Research Software Engineer I
About The Position
This position involves developing, implementing, and maintaining web-based applications on AgroClimate.org. Key responsibilities include adding new features to the Climate Indicators tool, such as a module for evaluating weather extremes probabilities (freezes, dry spells, heat stress, excess moisture) for user-defined periods across the USA. The role also requires maintaining and improving cloud-hosted applications, specifically upgrading database connections for disease alert systems to work with both point data and gridded weather products. Additionally, the position entails building and maintaining APIs and databases, ensuring the NASS-DSS Application Programming Interface (API) tool is operational 24/7, and developing new APIs as needed. The software developed must adhere to principles of stability, security, and maintainability.
Requirements
- A Bachelor’s Degree in computer or physical science, statistics, bioinformatics, analytics, or similar field and two years of experience; OR a Master’s Degree in computer or physical science, statistics, bioinformatics, analytics, or similar field.
- Demonstrated full stack web development experience.
- Experience designing and developing RESTful APIs and back-end services in Node.js and Python.
- Proficiency with relational databases (PostgreSQL), including schema design, query writing, and data modeling.
- Experience with non-relational/document databases (MongoDB).
- Experience developing and deploying applications on cloud environments (AWS, GCP).
- Proficiency with source-code management, issue tracking, and collaborative development workflows (Git, code review, CI/CD).
- Ability to translate user needs into technical requirements, prepare specifications, and produce and maintain technical documentation.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to report progress to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, contributing to project planning, prioritization, and organization.
- Experience with applications that consume geospatial, weather, or climate data (e.g., raster/vector data, time series, gridded climate products, remote sensing imagery).
- Experience with serverless architectures and workflow orchestration (AWS Step Functions) and infrastructure-as-code (CloudFormation).
- Experience with containerization (Docker), automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
Nice To Haves
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related area and two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Modern JavaScript front-end frameworks such as Angular and Vue.js.
- Familiarity with agricultural, environmental, or natural resources domains.
Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, and maintain web-based applications on AgroClimate.org.
- Incorporate new features into the Climate Indicators tool, including a module for evaluating weather extremes probabilities.
- Maintain and improve cloud-hosted applications, focusing on upgrading database connections for disease alert systems.
- Build and maintain APIs and databases, ensuring the NASS-DSS API tool is operational 24/7.
- Develop new APIs as necessary.
- Ensure software meets design principles for stability, security, and maintainability.
- Translate user needs into technical requirements.
- Prepare specifications and produce/maintain technical documentation.
- Report progress to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Contribute to project planning, prioritization, and organization.
- Build responsive, accessible interfaces that meet web accessibility standards.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
