Scientific Web Application Developer - Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton, NY
About the Job
The National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory invites candidates to apply for a Research Software Engineer position in the Data Science & Systems Integration (DSSI) program. This role focuses on the development and deployment of web applications for controlling research instruments, visualizing scientific data sets, and tracking data processing pipelines.
The successful candidate will work closely with a team of research software developers and physical science researchers to create and maintain user interfaces that improve the workflows for cutting-edge scientific discoveries. This position offers opportunities to publish results, present at conferences and workshops, and shape strategies for user interfaces and data workflows at NSLS-II.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop and deploy browser-based applications: to explore and visualize data from scientific instruments; that interact with instrument control systems; that streamline scientific workflows for facility users.
- Work with NSLS-II stakeholders to capture and document the requirements for software developments.
- Ensure that user experience, user interfaces, and performance are consistent with requirements.
- Incorporate contemporary frameworks and techniques to perform rapid prototyping, user interface testing, unit testing, continuous integration and deployment.
- Maintain documented and tested deployments of software and environments.
- Provide technical support to colleagues, through documentation, training, and troubleshooting.
- Give occasional presentations to group members or at workshops conferences. Collaborate with your counterparts at other Scientific User Facilities.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physical Sciences + 5 years of relevant professional experience;
--OR-- Master’s degree + 3 years of relevant professional experience;
--OR-- Doctorate degree. - Experience with developing Web applications, which includes designing user interfaces and communicating with backend services.
- Experience with a modern Single Page Application (SPA) framework, such as React, Vue, Angular, etc.
- Experience with software management tools for source revision control, issue tracking, continuous integration (CI), building, and testing.
- Demonstrated record in collaborative software development.
- Experience with a prevalent scripting language (e.g., JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, etc.) for developing web applications.
- Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills to be able to interact effectively with a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and technical staff.
- Self-motivated, organized, and able to work in a team environment.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physical Sciences + 8 years of relevant professional experience;
--OR-- Master’s degree + 6 years of relevant professional experience;
--OR-- Doctorate degree + 2 years of relevant professional experience. - Data acquisition and analysis experience at a synchrotron light source, neutron source, particle accelerator, or other major scientific user facility.
- Experience with EPICS and Bluesky for controlling experiments with scientific instruments.
- Proficiency in core concepts of the React library (state management, hooks, context, reducers, effects, memos, rendering, hydration, etc.) and a React framework, such as Next.js or Vite.
- Proficiency in scripting or developing modules in Python, and the Scientific Python ecosystem.
- Experience using user interface wireframe / design tools, such as Figma.
- Experience managing distributed software systems, including containers and orchestration, communication protocols.
- Experience developing authorization and authentication systems using standard protocols (e.g., OIDC, SAML, etc.).
- Experience with databases (SQL, NoSQL).
- Experience contributing to community-led open-source software projects.
- Demonstrated application of creative solutions to complex problems that deliver impact to customers.
Environmental, Health & Safety Requirements:
- Individual will be required to work in Static Magnetic fields area
- Ability to speak, hear alarms, hear and understand speech.
- Perform repeated tasks
- Arm/hand dexterity.
- Vision, good near and normal color.
Other Information:
- The selected candidate will be placed at an appropriate level that is commensurate with their experience, knowledge and skills.
- This is an on-site position eligible for consideration of flexible work arrangement (hybrid telework).
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. This is a multi-level role and the full salary range for this position is $93800 - $140000 / year. You will be placed at the level and salary commensurate with your experience. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.