Staff Software Engineer

Department
 

BSD CTD - Engineering - HEAL

About the Department
 

The Center for Translational Data Science (CTDS) at the University of Chicago is a research center whose mission is to develop the discipline of translational data science to impactful problems in biology, medicine, healthcare, and the environment. We envision a world in which researchers have ready access to the data needed and the tools required to make data driven discoveries that increase our scientific knowledge and improve the quality of life. We architect ecosystems of large-scale commons of research data, computing resources, applications, tools, and services for the broader research community to use data at scale to pursue scientific inquiry and accelerate discovery. Learn more at https://gdc.cancer.gov/, https://gen3.org/, https://stats.gen3.org/, and https://ctds.uchicago.edu/.This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Job Summary
 

The job works independently to perform a variety of activities relating to software support and/or development. Analyzes, designs, develops, debugs, and modifies computer code for end user applications, beta general releases, and production support. Guides development and implementation of applications, web pages, and user-interfaces using a variety of software applications, techniques, and tools. Solves complex problems in administration, maintenance, integration, and troubleshooting of code and application ecosystem currently in production.
Software Engineers perform web application development activities of open-source software platforms, including analyzing business and technical requirements, designing/developing/testing software, reviewing and testing code, supporting, and maintaining applications, and providing appropriate written documentation of project development and programming code. All engineers are expected to be flexible for full-stack development and some may have a specialty in back-end or front-end technologies.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for a scope of significant size critical to the team’s success, including top priority technical tasks and timely delivery of such tasks, meeting and helping define the required level of quality.

• Participation in complex and challenging activities, including design and implementation.

• Provide technical leadership and effectively mentor interns and less experienced members.

• Actively participate in the hiring process and provide fair and productive interview feedback.

• Negotiate complex decisions, present options and persuasively advocate for optimal technical solutions, internally and externally.

• Designs new systems, features, and tools. Solves complex problems and identifies opportunities for technical improvement and performance optimization. Reviews and tests code to ensure appropriate standards are met.

• Utilizes technical knowledge of existing and emerging technologies, including public cloud offerings from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

• Acts as a technical consultant and resource for faculty research, teaching, and/or administrative projects.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications  

  

Education: 

• Advanced degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, or a relevant quantitative field.

  

Experience: 

• 6 years or more of relevant software development experience, full cycle preferred, including design, coding, testing, and support.

• Advanced programming skills using Python (preferred), Golang/Javascript (a plus), or other languages like C/C++, Java, or C#.

• Knowledge of web applications, REST API, microservices, and containers.

• Knowledge of Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, Spark, Hadoop, and data analysis.

• Knowledge of configuration management utilities (Chef, Salt, Ansible) and container-based deployment solutions (Docker, Kubernetes).

• High performance/cloud computing experience (AWS, GCP, Openstack).

• Unix/Linux programming, open source, and version control experience.

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Openstack), CI/CD, and Agile methodologies .

Preferred Competencies  

• Ability to collaborate with team members and help define guidelines and best practices and ensuring accountability for deliverables and outcomes.

• Ability to take multiple complex tasks and break them into smaller ones, estimating the effort needed to complete them, prioritizing them appropriately, and ensuring the completion of each task, meeting the required level of quality.

• Ability to prioritize and manage workload to meet project milestones and deadlines.

• Ability to persuade others to adopt new structures or systems in order to meet objectives.

• Ability to take and provide constructive and helpful input and feedback on technical issues.

• In-depth knowledge in most technical areas of major projects and the core product.

• Considered a Subject Matter Expert of main technology, programming languages, and core solutions.

  

Working Conditions  

• Office environment.

  

Application Documents  

• Resume (required) 

• Cover Letter (preferred) 

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Information Technology

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.