Full Stack Developer - Skills Lab

26-Jul-2022

Harvard Kennedy School

59358BR

Position Description

About the Role 

Reporting to the Director of Research for the Skills Lab, the Full Stack Developer will join the Skills Lab team in a key technical role to help inform and execute on the technical vision. The Developer is responsible for the backend and frontend technical development of the Skills Lab online experimental platform, which includes building web apps for novel experimental puzzles/tasks (such as an interface for participants to work remotely in small groups and communicate via video/audio to solve puzzles/tasks). In addition to leading both the backend and frontend work for online experiments, the Developer will build administrative tools to allow the internal Research team to access data collected during experiments and record additional participant data. 

A competitive candidate will have experience making high-impact technical decisions on an early-stage product, translating technical decisions for the leadership team and other stakeholders, and building scalable and adaptable technical infrastructure. Additionally, candidates should have passion for building intuitive user interfaces, and experience in entrepreneurial startup environments.

About the Project 

When asked about the capacities that matter most for new hires, employers put “foundational” skills like teamwork, leadership and decision-making at the top of the list, ahead of “hard” technical skills. While there is enormous interest in foundational skills, we know relatively little about how to measure them, whether they can be effectively taught, or whether they transfer across jobs and social contexts. 

The Harvard Skills Lab creates new, performance-based, scalable measurement methods for foundational skills. We develop the basic science of human potential by defining and measuring concepts like teamwork, leadership and decision-making skills within experimental frameworks. Our initial work has focused on a methodology for identifying “team players”, people who make extraordinary individual contributions to group performance. We have ongoing experiments measuring leadership and decision-making skills, as well as work trying to understand how diversity affects team contributions. 

Job Specific Responsibilities 

The major functions include, but are not limited to: 

• Determine the optimal tech stack and guide the overall technical vision. 

• Oversee hardware and server infrastructure and manage which internal technologies are adopted and implemented.  

• Provide guidance to the research team in the technical design of upcoming online experiments. 

• Provide input into the short- and medium-term technical strategies of the Harvard Skills Lab, including identifying development resources needed for the successful implementation of online experiments. 

• Own the whole software development life cycle from conception to deployment. 

• In addition to building new experiments, features, and tools, the Developer will solve issues with current technical infrastructure, such as audio and video components of an online interactive site. 

  Important application instructions:
  Please provide a resume and cover letter.  In your cover letter, please include a link to a sample of work, github repo, and a few sentences describing your availability and interest in the role. 

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• 4+ years of demonstrable experience as a full stack software engineer
• Experience working across the whole software development life cycle from conception to deployment
• Experience with code management software like GitHub, Gitlab, Bitbucket, etc.Bachelor’s degree in computer science or another related technical field
• Our stack is React (Typescript), Django (Python) and Postgres so experience with one or both of these technologies is preferred. However, experience in related programming languages is also great (JavaScript, Vue, Go, Flask, etc.)
• Experience with Jira, Trello and/or other product management and documentation software
• Pixel perfect code is not required but you should like building clean and functional interfaces
• Enjoy working in an agile software development team where the focus is on proof-of- concept and then iterate
• Experience in a rapid-growth, entrepreneurial organization or team
• We’re a small remote team so the ability to take the initiative and be responsible for your code is a must.

Certificates and Licenses

• Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office setting

Additional Information

Important application instructions:
Please provide a resume and cover letter.  In your cover letter, please include a link to a sample of work, github repo, and a few sentences describing your availability and interest in the role. 

This position is a fully benefits-eligible term appointment through June 30, 2023 with very strong possibility of renewal. 

Please note: While this is position is based on the school’s campus in Cambridge, MA, we will consider remote work options.

We regret that the Harvard Kennedy School does not provide Visa Sponsorship.
Harvard University requires pre-employment references and background checks.
Harvard University is committed to supporting a healthy, sustainable learning and working environment.

Please note:This is an in-person/on campus position based in Cambridge, MA, with possible flexible work options.

The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard’s Vaccine & Booster Requirements . Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/ . 

Salary Range: $70,800 - $119,000
Note: Starting salaries typically fall in the lower half of the salary range; however, they are ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. 

Harvard offers a generous benefits package including:

• Time Off: 3- 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 11.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year.
• Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools. 
• Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
• Wellness Options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation and complimentary health services.
  Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events and many discounts throughout metro Boston.

Job Function

Information Technology

Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

I0757P Applications Professional III

Department

Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Appointment End Date

30-Jun-2023

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard Kennedy School’s Mission and Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At Harvard Kennedy School, fostering a diverse and inclusive community where everyone feels they belong is a matter of basic fairness consistent with our core values as an institution. It is also essential to our mission of improving public policy and leadership—because recruiting the best people and creating an environment where they can thrive make us better at what we do, because we learn more from people with different perspectives, and because we work in diverse groups and serve diverse societies.
Learn more about Harvard Kennedy School’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. Our teaching, research, and engagement with practitioners focus on these priorities:

• Protecting security, freedom, and human rights
• Strengthening democracy
• Advancing social justice
• Increasing economic well-being
• Enhancing sustainability
• Improving public leadership and management

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.