Senior Software Engineer

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

10d • $8,000 - $11,428 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Southern California (USC) is seeking a part-time, fixed-term, talented and collaborative Senior Software Engineer in the Psychology Department. This role will join an interdisciplinary research team in building an interactive, online learning platform designed to supplement key components of the proven Pathways-to-Success intervention program for 8th graders. This platform will provide an alternative to classroom activities for classes lacking teachers and for students who have missed sessions, offering an accessible digital environment to engage with core activities and experience the take-homes of these sessions. The engineer will focus on developing a scalable, user-friendly web application in close collaboration with researchers, subject matter experts, engineers, and a UI/UX designer, as well as maintaining and improving the existing Pathways-to-Success teacher resource website.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in computer science or computer engineering.
• 5+ years of professional experience in software development.
• Strong proficiency in the following Frontend technologies: Typescript, React, Redux.
• Strong proficiency in Backend technologies: Node.js.
• Solid experience working with SQL databases.
• Skilled in using debugging and development tools such as Chrome DevTools and Postman.
• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end web applications, with a solid understanding of backend API best practices and server maintenance.
• Basic proficiency with UI/UX design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) and prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Axure, Framer).
• Familiar with responsive design principles and web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to business intelligence platforms like Metabase or Tableau is a bonus.
• Familiarity with the Pathways-to-Success program, including the core intervention design and the key active ingredients meant to be invoked by each session.
• Proficiency with tools specific to our stack: Material UI, Fastify.js, PostgreSQL, Metabase
• Experience conducting and synthesizing insights from user research and usability testing.
• Strong grasp of interaction design, user flows, and information architecture.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven track record in designing learning platforms and/or intuitive, user-friendly web applications.
• A collaborative team player with experience contributing to multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple project components simultaneously.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a passion for crafting refined, user-centered experiences that are both functional and visually cohesive.
• Deep empathy for users and a strong interest in education, learning science, or teacher development is highly valued.
• Experience running A/B experiments, using FeatureFlags to test new features, and locally deploying projects for feature demonstrations.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with researchers, engineers, and a UI/UX Designer to align technical development with user needs, program goals, and content structure.
• Translate wireframes and prototypes into a functional, scalable web application with intuitive navigation, clear workflows, and collaborative features.
• Coordinate with the UI/UX Designer to ensure seamless design-to-development handoff and high implementation fidelity.
• Maintain and improve the existing Pathways-to-Success teacher resource website, focusing on backend maintainability and performance.
• Implement observability tools (logs, metrics) and write documentation and unit tests to support debugging, transparency, and long-term collaboration.
• Support ongoing user research and usability testing, iterating based on feedback and analytics to enhance design and functionality.
• Ensure the platform adheres to accessibility standards, is fully responsive, and maintains a consistent visual and interaction design system.

Benefits

• health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network
• eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment
• tuition benefits for staff and their family
• free Professional Development classes
• central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services
• discounts to sporting and other campus events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Senior