI team (https://sdi.worldpop.org ). The successful applicant will be responsible to design and maintain the server side of the GIS web applications, ensuring that they run smoothly and efficiently. This involves API development, database integration, data storage management and building efficient, reusable, and scalable code in Python and associated frameworks.  

This role requires expertise in python backend development and API development, as well as a strong understanding of REST API. The applicant should ideally be familiar with various Python frameworks like Flask, Django, Pyramid and Bottle. The successful candidate will work closely with specialist GIS analysts and population modellers. They will primarily contribute to the work being undertaken for the Global2 (Global Demographic Data) project, as part of a team of specialised WorldPop researchers and external partner organisations (inc. Planet, Microsoft and Google). The candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate on projects funded by the United Nations, the European Commission and other international organisations such as GAVI. Experience working on population dynamics for humanitarian preparedness and response is welcomed. 

You will work as part of a multi-sectoral team of specialists, and under the supervision of Dr Maksym Bondarenko and the relevant project lead.  As well as joining the vibrant and well-connected WorldPop team based at the School of Geography and Environmental Science, you will have opportunities to lead high-impact publications, deliver workshops aimed at training project stakeholders and present at national and international conferences.   

Essential and desired skills and backgrounds: Strong experience in Python backend development including frameworks like Flask, Django, Pyramid, and Bottle; Extensive knowledge of Linux and Shell environment; and a PhD or equivalent professional qualifications in a computer science/electrical engineering/quantitative discipline.  

The funded position is until December 2024, with a strong likelihood of extension. 

The University of Southampton offers excellent benefits that will make your life easier, including a generous holiday allowance of 30 days, 6 additional university closure days plus public holidays. We will support your long-term future too, with access to a generous pension scheme with Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts. 

 The School of Geography and Environmental Science is committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion  https://www.southampton.ac.uk/geography/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusion.page ]. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, and particularly encourage applications from candidates belonging to groups who are under-represented within academic posts at the University, including, but not limited to: people from Black and minority ethnic groups; and disabled people.