Senior Laboratory Associate in Software Engineering

About the role

The Urban Systems Lab seeks a Senior Laboratory Associate in Software Engineering to help advance the design and development of research-driven digital tools such as ClimateIQ, an AI-driven climate risk platform supported by Google.org, in support of urban resilience and adaptation in cities across the world.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design, maintenance, and improvement of technical stacks, including backend (Node.js, Express/NestJS), frontend (Next/Nuxtjs, React/Vue, Mapbox GL JS, Deck.gl), and infrastructure (GCP, Cloud Run, Redis, Firebase).
• Work with UI/UX designer and other software engineers to translate user experience research and designs into digital products.
• Help to implement data transformation and spatial interpolation for aggregation and disaggregation pipelines to enhance the functionality and user experience of the ClimateIQ software platform, among others.
• Manage the version control & portability of the lab's relevant applications, as well as the stability of their deployments, via tools such as Git, Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Ensure application performance monitoring, infrastructure stability, and timely maintenance/upgrades.
• Maintain relevant documentation on technical systems, their installation, deployment, management, etc.
• Stay abreast of advancements in geospatial technology, software engineering, and climate modeling to inform ongoing development efforts.
• Other support tasks, as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Software engineering experience (Python required; familiarity with FastAPI, Node.js, or similar backend frameworks).
• Experience with cloud computing platforms, including GCP, as well as HPC environments.
• Demonstrated experience with data analysis and visualization, including with geospatial data and tools (e.g., Mapbox, Leaflet, deck.gl, ArcGIS APIs).
• Experience translating user experience research and design mocks into features.
• Familiarity with frontend UI component libraries (e.g., MUI, Carbon Components).
• Strong prototyping and iteration skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Familiarity with climate and environmental datasets.
• Familiarity with geospatial data processing (raster and vector) and spatial analysis workflows.
• Familiarity with machine learning and statistical modeling.
• Excellent visual design, data visualization and storytelling skills, with a commitment to accessibility and clarity.
• Experience with mobile-first and low-end web/app development.
• Experience with scientific publication.