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, MI is seeking a detail-oriented Research Programmer I to join our Public Health Sciences team. You will develop, maintain, and optimize software applications and tools that support important public health research initiatives.

You will collaborate with researchers, epidemiologists, and data scientists to translate requirements into efficient, well-documented code solutions, contributing to impactful projects and advancing your programming expertise.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python, R, Java, or C++ and strong coding practices.
• Experience with Git for version control and collaborative development.
• Knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques.
• Familiarity with SQL and database design; data manipulation skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities; strong communication.
• Ability to work in collaborative research environments and document code.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain software applications and scripts for public health research.
• Write clean, well-documented code following standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with researchers to translate requirements into technical specs.
• Perform code reviews and ensure software reliability and performance.
• Troubleshoot and debug issues; implement timely solutions.
• Manage version control and organize code repositories.
• Develop and optimize database queries and data management solutions.
• Assist in integrating research tools and libraries into systems.
• Document specifications, guides, and system architecture.

Skills

Python

R

Java

C++

Git

SQL

Data structures

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration

Tools

Git

SQL

Linux

Job description

Company Description

At Henry Ford Health, we’re committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve.

Company Description

At Henry Ford Health, we’re committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve.
Headquartered in Detroit, Henry Ford Health is helping shape the future of healthcare through the transformative Future of Health: Detroit initiative, a $3 billion investment that is redefining our academic healthcare campus and advancing innovation, research, education, and community impact.
Our work is grounded in purpose, collaboration, and belonging. We empower team members to grow their careers, contribute innovative ideas, and make a meaningful difference every day. Whether you’re caring for patients, supporting operations, conducting research, or driving new solutions, you’ll be part of a team united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional care, advancing health outcomes, and building healthier communities for all.

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

**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