Senior Scientific Software Developer – Bioimage Informatics

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital•Memphis, TN

7d•$86,320 - $154,960•Onsite

About The Position

The High Performance Research Computing (HPRC) and Center for Bioimage Informatics (CBI) teams at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are seeking a Senior Scientific Software Developer to build software platforms, applications, and data systems for bioimage informatics. This hands-on, full-stack engineering role focuses on turning algorithms, models, and analysis workflows developed with image data scientists, AI/ML researchers, and biologists into robust, scalable, well-tested, production-ready software for image generation, management, analysis, and processing. The role involves architecting, building, integrating, and testing full-stack applications, services, and data platforms; designing RESTful APIs, web interfaces, and PostgreSQL-backed systems for large multidimensional imaging datasets; and integrating and extending open-source bioimaging tools and standards. The developer collaborates with researchers, biologists, software engineers, imaging facilities, and research groups across St. Jude. The technology ecosystem includes Python scientific computing and bioimaging tools, Java, JavaScript, Spring, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Docker, Maven, and Git, with exploration of agentic AI and tool-calling frameworks such as MCP. The position reports to the Director of High Performance Research Computing and works closely with the Center for Bioimage Informatics as a collaborative team member. It is onsite in Memphis, Tennessee. The role also leads software coding, testing, debugging, documentation, installation, and GUI design; contributes to system specifications; manages projects and production-system support; investigates technical alternatives; resolves complex software issues; collaborates with internal teams and vendors; and trains and mentors junior teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, information science, business, or a related field.
At least 4 years of IT experience in systems programming and development, preferably in a comparable industry.
Experience with SDLC methodologies such as Agile, Waterfall, or CI/CD.
Experience in software systems design and maintenance.
Experience working with business stakeholders to identify and document requirements.
Proven performance in an earlier or comparable role.

Nice To Haves

Full-stack, open-source web development experience, with strong proficiency in Java, Python, and JavaScript, and frameworks such as Node.js and Spring.
Strong software engineering fundamentals, including object-oriented design, Git, testing, CI/CD, and delivery of production-grade systems.
Experience designing and integrating RESTful APIs; familiarity with agentic AI or tool-calling frameworks such as the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
PostgreSQL experience; familiarity with Docker and Maven.
Experience building software in scientific, research, or life-sciences settings, ideally involving imaging, microscopy, or large biomedical datasets.
Hands-on experience with bioimaging data and workflows, such as working with image data, productionizing image-analysis pipelines, or integrating AI/ML segmentation, detection, or quantification into applications.
Familiarity with bioimaging tools and standards such as OME-Zarr/NGFF, OME Bio-Formats, OMERO, napari, and ImageJ/Fiji.
Familiarity with the Python scientific computing stack, including NumPy, SciPy, scikit-image, Dask, and Zarr, and with large multidimensional image datasets.
Ability to collaborate with image data scientists, AI/ML researchers, and biologists to translate scientific requirements into robust, well-tested software.

Responsibilities

Architect, build, and maintain full-stack applications, services, and data platforms that support image generation, management, analysis, and processing at scale.
Turn image analysis and AI/ML workflows into reliable, reproducible, production-grade software.
Design and implement RESTful APIs, web interfaces, and PostgreSQL-backed systems for large multidimensional imaging datasets.
Integrate and extend open-source bioimaging tools and standards, and contribute robust, well-tested code to the community.
Collaborate with image data scientists, AI/ML researchers, biologists, software engineers, imaging facilities, and research groups.
Lead software coding, testing, debugging, documenting, and installation, as directed.
Lead the design of the system’s graphical user interface.
Assist in developing detailed program specifications for enterprise-wide systems and develop detailed specifications for group-level systems.
Perform detailed software design, coding, and testing using established standards and architectural patterns.
Design and implement new systems and features, and modify and maintain existing systems in response to business or technology changes.
Manage projects and provide subject matter expertise for production systems; document maintenance and system support procedures.
Investigate alternatives and new technologies and present them for architectural review.
Determine root causes of complex software issues and develop practical, efficient, permanent technical solutions.
Collaborate with internal teams and vendors to fix and improve products.
Monitor new technologies and vendor packages, evaluate them, and make recommendations.
Train and mentor junior teams on emerging technology systems and applications.
Perform other duties as assigned to meet department and institutional goals and objectives.
Maintain regular and predictable attendance.