[Hiring] Research Programmer II @University of Southern California

Role Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Programmer II with a strong background in computer science, data management, and research software development. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team supporting large-scale studies that collect and analyze health, activity, and location data from wearable devices, including Fitbit and other fitness trackers. The position provides an opportunity to develop innovative software and data systems that support cutting-edge research and address complex scientific questions.

The Research Programmer II will work closely with researchers, IT staff, and other members of multidisciplinary research teams to translate research objectives into practical software and data solutions. The successful candidate will:

• Design and implement complex data collection systems.
• Develop secure research portals and mobile applications.
• Manage large research databases.
• Develop analytical tools to support research projects.
• Work on projects involving new technologies and develop software and infrastructure from the ground up.

Qualifications

• Experience developing software to support academic or biomedical research.
• Experience working with large databases, research datasets, and survey data.
• Experience with Stata or other statistical analysis software.
• Experience working with health, activity, wearable-device, or location data.
• Experience developing mobile applications for Android and/or iOS.
• Experience designing data collection systems and integrating data from external APIs and connected devices.
• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in solving complex conceptual programming problems.
• Experience working collaboratively with researchers and multidisciplinary teams.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a closely related discipline. A combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered equivalent.
• A minimum of three years of relevant programming experience.
• Strong programming skills in Python and PHP.
• Proficiency with MySQL and relational database management.
• Competence to work independently on complex programming projects.
• Experience working with large and complex research datasets.
• Experience working with location or geospatial data.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze research requirements and translate them into effective software and data solutions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts and solutions to researchers and other non-technical collaborators.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while working effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team.

Benefits

• The annual base salary range for this position is $106,012.83- $124,499.52.
• This is a grant funded position, with a 3 year (renewable) fixed term length.

Company Description

The Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) is a multidisciplinary research center dedicated to discovering how people around the globe live, think, interact, age, invest, and make important, life-changing decisions. Our in-depth research and analysis are deepening the understanding of human behavior in a wide range of economic and social contexts.

Our ultimate goal: to improve social welfare by informing and influencing decision-making in the public and private sectors.