Senior Full Stack Software Engineer Tech Lead

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard Medical School?

Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.

You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world-renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.

Job Summary:

Lead comprehensive applications/web development for highly complex projects; typically work as part of a team to implement complex business solutions. Deliver strategic and expert coding; focus on overarching development strategy for a large, complex, multi-faceted application. May manage a number of projects simultaneously.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at Harvard Medical School is looking for a Senior Full Stack Software Engineer Tech Lead to technically lead a team to build cutting edge research platforms. We seek an individual to work on our multidisciplinary team of data scientists, medical doctors, and developers. Our team studies large and disparate datasets from the domains of biology, healthcare, and social media. The goal of our efforts is to transform healthcare and research to usher in a new age of individualized data-driven medicine. For this project, we are working with several data registries to create an “Information Commons” where researchers can go to browse and analyze data. We seek a Tech Lead to help guide the vision of an open-source research API known as the PIC-SURE API and the integration of this API with other applications in our research infrastructure like JupyterHub, etc. The incumbent will play a role in clarifying requirements, participating in architectural discussions, proposing and implementing solutions, and reporting on their progress to the team.

Responsibilities: 

• Leading the development and maintaining new and pre-existing features of and integrate applications with our existing APIs as well as third-party API. 
• Leading the development and implementation of complex software solutions that include security and authorization levels to ensure participant-level data is secure. 
• Lead technical support, testing and deploying software in multiple environments that have different security access, including the HMS-IT FISMA enclave. Identifying risks and forming contingency plans as soon as possible. Test and deploy software in multiple environments with varying security access, including the HMS-IT FISMA enclave. Subject matter expert about the FISMA security requirements to ensure participant-level data is secure. 
• Subject matter expert of the Avillach Lab infrastructure and architecture, including leadership in creation, and maturing of software development best practices and new technologies that influence long-term software and data governance, costs, and workflows. 
• Leading the full software development life cycle. 
• Create and maintain reproducible data pipelines and ensure that all code has proper test coverage. 
• Work with research scientists both internally and externally to clarify software requirements. Draw on relationships and technical skills to act as a technical expert to internal and external clients. Break down complex technical concepts into understandable information for non-technical audiences.
• Propose solutions to these requirements, weighing the costs and benefits with our team as well as a broader group of stakeholders involved in the open-source community.
• Staff leadership, determining project requirements and developing work schedules for the team, implement solutions and update the team on the status of work.
• Lead team members in architectural discussions and general improvements across all team projects as directed.
• Strategically advise on the technical skills required for the team. Collaborate with the hiring manager to define the job skills and technical capabilities required for new hires. Participate in the hiring process by interviewing potential candidates and providing feedback to the hiring manager. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of seven years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Front End: User interface design and implementation using modern JavaScript tools such as Svelte, React, etc.  
• Back End: Java, Springboot.
• DevOps: Docker, Terraform, Cloud formation, AWS Lambda.  
• Professional experience with one or more of (Node.Js, Python, R).
• Interfacing with various data storage and indexing solutions like MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server and others.

• Term: This is a term position with an end date of June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance and continued funding to support the position. Following the initial June 30, 2026 term end date this position will be renewed on an annual basis. 
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hrs. per week | Monday - Friday | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information: Please note that we are currently conducting a majority of interviews and onboarding remotely and virtually. We appreciate your understanding.
• Staying Informed About Your Application: Due to the high volume of applications, we may not always be able to reach out right away, but you can track your status anytime through the Careers@Harvard portal.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 059. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.