Backend Software Engineer
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Backend Software Engineer (Hybrid) No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position. About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a globally recognized leader in technology, data management, and large-scale citizen science supporting birds and biodiversity conservation. We curate more than a petabyte of digital assets, one billion bird sightings, and leverage innovative big data analysis tools and machine learning to produce web applications and services to empower a global community of bird and nature enthusiasts, researchers, conservationists, and educators. We rely on a team of high-performance engineers to help navigate intriguing technical challenges to provide data-driven services, learning platforms, and science communications supporting biodiversity and conservation communities in all corners of the globe. This role will develop technical infrastructure and services that support numerous user-facing applications, including eBird, Merlin, Macaulay Library, Birds of the World, and BirdCast.
The Opportunity Are you a tech-savvy problem solver who loves birds, data, and cutting-edge web development? We are looking for backend software engineer to help build the next generation of bird conservation tools. In this role, you'll: Design, develop, and maintain complex web applications that support bird research, conservation, and public engagement. Shape our technical future by helping transition to scalable, cloud-based systems. Collaborate across teams to integrate and optimize our application infrastructure. Work with Java, Spring, enterprise GIS, SQL (Postgres), and APIs to create seamless, high-performance systems.
The primary responsibilities include:
- Design, develop, and maintain complex web-based applications, APIs, and related services utilizing Java, Spring, enterprise GIS systems, and SQL (Postgres) for the Center for Avian Population Studies and Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO).
- Participate actively in the design and evolution of our technical infrastructure and hosting platforms, including the transition to more scalable, agile, cloud-based systems.
- Work closely with design and database teams to ensure seamless integration and user experiences.
- Help maintain our application code base, troubleshoot and fix bugs, and work to support and enhance application performance and system responsiveness.
- Stay up to date on the latest software development and web application best practices and processes.
- Contribute to the overall success of the engineering team.
While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.
What We Need Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Three (3)+ years of relevant experience working on substantial computer software projects and collaborating with a team of engineers.
- Three (3)+ years of object-oriented programming and modern web application development techniques building and integrating APIs, web services, and frontend user interfaces.
- Three (3)+ years of experience with Java, Spring, and SQL.
- Experience with relational database table design and with writing and optimizing complex queries.
- Experience with containerization using Kubernetes or Docker.
- Experience with cloud infrastructure platforms and services from major vendors such as AWS (preferred) or Azure.
- Experience with continuous integration, deployment, and automation technology such as Jenkins.
- Experience running services on Linux.
- Experience with version control systems (e.g. Git) and modern development workflows (e.g. Agile, Scrum).
- Experience with project management tools such as Jira.
- Proven experience documenting and testing code.
- Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to build working relationships to solve problems and achieve common goals in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
- Ability to establish realistic goals and deliver work on schedule, handle multiple concurrent tasks and priorities, and adapt to changing priorities, situations and demands.
- High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation, and an ability to exercise sound judgment in decision making and in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a sensitive or confidential nature.
- Ability to work weekends or evenings when participating in the 24x7 on call duty rotation.
If you have all those things, great. We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't. Preferred Qualifications: - Advanced degree in computer science or related field.
- Experience web frameworks such as React, Vue.js, Angular, Next.js, or Nuxt.
- Familiarity with the Linux command-line and experience with shell scripting.
- Experience with highly available, high volume transactional web applications.
- Experience with GIS data and server software such as GeoServer.
- Experience managing large volumes of data for replication, warehousing, and archival storage.
- Prior use and understanding of eBird, Merlin, BirdCast or other Cornell Lab tools and resources.
- Interest in birds, nature, conservation, and/or natural science.
Application Information: - A Cover Letter and Resume are required for further consideration for this position. When applying through our system, please remember to attach your application materials (Cover Letter and Resume) in PDF format.
- Visa Sponsorship of any kind is not available for this position.
- This position requires working on-campus three (3) days per week.
What We Offer Rewards and Benefits - This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely two (2) days per week and on-campus three (3) days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
- Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
- Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits:
- Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:
- Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
- Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.
University Job Title: Software Engineer III
Job Family: Information Technology
Level: F
Pay Rate Type: Salary
Pay Range: $95,071.00 - $110,487.00
Remote Option Availability: Hybrid
Company: Contract College
Contact Name: Maria Avila
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- Prior relevant work or industry experience
- Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
- Unique applicable skills
- Academic Discipline
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