Senior Software Engineer

Department
BSD CTD - Engineering - Plan X

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 and

Job Summary
Senior 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 frontend technologies.

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.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for technical tasks and timely delivery of such tasks, meeting the required level of quality.
• Participation in complex and challenging activities, including design and implementation.
• Provide support and maintenance for existing applications.
• Provide technical mentorship to interns and onboarding staff and technical leadership in technical initiatives.
• Actively participate in the hiring process and provide fair and productive interview feedback.
• Elaborate on technical solutions internally and externally when required.
• Investigates, analyzes and resolves day-to-day technical problems using standard procedures.
• Works with stakeholders to gather and analyze requirements for developmental programs. Receives a moderate level of guidance to design applications to meet University and business requirements.
• Performs code testing on components and works to ensure that appropriate implementation standards are met. Evaluates design alternatives for development cost and solutions using various methods.
• Supports and maintains existing applications. Works with web developers and responds to requests from users.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

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

Experience:

• 3+ years of relevant software development experience, full cycle, including design, coding, testing, and support.
• Programming skills using Python (preferred), Golang/Javascript (a plus), or other languages like C/C++, Java, or C# with advanced skills in at least one of these languages.
• 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 and interact effectively with team members, following 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 adopt and support new structures or systems to meet objectives.
• Ability to take and provide constructive and helpful input and feedback on technical issues.
• In-depth knowledge in core technical areas, including in-depth knowledge of one or more modern programming languages, or having demonstrated the ability to achieve that level of proficiency in a short period of time.

Working Conditions

• Office environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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

Scheduled Weekly Hours
40

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$80,000.00 - $120,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, 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.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call View phone number on click.appcast.io or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

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: Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.