Research Engineer, Central Computation
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research center at the University of Washington. Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations. Our vision is to provide policymakers, donors, and researchers with the highest-quality quantitative evidence base so all people live long lives in full health.
IHME is committed to providing the evidence base necessary to help solve the world’s most important health problems. This requires creativity and innovation, which are cultivated by an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment that respects and appreciates differences, embraces collaboration, and invites the voices of all IHME team members.
IHME has an outstanding opportunity for a full-time Research Engineer on our Central Computation team. We are looking for a motivated individual to join a team of engineers in building a modern, reproducible, data-driven research infrastructure. The ideal incumbent will be comfortable developing, implementing, and supporting analytical software tools that can easily be utilized by other staff with less coding experience. The position requires problem-solving and consulting with users to resolve tool-specific bugs, diagnose code problems, and devise solutions for new requirements. This position is contingent upon project funding availability.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Tool Development & Support
- Execute analytic machinery in a coordinated manner to achieve key deliverables on deadline.
- Develop integrated tools and diagnostics into complex computational processes to enable non-expert users to execute analytic processes and assess results.
- Contribute to the refactoring of existing code to improve efficiency, operability, and performance while maintaining high-quality results.
- Follow software development best practices. (e.g., source control, documentation, writing tests, etc.).Test, implement, and support analytic methods as appropriate.
- Develop and use protocols to identify problems with datasets and routine computational processes, rectify issues, and systematize data for future analyses.
- Provide timely and comprehensive user support via help desk ticket investigation and bug resolution.
- Actively participate in code review with fellow staff.
Research Command
- Exhibit command of the dimensions and uses of health data in IHME analytic pipelines.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the analytic components of the research program and how they operate.
- Distinguish between research requirements and implementation requirements.
- Continually seek new knowledge and collaborate with researchers and faculty to gain a better understanding of analytical components and research methodology.
General
- Communicate clearly and effectively while contributing as a productive member of the team and the Institute as a whole.
- Work closely with other team members to help them with relevant tasks, show them how to learn new skills, and help resolve problems across projects.
- Participate in internal trainings.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, statistics, or related field plus two years’ related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Demonstrated expertise in developing code in Python, Java, R, and/or other coding language. Python is most critical.
- Experience deploying software to Linux servers.
- Strong sense of focus and attention to detail.
- Ability to plan and organize technical projects.
- Works well with others to solve problems, define priorities, and achieve common goals.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, self-motivation, flexibility, strong communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, energetic, highly creative, entrepreneurial environment.
- A commitment to working to alongside others at IHME to illuminate the health impacts of systemic racism and to work within IHME to make our organization more diverse and inclusive. See IHME’s DEI statement here: http://www.healthdata.org/get-involved/careers/dei.
DESIRED:
- Experience with application containerization using tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and Rancher.
- Good applied statistics skills, such as distributions, statistical testing and regression.
- Statistics and/or public health interest.
- Experience with relational databases, e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL.
- Automation experience.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Weekend and evening work sometimes required.
- This position is open to anyone authorized to work in the US. The UW is not able to sponsor visas for staff positions.
- Office is located in Seattle, Washington. This position is eligible to work fully remote in the US.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.