Research Programmer for the Research Data Service

Description

 Position Available:  The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date.  This is a 12 month, 100% time Academic Professional position supporting the new Research Data Service headquartered at the University Library. The candidate will advance the campus’ data science research programs by developing a repository for deposit of and access to research data objects.  

Duties and Responsibilities: As a member of the Repository Development Team and reporting to the Manager for Repository Development, the Research Programmer will provide design, programming, and technical support for all components of a large-scale, campus-wide, research data repository system.  

Detailed job duties include but are not limited to the following:
* Work with project stakeholders and development team to gather and analyze requirements for repository development and recommend approaches for meeting those requirements
* Independently or as a member of a small team, implement approved strategies and recommendations, especially for in-house development but also for customization or integration of purchased and/or open source software
* Apply best practices in various software development methodologies; including version control, automated testing and code refactoring, and leveraging appropriate programming frameworks and technical architectures to the requirements and proposed solutions
* Use “investigation time” to pursue areas of interest not directly in support of an immediate program need, but in accordance with the University Library’s policy on Investigation Time for Academic Professional Employees (http://www.library.illinois.edu/administration/human/resources/investigationtime.html).  

Environment: Headquartered in the University Library, the Research Data Service is a partnership between the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), the Library, the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), Campus Information Technology and Educational Services (CITES), and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA).  The service provides the UIUC research community with the expertise, tools, and infrastructure necessary to manage and steward research data. 

The Library’s Repository Development Team responds to changes in repository technology, evolving user needs, and shifts in scope. Software development is guided by the principles of Agile Development. The development team works with stakeholders to generate user requirements, take discrete steps to meet those requirements, and build on successes. At every iteration, the team produces working software that meets the highest-priority user requirements.  

Qualifications:

Required:
* Bachelor’s Degree
* Software development experience
* Familiarity with programming web applications
* Experience working in a UNIX/Linux command-line environment
* Demonstrated ability to accurately convert client requirements and specifications into working code
* Ability to work independently or under only general direction
* Motivated, self-starter, proactive, resourceful, naturally inquisitive, interested in continuous improvement
* Strong oral and written communication skills  

Preferred:
* Two or more years of experience in developing and coding interactive, data-driven Web applications in Ruby on Rails and/or Java Web frameworks
* Experience with open-source software tools relevant to the management and preservation of research datasets of varying size and complexity
* Experience with software development methodologies and tools, such as agile and scrum, test driven development, source control, versioning, refactoring
* Experience working with metadata and interoperability standards, particularly heterogeneous scientific data and emerging metadata standards  

Salary:   Salary is competitive and is commensurate with experience and credentials.  

Campus & Community: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University-Extensive) that is ranked among the best in the world. Chartered in 1867, it provides undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conducts theoretical and applied research, and provides public service to the state and the nation. It employs 3,000 faculty members who serve 31,000 undergraduates and 12,000 graduate and professional students; approximately 25% of faculty receives campus-wide recognition each year for excellence in teaching. More information about the campus is available at www.illinois.edu. The University is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, which have a combined population of 100,000 and are situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, and 170 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution. For more information about the community, visit: http://illinois.edu/about/community/community.html or http://www.ccchamber.org/.  

Apply: To ensure full consideration, please complete your candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information including email addresses for three professional references. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered. For questions, please call: 217-333-8169.  

DEADLINE: in order to ensure full consideration, applications must be received by December 5, 2014. 

Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a  disability. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.  (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).