Research Programmer I- Public Health Sciences

Henry Ford Health; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry Ford Health in Detroit is seeking a detail-oriented Research Programmer I to join the Public Health Sciences team. You will develop, maintain, and optimize software tools that support critical public health research initiatives, working with researchers, epidemiologists, and data scientists to translate requirements into efficient code.

The role emphasizes clean, well-documented code, version control, data management, and collaboration to improve study workflows.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python, R, Java, or C++.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain software applications and scripts to support public health research projects and data analysis workflows.
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code following established coding standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with research teams to understand project requirements and translate them into technical specifications and implementation plans.
• Perform code reviews and participate in quality assurance processes to ensure software reliability and performance.
• Troubleshoot and debug software issues, implementing timely and effective solutions.
• Manage version control systems and maintain organized code repositories.
• Develop and optimize database queries and data management solutions for research datasets.
• Assist in the integration of research tools, frameworks, and third-party libraries into existing systems.
• Document technical specifications, user guides, and system architecture for research applications.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to continuous improvement of development processes and methodologies.
• Support the deployment and maintenance of research software in production environments.

Skills

Python

R

Java

C++

Git

Data analysis

Tools

SQL

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Research Programmer I to join our Public Health Sciences team in Detroit, United States. In this role, you will develop, maintain, and optimize software applications and tools that support critical public health research initiatives. You will work collaboratively with researchers, epidemiologists, and data scientists to translate research requirements into efficient, well-documented code solutions. This position offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to meaningful public health research while advancing your programming expertise.

• Design, develop, and maintain software applications and scripts to support public health research projects and data analysis workflows
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code following established coding standards and best practices
• Collaborate with research teams to understand project requirements and translate them into technical specifications and implementation plans
• Perform code reviews and participate in quality assurance processes to ensure software reliability and performance
• Troubleshoot and debug software issues, implementing timely and effective solutions
• Manage version control systems and maintain organized code repositories
• Develop and optimize database queries and data management solutions for research datasets
• Assist in the integration of research tools, frameworks, and third-party libraries into existing systems
• Document technical specifications, user guides, and system architecture for research applications
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to continuous improvement of development processes and methodologies
• Support the deployment and maintenance of research software in production environments

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Python, R, Java, or C++
• Strong understanding of software development principles, coding standards, and best practices
• Experience with version control systems, particularly Git
• Solid knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques
• Familiarity with database design and SQL query optimization
• Experience with statistical analysis and data manipulation
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Ability to work effectively in collaborative research environments
• Experience documenting code and technical specifications

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Background or familiarity with public health, epidemiology, or biomedical research
• Experience with research data management systems and tools
• Experience with the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership- OMOP Common Data Model-CDM, highly preferred
• Knowledge of software testing frameworks and automated testing practices
• Experience with Linux/Unix environments and command-line tools
• Familiarity with web development frameworks or APIs
• Experience with data visualization libraries and tools
• Knowledge of research compliance and data security standards
• Exposure to agile development methodologies