26-124 Research Data Engineer/Statistical Programmer Part-time

Colorado State University; United States; À distance; USD 45 000 - 50 000; Temps partiel

Résumé du poste

Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere seeks a part-time Research Data Engineer/Statistical Programmer to build and maintain a reproducible data-management system for surveys of public perception and response to hazardous weather. The role is fully remote, 70% FTE, collaborating with QRS researchers and institutional partners.

Ideal candidates have strong Stata and Python skills, reproducible workflows, and experience with survey data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in data science, CS, statistics, information science, social science, or related field.
• 3 years relevant professional experience; data-management in Stata.
• Experience producing fully labeled, documented, analysis-ready Stata files.
• Experience writing data-processing or scientific software in Python and using version control.

Responsabilités

• Review and harmonize historical responses into three hazard databases.
• Develop a master variable crosswalk and standardized labels across waves.
• Design and implement a reproducible pipeline using Stata, Python, and other tools.
• Scale processing to 600 waves annually without major rewrites.
• Incorporate survey samples while preserving design information.
• Document changes to questions, options, and data structures.
• Create automated quality-control checks and reports.
• Produce analysis-ready data files in Stata, R, and CSV formats.
• Maintain code, data dictionaries, and procedures in version control.
• Follow Institutional Review Board requirements.

Connaissances

Stata scripting

Python programming

R (tidyverse/haven)

Git or GitHub

Formation

Bachelor’s degree in data science / CS / statistics / information science / social science

Master’s degree in data science / CS / statistics / information science / social science

Outils

Stata

Python

Git

Qualtrics

R (haven / tidyverse)

Description du poste

Position Summary

In the summer of 2026, CIRA was awarded two year’s worth of funding by the Weather Program Office to conduct a project, “Using Quick Response Surveys to Develop and Pilot Test Flood Risk Communication”. The Quick Response Survey (QRS) project seeks a part-time (70% FTE) Research Data Engineer or Statistical Programmer to develop and maintain a reproducible data‑management system for surveys of public perception and response to hazardous weather. The existing QRS repository includes approximately 13,000 responses from 34 survey waves organized into three distinct but structurally similar hazard databases. The initial work will include regularizing the historical databases and processing approximately 15 to 20 additional survey waves. The selected individual will develop a system that can scale to support future national implementation involving as many as 150 forecast offices conducting an average of four surveys per year. The position will be performed remotely, will involve regular collaboration with QRS researchers and institutional partners, and will report directly to the SBES Data and Methods Advisor. The period of performance for this project runs through April 2028. If necessary, a no-cost extension will be requested. Description of Unit: The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University (CSU) seeks to fill a part-time (70% FTE) Research Data Engineer/Statistical Programmer position designed to conduct collaborative research and development with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The individual in this position will work in a fully remote capacity. For a complete position description, including information regarding our organization, our collaborators, the full position summary and job duties, please visit: https://www.cira.colostate.edu/welcome-about/jobs/ For full consideration, please apply by Monday, November 23, 2026, 11:59 PM (MT).

Essential Job Duties

• Review and harmonize approximately 13,000 historical responses from 34 survey waves into three consistently structured and documented hazard databases.
• Develop and maintain a master variable crosswalk and standardize variable names, labels, response codes, missing-value conventions, and derived-variable procedures across survey waves.
• Design and implement a reproducible pipeline using Stata, Python, and other appropriate tools to import, clean, validate harmonize, and append survey data from Qualtrics and other approved sources.
• Develop the pipeline to process a set of approximately 15 to 20 survey waves and scale to approximately 600 waves annually without substantial rewriting of the core processing system.
• Incorporate forecast-office-distributed surveys and purchased probability, quota, panel, or other vendor-provided samples while preserving recruitment source, survey wave, weights, quotas, and other available sample-design information.
• Establish procedures for identifying, documenting, and managing changes to survey questions, response options, variable names, survey modules, and incoming data structures.
• Create automated quality-control checks and exception reports for unexpected variables, coding changes, duplicate records, missing metadata, invalid values, and other data inconsistencies.
• Produce fully documented and analysis-ready data files in Stata, R, and CSV formats, with Stata files and processing decisions readable and auditable by project researchers.
• Maintain processing code, variable crosswalks, codebooks, data dictionaries, change histories, and standard operating procedures in an approved version-control environment.
• Follow applicable Institutional Review Board requirements.

Conditions of Employment

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the start of the position and through the entirety of the project (2 years from start date), because CIRA will not sponsor any type of visa for this position now nor in the future.

Supervision

The individual in this position will not supervise employees.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, statistics, information science, social science, or a related field, plus three years relevant professional experience, OR Master’s degree in data science, computer science, statistics, information science, social science, or a related field.
• Experience managing and programming data in Stata, including reproducible .do files, merges, appends, macros, loops, labels, and data-validation procedures.
• Experience producing fully labeled, documented, and analysis-ready Stata files.
• Experience writing data-processing or scientific software in languages such as in Python.
• Experience developing reproducible and documented data-processing workflows.
• Experience using version-control tools such as Git or GitHub.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Qualtrics survey structures, response exports, APIs, or survey metadata.
• Experience harmonizing multi-wave, longitudinal, repeated cross-sectional, or multi-source datasets.
• Experience working with confidential, restricted, or human‑subjects research data.
• Familiarity with survey weights and sample‑design variables.
• Experience using R and packages such as haven or the tidyverse.
• Experience producing consistent Stata, R, and CSV outputs from a common data‑processing workflow.
• Experience using LLM-assisted programming tools for code development, schema comparison, testing, or documentation.
• Experience working in an academic research center, government agency, policy institute, or similar research setting.
• Experience in social science research.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, problem‑solving, and communication skills as evidenced by an appropriate cover letter.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote research environment as evidenced by prior remote work experience.

Salary Range

Salary Range $45,000-$50,000 at 70% FTE, 28 hrs/week Full salary is calculated at max of $72,000 which takes into consideration organizational RA II salary, level of education/experience and project budget.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world‑class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work‑life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact. Review our detailed benefits information here. Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here. For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator. Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies per position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO/Affirmative Action

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Inspired by its land‑grant heritage, Colorado State University is committed to excellence and engagement, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States, and the world.

Contact Information

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