Resource Employee

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California seeks a software engineer to design, build, and maintain web applications and backend services for the DABI data archive. You will collaborate with researchers and stakeholders to deliver scalable APIs, frontend interfaces using modern frameworks, and robust CI/CD pipelines.

The role emphasizes performance, security, and data-sharing compliance. The team values cross-disciplinary collaboration in a world-class neuroscience research environment at USC's INI/LONI

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field.
• 2+ years designing and building scalable APIs and backend services.
• 2+ years with frontend frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte) and TailwindCSS.
• Understanding of CI/CD and version control (Git).
• Experience with REST, gRPC, and WebSocket.
• Familiarity with AWS cloud platforms.
• Nice to have: Rust.
• Experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL).

Responsibilities

• Develop and Maintain Software Solutions: Design, code, and maintain web applications and backend services to meet requirements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business needs and deliver high-value software solutions.
• Optimize Application Performance with focus on clean, testable code, scalability, and security.
• Support Continuous Improvement by adopting best practices and driving team improvements.
• Debugging and Testing: write unit tests and address edge cases across services.

Skills

Programming language proficiency

Backend API design

Frontend frameworks

CI/CD & Git

Rust (nice to have)

Web APIs (REST, gRPC, WebSocket)

AWS cloud

PostgreSQL

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

PostgreSQL

Job description

Data Archive for the BRAIN Initiative (DABI) is a shared neurodata repository where researchers from over a 100 of academic institutions store, share and analyze invasive neurophysiology datasets. Building on decades of experience creating widely-used, large-scale informatics solutions in the neurosciences, in 2018, the team behind DABI launched a new archive to ingest, aggregate, store, visualize, and disseminate human invasive neurophysiology data. DABI repository, which also houses synchronized behavioral, imaging, demographic, and other vital data, is specifically designed to help BRAIN Initiative researchers organize and analyze their data while fulfilling data-sharing directives from federal agencies and their respective institutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and Maintain Software Solutions: Design, code, and maintain web applications and backend services to meet functional and technical requirements. Ensure high code quality through regular peer reviews and adherence to industry standards.
• Collaborate and Communicate: Work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders to understand business needs and provide high-value software solutions. Communicate progress, obstacles, and solutions effectively.
• Optimize Application Performance: Build and maintain complex web applications with a focus on clean, testable code. Prioritize performance, scalability, and compliance with security standards.
• Support Continuous Improvement: Stay updated with best practices, fostering innovation and driving process improvements within the team.
• Debugging and Testing: Write and maintain unit tests, handle debugging across services, and ensure code covers edge cases.
• Documentation and Lifecycle Management: Document development stages, manage tasks in line with the software lifecycle, and contribute to effective continuous integration.
• Stakeholder and Team Collaboration: Build strong relationships with peers and stakeholders and contribute to an inclusive, ethical work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field.
• Strong proficiency in at least one programming language.
• 2+ years of industry experience in designing and building scalable APIs and backend services.
• 2+ years of industry experience with frontend frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte, etc), and CSS frameworks (TailwindCSS) familiar with relational databases (PostgreSQL).
• Understanding of CI/CD and version control (Git).
• Nice to have: Experience with Rust.
• Experience with modern web APIs (e.g., REST, gRPC, WebSocket).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS).

The hourly rate for this position is up to $25.00.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

The university is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, employees, volunteers, and visitors on our campuses and those entrusted to our care, including patients, students, and minors. To that end, the university conducts background screening, including screening for criminal convictions, on all applicants after a conditional offer of employment and as a condition of employment. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix C for specific employment screen implications for the position you are applying for.

The USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute and Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (INI, www.ini.usc.edu) are world leaders in the development of advanced computational and scientific approaches for the comprehensive mapping of brain structure and function. LONI's unique multidisciplinary environment and cutting edge resources allow for integration of clinical, psychological and genotypic information with neuroimaging phenotypes for research questions in neurology, psychiatry and developmental neurobiology.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser: https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$125466.htmld USC is a leading private research university located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles - a global center for arts, technology and international business. As the largest private employer in the city - responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region - we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family - the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make USC a great place to work.