O'Connor Lab Software Developer

Universities of Wisconsin•Madison, WI

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The O'Connor Lab in the Department of Pathology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking an experienced software developer to design, build, and maintain a web platform for the Lungfish environmental monitoring project. This platform will integrate environmental data, analytical pipelines, and scientific reporting systems to aid research, environmental surveillance, and public health decision-making. The developer will be responsible for the end-to-end deployment of the primary public platform, enabling users to explore data through interactive visualizations, analytical reports, and training resources. The role involves designing and implementing the platform's architecture using modern web technologies and professional design assets for a cohesive user experience. Collaboration with scientists, data engineers, and research computing staff is key to building interfaces that integrate data from the Lungfish data warehouse and other systems like LabKey. These interfaces must facilitate the exploration of large and complex environmental monitoring datasets for diverse audiences. Prototyping new frontends with researchers and determining the best architecture will be a crucial part of this role. The position requires proven success in building complex, production-ready software systems in research settings, including experience with interactive data visualizations, API integration, user-centric architecture, and collaborative open-source development (e.g., GitHub). The role will also utilize AI assistance for development, debugging, and data exploration. This position requires onsite work at a designated campus location.

Requirements

At least four years of professional experience developing, deploying, and maintaining production applications in collaboration with researchers or similar stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience developing interactive data visualizations for scientific, analytical, or data intensive applications
Demonstrated experience working with application programming interfaces and integrating external data systems into web applications with complex and rapidly evolving user needs.
Demonstrated experience using collaborative software development practices like version control at an advanced level.
Ability to communicate effectively with collaborators from many backgrounds and skill levels and represent lab projects professionally as a project lead.
Bachelor’s degree required; focus in computer science, data science, information science, software engineering, or a closely related field.
Applicants must provide examples of previously developed production systems, including links to deployed applications, public repositories, or portfolio materials.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing software systems that support biological research, particularly for genomics or bioinformatics applications.
Demonstrated experience designing and implementing complex web platforms that integrate large or complex datasets.
Ability to work across a range of technologies and programming languages and become skilled in new technologies rapidly. Ideal candidates will have visible experience with Python and the scientific ecosystem as well as TypeScript/JavaScript and the web ecosystem.
Experience working with modern visualization frameworks used in analytical web applications, including but not limited to D3, Plotly, and Apache ECharts.
Experience working with research data management systems such as LabKey or similar platforms.
Experience deploying cost-sensitive web applications in cloud environments or research computing infrastructure.
Experience using open-source software development practices to govern, maintain, and improve software with contributors at various skill levels
Experience using AI-assisted development tools or large language model systems for software engineering or data analysis workflows.

Responsibilities

Prepares program documentation and training requirements
Reviews application design specifications, codes new applications, and makes enhancements to existing applications
Develops, prepares, or modifies technical specifications for complex projects, system integrations, and upgrades
Reviews application modules for quality assurance and checks compliance with application architecture standards
Conducts systems analysis, reviews and interprets system requirements, and develops detailed system design specifications for system integration and upgrades
Conducts analysis for the evaluation and selection of vendor software solutions and packages
Leads sub-functional team for application development or enhancement
Trains and provides technical guidance to lower level staff
Designs and implements test plans, and prepares systems test data
Design, develop, and maintain public and restricted audience websites that often display data
Develop comprehensive understanding of the research data and biological science domains that underpins application and website development
Contributes to the development of data structure and systems performance strategies
Participate in other lab-related and collaborator activities as needed