[Hiring] Senior Applications and Data Solutions Developer @University of Pennsylvania

Role Description

Our group seeks a versatile and creative problem solver who can work with non-technical clients to understand complex operational needs and develop practical technology solutions. This broad role spans application development, institutional data reporting, administration and improvement of an existing portfolio of platforms and services, and the development of automated and self-service tools, requiring the ability to move comfortably between projects, technologies, and problem domains while working independently and collaboratively.

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. The School of Arts and Sciences forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. We teach students across all twelve Penn schools, and our academic departments span the reach from anthropology and biology to sociology and South Asian studies.

Institutional Research and Application Development (IRAD) is a team of developers and data analysts within SAS Computing. We partner with the School’s three academic divisions — the College, the Graduate Division, and the College of Liberal and Professional Studies — as well as the Dean’s Office, Faculty Affairs, and the Office of Advancement, on the systems, applications, and data they rely on to operate.

We build and maintain custom web applications, provide expertise on institutional data through analysis, reporting, data visualization, and business intelligence technologies, and administer and integrate vendor and configurable platforms. Our work frequently involves helping clients understand complex problems and identifying the most practical technology solution, whether that involves developing something new, improving an existing system, integrating institutional data, or creating automated and self-service tools.

We strive to create innovative ways to improve operations and enable more informed decision-making. Our work connects directly to the academic mission of the School, in an environment that supports professional growth and a flexible work/life balance.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Progressively responsible experience developing and supporting data-driven applications, databases, reporting, or other enterprise technology solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex operational problems, work directly with non-technical stakeholders to understand and define needs, and translate those needs into practical technical solutions.
• Strong experience with relational databases and complex SQL.
• Experience developing web applications using PHP or comparable server-side technologies.
• Experience with reporting and analytics solutions, data integrations, or automated workflows.
• Strong communication, customer service, collaboration, and project planning and organizational skills.
• Intellectually curious, flexible, and comfortable working across a diverse portfolio of applications, platforms, data, and reporting needs.
• Ability to independently investigate unfamiliar systems and technologies, decompose complex problems, evaluate alternative approaches, and develop sustainable solutions.
• Ability to context switch between projects, work both independently and collaboratively, and build effective relationships with technical peers and divisional clients.

Requirements

• Knowledge of one or more of the following is desirable: Oracle, MySQL, PL/SQL, Oracle Application Express (APEX) or similar low-code development platforms, JavaScript and modern web frameworks, and business intelligence and analytics platforms such as Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik.
• Experience administering, configuring, integrating, or supporting vendor-provided or configurable enterprise platforms is desirable.
• Familiarity with Penn’s Snowflake-based Data Warehouse and experience working in higher education are preferred.

Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Tuition: Tuition assistance for you, your spouse, and dependent children.
• Retirement: Generous retirement plans to help you save for your future.
• Time Away from Work: Substantial amount of time away from work during the year.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance to help cover costs of long-term care services.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Programs and resources to help balance work and personal life.
• Professional and Personal Development: Resources to help you advance personally and professionally.
• University Resources: Access to a wide range of University resources and cultural activities.
• Discounts and Special Services: Great deals for University faculty and staff.
• Flexible Work Hours: Creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home.
• Adoption Assistance: Reimbursement for qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child.