Processing Project Lead Processing Foundation

Blacks in Technology; New York (NY); Remote; USD 95,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative organization is seeking a Processing Project Lead to drive the growth of an open-source software project. This role involves hands-on coding, community engagement, and strategic planning, providing a unique opportunity to shape the future of Processing. The ideal candidate will have a passion for open-source development, with strong skills in Java and project management. Join a diverse team committed to fostering computational literacy and creative thinking in technology. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to collaborate with partners across the U.S. and Europe while making a significant impact in the tech community.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

401k contributions

Paid time off

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience with Java or similar object-oriented languages.
• Experience leading or contributing to open-source projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee software maintenance, roadmap, and contributor engagement.
• Manage GitHub repositories and guide new contributors.

Skills

Java

Open-source project management

Git

Analytical skills

Community engagement

Tools

GitHub

CI/CD

Ant

Gradle

Job description

About Processing
Processingis an open-source software project that provides a flexible and intuitive platform for learning programming. Processing’s core focus is on fostering computational literacy in creative fields and creative thinking in the tech space. Rather than using a top-down model of leadership, the project is actively working toward a more collective and community-driven approach, engaging and learning from communities that have historically been left out of technology and the arts.

Processing Project Lead Position
We are seeking a Processing Project Lead to guide the maintenance and growth of the Processing software. The ideal candidate is passionate about open-source software development, eager to expand their technical skills, and committed to shaping the future of Processing with project stakeholders and community members. The lead should feel comfortable shifting between hands-on coding, contributor support, and broader strategic conversations.

We value diverse skills and experiences and support leadership development through mentorship.

This position reports to the Processing Foundation’s Co-Executive Directors and is supported by our Processing Ecosystem Lead, Program Manager, and Program and Communications Coordinator.

Hours and Location
This is a remote, at-will position requiring 40 hours per week. The location is flexible but will involve working with partners across the U.S. and Europe. Our team is currently distributed across the United States (New York, California, Illinois), with the median time zone being the Central Time Zone and Germany (Berlin).

Responsibilities
The Processing Project Lead will oversee software maintenance, roadmap, documentation, and contributor engagement for the Processing software and code library.

Open-Source Software Development and Documentation

• Lead the maintenance and development of Processing.
• Manage the Processing GitHub repositories by prioritizing issues, assigning bugs, reviewing and merging pull requests, and supporting contributors.
• Engage with the Processing community, guiding new contributors, and facilitating discussions around project direction.
• Maintain and improve the Processing.org website and its subdomains.
• Guide and oversee the development of official libraries and modes.
• Keep the documentation in sync with the software as it evolves.

Project Management

• Work with contributors to define software priorities and implementation strategies.
• Ensure that the public roadmap for Processing stays up to date.

Community Stewardship

• Support and engage the Processing contributor community, especially in K-16.
• Maintain and monitor the Processing forum and Processing contributor Discord.
• Continue existing initiatives and introduce new ideas as needed.
• Enhance Processing documentation, including contributor guides, references, examples, and tutorials.
• Work with other leads on the annual fellowships and other contributor programs.

Salary and Benefits
The Processing Foundation offers a competitive base salary of $95,000 for the Processing Project Lead position. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to receive medical, vision, dental, and life insurance, as well as 401k contributions and paid time off.

Note: The salary for this position is fixed at $95,000 and is not negotiable. Please consider this when applying.

Required Qualifications

Technical Competency & Project Management

• At least four years of professional experience with Java or another primarily object-oriented language (e.g., C/C++, C#, Kotlin, ObjectiveC).
• Experience leading or contributing to open-source projects.
• Experience using Processing.
• Familiarity with Git, GitHub, and experience collaborating with code contributors of varying skill and expertise.
• Strong analytical skills to diagnose and resolve software issues effectively.
• Experience developing long-term roadmaps, setting technical priorities, and managing software lifecycles.

Community Support & Communication Skills

• Ability to organize and oversee community engagement efforts.
• Ability to communicate to contributors with clarity, respect, and empathy.
• Ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in Java build systems (particularly Ant and Gradle), CI/CD, GitHub Actions, and virtual environments.
• Experience developing in multiple languages, such as Python or JavaScript.
• Knowledge of the graphics pipeline and experience with OpenGL or similar APIs.
• Experience contributing to Processing or other Processing Foundation projects.
• Experience working with remote volunteers and global communities.
• Experience working with educators and/or students.
• Experience with participatory design or similar collaborative processes.

Apply!
All applicants will receive equal consideration, and we will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, class, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. Individuals with experience as a Processing contributor, Processing Foundation Fellow, or pr05 Fellow are strongly encouraged to apply.