Senior Research Programmer

Description

The Graduate School of Library and Information Science (http://www.lis.illinois.edu) seeks to fill a 100% FTE, 12-month, Academic Professional position as a Senior Research Programmer to support the School's growing research computing needs. The Senior Research Programmer provides professional programming, analysis, maintenance and technical research infrastructure support for GSLIS research projects and proposals. The Senior Research Programmer reports to the GSLIS Associate Dean for Research (ADR), and works closely with GSLIS faculty, research scientists and graduate students, as well as with other GSLIS and University units such as CITES, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NSCA), the Illinois Informatics Institute (I3), and with GSLIS Research Services and GSLIS Core IT. 

General Responsibilities:

• Provides analysis, software development and maintenance support for research projects and proposals.
• Consults and provides technical solutions for faculty research projects and proposals.
• Provides hardware system planning and support.
• Makes key contributions to the design, development and management of a GSLIS shared research software infrastructure. 
• Leads analysis and strategic planning for GSLIS research computing.
• Works with the ADR and with Research Services to coordinate, liaise and integrate with GSLIS IT, University IT and with external entities.
• Stays current with industry technology and trends.

Requirements:

• Strong background in variety of programming/scripting languages, including Java and at least one of C++, Perl, Eclipse IDE, MySQL, Python, PHP
• Experience with design and development of rapid prototypes
• Experience with the UNIX/LINUX operating system
• Demonstrated ability to handle large-scale, data-intensive computing challenges
• Ability to bridge between diverse research needs and technical solutions
• Experience with application trouble-shooting, quality assurance testing
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Scheduling flexibility is needed to meet researcher needs and deadlines
• Undergraduate degree
• Minimum three years of programming experience, showing increasing responsibilities

Preferred Skills/Abilities:

• Familiarity/interest in LIS research areas, including data mining, information retrieval, social network analysis, natural language processing
• Experience working in a team environment
• Experience with cluster computing (e.g. ROCKS)
• Familiarity with Semantic technologies: RDF/OWL, triple stores, etc
• Experience researching, configuring and deploying open-source software
• Proven ability to learn new technologies and languages as needs require
• Experience working with large-scale or enterprise-level architecture
• Familiarity with distributed computing, especially using the Map/Reduce framework
• Familiarity with academic environment, ability to work closely with faculty
• Familiarity with University of Illinois IT environment
• Experience writing research grants
• Experience working on academic research projects
• Good project management skills with demonstrated ability to use standard methods for organizing, securing and managing resources for research projects
• Develop creative solutions to programming needs that are within varying constraints of time, budget and scope
• Familiarity of statistical software including SPSS, SAS, Mathmatica
• Undergraduate degree or higher in Computer Science or related field
• Five years or more programming experience

Information about GSLIS, its programs, and its culture can be found on the Internet athttp://www.lis.illinois.edu/. This is a 12-month, academic professional position with regular University benefits. Salary is commensurate with experience. Starting date is as soon as possible after the closing date. To ensure full consideration, please complete your candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of interest, names and contact information for three professional references, and your resume by August 15, 2011. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered. Interviews may occur before the closing date; however, no decisions will be made prior to the closing date. The search will remain open until filled.

For further information regarding application procedures, you may contact Candy Edwards, (cledward@illinois.edu, 217 244-3809).

Illinois is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).