About the role
Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $69,200 - Midpoint: $89,900 (Salaried E11)
Department/Organization: 750501 - Alabama Water Institute (AWI)
Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Job Summary: The Software Scientist I develops, maintains, and extends software components and features for a variety of products. Writes well designed, testable, and efficient software.
Additional Department Summary: The Alabama Water Institute at The University of Alabama seeks applications for a Software Scientist I to support the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) Cyberinfrastructure – R2OHC Platform related research projects. CIROH @ AWI has developed a hybrid and multi-cloud water science environment to support a collaborative experiment to analyze the National Water Model and improve US capacity for critical flood and drought prediction.
This position works closely with leadership, DevOps Engineers, System/Site Reliability Engineer, Research Software Engineers, hydrologic modelers, and experts in GIS, AI/ML, and databases to support existing CIROH research projects by developing and maintaining the CIROH Hub and related web platforms, building data visualizations and data integrations, and maintaining CIROH-UA open-source repositories. Maintains web applications in support of scientific research and operational hydrology.
Renewal of position is contingent on availability of funding.
Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree; OR associate's degree and two (2) years of IT experience; OR high school diploma or GED and four (4) years of IT experience.
Skills and Knowledge: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for collaboration with academics, researchers, engineers, and students. Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, Javascript). Familiarity with web development frameworks. Knowledge of REST API and JSON, authentication frameworks, OIDC, and version control systems (e.g., Git). Knowledge of GIS and geospatial data tools and visualization techniques. Understanding of scientific computing principles. Ability to stay current, learn new concepts and techniques, and build a strategic network of stakeholders and experts. Ability to collaborate with teams and experts.
Preferred Qualifications: Graduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or related discipline. Experience with web mapping libraries (Leaflet, MapLibre, OpenLayers), spatial databases (PostgreSQL / PostGIS), and GeoServer or similar open-source map services. experience with software development, CI/CD pipelines, Docker and deployments. Experience with data discovery, metadata documentation, data processing, geospatial analysis, and scientific research. Experience working with large satellite remote sensing data sets in disparate formats and processing the data for geoscience applications. Experience developing and deploying web-based applications for data discovery, visualization, and analysis. Experience producing open-source computer codes and software applications. Experience creating informational publications, training materials, brochures, or facts sheets. Experience delivering training.
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.
The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.