Associate Director, Open-Source Application Development

Everest Clinical Research; United States; Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Gym reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Pension plan

Paid time off

Sick leave

Performance bonus

Job summary

Everest Clinical Research, a global CRO, is seeking an Associate Director for Open-Source Application Development. The role combines hands-on coding with leadership to advance data standards, analytics, and automation using SAS, R, and Python.

You will design and maintain production-quality code, build CI/CD pipelines, and mentor teams while aligning with regulatory data standards, cloud deployments, and modern open-source workflows.

Qualifications

• M.Sc., M.A. or higher in Statistics, Computer Science, or a relevant field with at least 10 years of clinical research experience.
• Demonstrated experience implementing CDISC standards for regulatory submissions.
• Strong hands-on experience with R, Python, SAS programming and software design for data and statistical use cases.
• Experience applying AI and LLM tools for coding development, including integration into applications/tools.
• Experience with GitHub or similar version control and workflows (GitLab, Bitbucket).
• Experience deploying applications in AWS/Azure/GCP, Docker, Kubernetes; hosting platforms like Posit Connect/Shiny is preferred.
• Travel up to 10% may be required.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and expertise in open-source application development strategy for clinical data standards and analytics.
• Design, write, test, and maintain production-quality SAS, R and Python code as a hands-on contributor and lead developer.
• Ensure alignment with CDISC regulatory expectations and evolving data standards guidance.
• Oversee design, development, and maintenance of SAS/R/Python applications and libraries.
• Architect core modules and reusable functions with clean, modular, well-documented code.
• Conduct code reviews and mentor developers on software engineering best practices.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions) for automated testing and deployment.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows with automated solutions across SAS and open-source tools.
• Prototype proof-of-concept tools and AI-assisted approaches before broader adoption.
• Debug and optimize performance; manage dependencies and environments.

Skills

R

Python

SAS programming

AI-assisted coding

Code reviews

CI/CD

GitHub workflows

Cloud & containers

Education

M.Sc. in Statistics or CS

Tools

GitHub

GitLab

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS/Azure/GCP

Posit Connect / Shiny

Job description

Everest Clinical Research (\"Everest\") is a full-service contract research organization (CRO) providing a broad range of expertise-based clinical research services to worldwide pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. We serve some of the best-known companies and work with many of the most advanced drugs, biologics, and medical devices in development today. Everest has been an independent CRO since 2004 with a strong foundation as a statistical and data management center of excellence. Building on this foundation, Everest has successfully developed and established itself as a full-service CRO. Everest's Corporate headquarters are located in Ontario, Canada and US headquarters in New Jersey, USA, with additional physical offices in Asia and Europe. Everest is known in the industry for its high-quality deliverables, superior customer service, and flexibility in meeting clients' needs. A dynamic organization with an entrepreneurial origin, Everest continues to experience exceptional growth and great success. Quality is our backbone, customer-focus is our tradition, flexibility is our strength...that's us...that's Everest.

Associate Director, Open-Source Application Development

working remotely (or in office).

Job Accountabilities

• Provide leadership and expertise in defining, implementing, and governing Everest's open-source application development strategy in support of clinical data standards, statistical programming, and analytics.
• Design, write, test, and maintain production-quality SAS, R and Python code (functions, packages, APIs, and utilities), serving as a hands-on technical contributor and lead developer on priority applications, not solely a strategic overseer.
• Ensure alignment with global regulatory expectations and evolving guidance related to data standards (e.g., CDISC), automation, and advanced analytics as reflected in internally developed tools and applications.
• Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of SAS-, R- and Python-based applications, packages, and utilities that support metadata-driven data models for automation of downstream clinical data activities.
• Personally architect and build core modules, reusable functions, and internal libraries/packages ensuring clean, modular, well-documented, and maintainable code.
• Conduct in-depth code reviews and code review programming sessions with programmers and developers to raise coding quality, enforce Everest style guides, and mentor others in software engineering best practices.
• Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions) to automate testing, linting, package building, and deployment of applications and tools.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and eliminate redundancies through custom-built, standardized, and automated application solutions spanning SAS and open-source environments.
• Prototype and build proof-of-concept tools and scripts to evaluate new packages, frameworks, libraries, or AI-assisted coding approaches before broader adoption.
• Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues in existing applications, including performance optimization, dependency management, and environment/configuration issues.
• Establish a framework that supports controlled innovation in application development and validation lifecycle, including design specifications, coding standards, coding review, version control, change management, and impact assessment for new applications/tools and their releases.
• Ensure AI-assisted development approaches align with regulatory expectations, data integrity principles, and Everest validation and documentation requirements.
• Maintain a software development lifecycle (SDLC) framework appropriate for open-source language-based applications, including source control practices (e.g., GitHub or similar), branching strategy, testing standards, and release management.
• Maintain deep proficiency in SAS programming (Base SAS, SAS/STAT, macro language) to support legacy systems, hybrid SAS/R/Python workflows, and interoperability across statistical programming environments during the transition to open-source tools.
• Foster a culture that balances quality, compliance, and operational excellence with thoughtful innovation in application development.

Qualifications And Experience

• A M.Sc., M.A. or higher in Statistics, Computer Science, or a relevant field with at least 10 years of clinical research and industry experience.
• Demonstrated experience implementing CDISC standards for various therapeutic areas and supporting regulatory submissions of clinical trial data.
• Strong hands-on experience with R, Python, and , including application development (not limited to scripting/analysis), package/library creation, and software design for clinical data and statistical programming use cases.
• Demonstrated experience applying AI and large language model (LLM) tools for coding development, including code generation, code review, testing, and integration into applications/tools.
• Experience with GitHub or similar version control and application development platforms (e.g., GitLab, Bitbucket), including code review workflows, branching strategies, and .
• Experience deploying and supporting applications in cloud and containerized environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP; Docker; Kubernetes), including exposure to hosting/deployment platforms such as Posit Connect, Shiny Server, or equivalent, is preferred.
• Experience with developing and delivering training curricula is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of clinical trial data management, statistical programming, and analysis requirements for assembling and presenting trial results to regulatory agencies.
• Strong written communication and presentation skills.
• Travel level specification: this position may require up to 10% business travel.

Benefits & Compensation

• medical, dental, and vision coverage
• life & AD&D insurance
• short- and long-term disability
• tuition reimbursement
• fitness reimbursement
• employee assistance program (EAP)
• a pension plan
• generous paid time off and sick leave
• opportunity to earn a performance based bonus

Estimated Salary Range: $170,000 - $190,000.

To find out more about Everest Clinical Research and to review other opportunities, please visit our website at www.everestclinical.com.

We thank all interested applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Everest is committed to upholding the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities, and upon request we will provide accommodations for candidates participating in any part of our recruitment and selection process.