Open Source Research Software Engineer

Department

PSD Data Science Staff

About the Department

The University of Chicago Data Science Institute (DSI) is a hub for scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners tackling the methodological, societal, and domain-specific challenges of our increasingly data-driven world. As a leader in the field, DSI drives cutting-edge research, fosters innovation in data education at all levels, and engages in meaningful partnerships with industry, government, and the broader community.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of AI + Science in DSI, the Open Source Research Software Engineer (OSRSE) will develop open-source software to support DSI’s research priorities. The OSRSE will collaborate with the DSI’s engineering Team and interdisciplinary research groups across the University of Chicago to define requirements, refine system architectures, and build robust, scalable solutions for computational, mathematical, and natural science research. This role involves designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software, with an emphasis on high-quality, reusable code.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with substantial existing codebases, strong problem-solving skills, and a keen interest in data-driven applications, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. A portion of this role will directly support the AI + Science Postdoctoral Program and PI/faculty collaborators on this program, which is focused on training a generation of domain scientists with a deep theoretical and practical understanding of artificial intelligence. Interest in and understanding of machine learning and artificial intelligence is preferred in candidates applying for this position.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and debug complex software programs.

• Implement and optimize algorithms (ML + AI) for data-intensive research.

• Diagnose and resolve complex system and software issues.

• Execute feature requests independently, with guidance from the PI and project manager on goals and design.

• Collaborate with team members to improve software quality, testability, and fault tolerance.

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, supporting faculty and postdoctoral researchers in achieving their research objectives.

• Collaborate with team members in developing software that improves testability and fault-tolerance, striving to improve the quality of software of individual team members as part of improving the overall system-level quality.

• Define best practices for code publication and formalization.

• Deliver training workshops for postdoctoral scholars to improve their software development

• Designs new systems, features, and tools. Solves complex problems and identifies opportunities for technical improvement and performance optimization. Reviews and tests code to ensure appropriate standards are met

• Acts as a technical consultant and resource for faculty research, teaching, and/or administrative projects.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.

Experience:

• At least five years of professional experience in software engineering or a related programming field.

• Strong experience with Linux, Python, and at least one additional programming language.

• Proficiency in software development best practices, including version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines.

• Experience working with large, existing codebases.

• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, hybrid work environment, collaborating with faculty, staff, students, and the broader UChicago community.

• Experience working with GPUs and remote computing environments.

• Knowledge of best practices around building data-driven systems, including those in the AI/ML space.

Preferred Competencies

• Familiarity with virtualization and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes, etc.).

• Knowledge of cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure, etc.).

• Interest in and experience developing software to support data-driven research.

• Experience with publishing code to github for public use.

• Experience deploying advanced ML & AI models, ideally in high-performance computing environments.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

• References (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Information Technology

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$102,000.00 - $129,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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