Research Software Developer

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill; Elkins Hills (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a Senior Research Software Engineer to support neuroimaging data preprocessing and analysis. The role requires implementing data cleaning, training teams in Python-based workflows, and collaborating on multi-site projects.

The position emphasizes scalable, reproducible pipelines for MRI, MRS, and PET datasets, with responsibilities spanning software architecture and visualization tools for complex findings.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Master’s or Bachelor’s degree and 0–2 years’ experience or equivalent.
• Must have experience developing scientific software and computational workflows.
• Competencies: Python or R and familiarity with neuroimaging tools and datasets.

Responsibilities

• Develop automated processing pipelines for large‑scale neuroimaging data.
• Architect and optimize computational systems for research workflows.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and translate research questions into software solutions.

Skills

Scientific software development

Python

R

Neuroimaging domain knowledge

Interdisciplinary collaboration

HIPAA compliance

Scientific reporting

Education

Master's or Bachelor's degree

Tools

FreeSurfer

FSL

AFNI

XNAT/REDCap

Git

Linux

Job description

Job Details

• Position Title: Senior Research Software Engineer (working title: Research Software Developer)
• Department: Psychiatry-412201
• Career Area: Information Technology
• Position Type: Permanent Staff (EHRA NF) – Full-Time Permanent – 1 FTE, 40 hrs/week
• Location: North Carolina, US
• Salary: $100,000 - $110,000
• Proposed Start Date: 10/12/2026
• Application Deadline: 10/02/2026
• Position Number: 20078541
• Vacancy ID: NF0010050

About the University

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.

Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow's healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

Position Summary

The Senior Research Software Engineer will support research imaging data preprocessing, image processing, implement data cleaning, train research team on image analysis using Python, FSL, SPM, Freedurfer, and other platforms. The incumbent will further support the software and hardware environments for successful implementation of the planned image analyses, collaborate with other national labs to align our site capacity with multi-site projects of which we are a part.

The Senior Research Software Engineer will serve as a highly specialized technical leader responsible for architecting, developing, and optimizing advanced computational systems that support large-scale neuroimaging research. This position plays a critical role in enabling cutting‑edge scientific discovery through the design and implementation of scalable, reproducible data pipelines and analytical frameworks for complex MRI, MRS, PET datasets. Operating at the intersection of neuroscience, data science, and software engineering, this role drives innovation in neuroinformatics infrastructure, including the integration of data management platforms, high‑performance computing environments, and advanced statistical methodologies. They will collaborate closely with faculty investigators, clinicians, and interdisciplinary research teams to translate complex research questions into robust computational solutions and actionable scientific insights.

Key contributions include leading the development of automated processing pipelines, advancing methodological approaches in neuroimaging analytics, and creating sophisticated visualization tools that effectively communicate complex findings. The role requires deep domain expertise in neuroanatomy, scientific programming, and neuroimaging ecosystems, as well as a strong commitment to reproducibility.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Master's or Bachelor's and 0-2 years' experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Significant experience developing scientific software and computational workflows
• Programming in Python, R, or other scientific computing environments
• Experience with neuroimaging tools such as FreeSurfer, FSL, AFNI, or related frameworks
• Experience working with neuroimaging or other large biomedical datasets
• Familiarity with neuroinformatics platforms, including research data systems such as XNAT or REDCap
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary research teams
• Demonstrated contributions to research software, analysis tools, or data processing pipelines
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to HIPAA
• Ability to produce scientific reports, memos, and publications for peer‑reviewed journals and grant writing and submission

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Development of automated pipelines for large‑scale data processing deployable on cluster such as SLURM
• Experience working with DICOM data and imaging data anonymization workflows
• Data visualization for scientific analysis and reporting
• Use of version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative software development practices
• Experience working in Linux or research computing environments

Special Physical/Mental Requirements

Not Applicable.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Posting Contact Information

• Department Contact Name and Title: Ammie Senn, HR Consultant
• Department Contact Telephone or Email: [e-mail]
• Office of Human Resources Contact Information: If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or send an email to [e-mail]. Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.
• Quick Link: https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/325297