Backend Software Engineer

Backend Software Engineer (Remote)

*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, and Birds of the World. 

The Opportunity

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.

The Backend Software Engineer is expected to:

Design, develop, and maintain complex web-based applications and related services for the Center for Avian Population Studies and Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO), external customers, and funding agencies. Participate actively in the design and evolution of CLO technical infrastructure and hosting platforms, including the transition to more scalable, agile, cloud-based systems. Serve as a technical liaison supporting coordination and integration of application infrastructure to meet CLO strategic objectives. Develop web-based systems, APIs, and database applications utilizing Java, Spring, enterprise GIS systems, and SQL with a Postgres backend. Stay current on software development and web application best practices and processes.

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 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 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 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 managing large volumes of data for replication, warehousing, and archival storage.
• Prior use and understanding of eBird, Merlin, Macaulay Library or other Cornell Lab tools and resources.
• Interest in birds, nature, conservation, and/or natural science.
• Experience with GIS data and server software such as GeoServer.

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.

What We Offer

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is based in Ithaca, New York, however, the successful applicant may perform this role remotely anywhere within the United States. Employees who work remotely may receive multiple W-2 Forms depending on their work location.
• The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside of New York State.
• 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: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.
• 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.

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• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

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