Temporary Research Software Engineer

Worcester Polytechnic Institute•Worcester, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) seeks a temporary Research Software Engineer to support the Music-induced Analgesia Genome Study (IMAGS), an interdisciplinary research project investigating the use of music and physiological sensing technologies to support chronic pain management. The successful candidate will help transform the IMAGS software into a portable, reproducible research platform that can be readily deployed and adapted by research teams at other institutions. Working closely with faculty investigators, the Research Software Engineer will design and implement a modern deployment architecture—utilizing containerization technologies such as Docker—to simplify installation, improve long-term maintainability, and support open scientific collaboration. This work will contribute directly to the broader dissemination of the IMAGS platform by enabling researchers to install the software with minimal technical expertise while preserving a consistent, reproducible research environment across institutions. The position is funded through a summer research grant and provides an opportunity to contribute to an innovative project at the intersection of software engineering, music technology, biomedical sensing, and digital health.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or current enrollment in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
Experience developing software in Linux environments.
Experience with Docker, containerization technologies, or virtualization platforms.
Familiarity with web application deployment and server administration.
Strong programming and software engineering skills.
Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative research team.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Docker Compose, Kubernetes, or other container orchestration tools.
Experience deploying web applications using technologies such as Node.js, Python, PHP, or similar server-side frameworks.
Familiarity with databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite.
Experience with Git and collaborative software development workflows.
Experience creating installation scripts, CI/CD pipelines, or automated deployment systems.
Interest in open-source software, reproducible research, scientific computing, or digital health technologies.

Responsibilities

Design and implement a containerized deployment of the IMAGS software platform using Docker or a similar container technology.
Develop an installation workflow that enables researchers to deploy the complete IMAGS system with minimal configuration.
Package web applications, databases, and supporting services into a reproducible software environment.
Configure persistent data storage, networking, and security for research deployments.
Create installation guides, technical documentation, and developer documentation for external research teams.
Improve the portability, maintainability, and long-term sustainability of the IMAGS software architecture.
Collaborate with faculty investigators to identify software requirements and prioritize development goals.
Test deployments across multiple operating systems and computing environments.
Participate in project meetings and provide regular progress updates.