Rice University Office of Information Technology, Center for Research Computing (CRC) is seeking an innovative, experienced, team-oriented software developer to assist faculty and researchers in building sophisticated and sustainable tools and infrastructure in order to support interdisciplinary digital research in the computational qualitative social sciences and digital humanities at Rice and beyond. Regular tasks will include programming, analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, modifying, and maintaining computer programs in systems of moderate size and complexity or segments of larger systems.
The Developer will join a distinguished and widely recognized team of research computing technologists with decades of combined expertise in operating infrastructure and providing research-computing support. With this position CRC is seeking to expand its services to respond to increasing demands to support computational social sciences and digital humanities.
The successful candidate will be a skilled software developer with a deep understanding of scholarship in the computational qualitative social sciences and/or the humanities. S/he will consult and collaborate with faculty on scholarly projects to identify technical approaches, processes and tools; evaluate and integrate existing software tools; and design and implement new solutions. The candidate should have both a broad and deep understanding of the current state of the art in the computational social sciences and/or the digital humanities, as well as experience developing software for one or more of these domains: information visualization; statistical and textual analysis; natural language processing; event modeling; large dataset management and transformation; digital content creation, storage, and discovery; geospatial analysis; high performance computing concepts; or network analysis.
Skills Required
The ideal candidate for the position will have a strong background in digital humanities and/or computational qualitative social sciences scholarship within higher education. The candidate should have analytical problem solving skills, and have a proven track record working with faculty and researchers solving complex problems leveraging research computing, data and visualization technologies. The incumbent should have a demonstrated background in the following areas:
- Experience teaching technology skills to novice computer users.
- A proven record of success in implementing technology projects.
- Demonstrated ability to establish effective, on-going relationships with varied levels of a diverse faculty, staff, and students.
- Familiar with software and methods related to text mining, visualization, 3D modeling, mapping, and other approaches currently being used in the field of digital humanities.
- Proficiency in one or more scripting languages (such as Python, Perl, Bash, etc.)
- Expertise in designing, developing, testing, and deploying applications.
- Demonstrated work with HTML, CSS or web delivery tools like WordPress, Drupal or Jekyll.
- Must be able to understand and translate researchers’ project goals into computational and information technology requirements.
- Must be able to function as part of an interactive team while demonstrating self-initiative to achieve project’s goals and research computing center’s mission.
- Must have strong analytical skills and problem solving ability.
- Must have excellent oral and written English communication skills and inter-personal skills.
Skills Preferred
- Experience with multiple programming languages (e.g., Ruby/Rails, Java, Javascript, PHP, Python, R); with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Oracle, MySQL); and with Linked Data technologies is a plus.
- Experience with visualization tools ranging from software packages such as Tableau and Gephi, GIS tools, to graphics libraries in languages like Javascript, Python, or R.
- Experience with Qualitative Data Analysis and Content Analysis tools (i.e., ATLAS.ti, NVivo, Dedoose, …).
- Experience with and functional knowledge of LINUX
- Expert knowledge of digital media formats and digital media management.
- Proficiency with application design and data modeling.
- Experience developing dynamic and interactive media, and/or interactive scholarly works for multiple devices with experience implementing best practices for responsive design and accessibility is a plus.
- Ability to define and solve logical problems for highly technical applications.
- Strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical clients.
- Ability to lead activities on structured team development projects.
- Ability to select, adapt, and effectively use a variety of programming methods; familiarity with agile software development practices.
- Knowledge of application domain, the use of technology in support of social science and/or humanities scholarship.
- A graduate degree in a social science or humanities discipline is desirable.
- Experience with high performance computing, parallel computing experience is a plus.
For the complete job description and to apply, please visit https://jobs.rice.edu/postings/6264
