Software Developer, Office of the Vice President for Research

utaustin; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer-paid medical coverage

Retirement contributions

Paid vacation and sick time

Paid holidays

Hybrid telework

Job summary

Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) at UT Austin seeks a Software Developer to design, maintain, and improve secure and user-focused applications that support research administration.

You will bridge technical infrastructure and research operations, ensuring databases, integrations, web-based apps, and reporting tools are reliable and aligned with project needs.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of systems design, analysis and programming experience.
• Proven track record of delivering projects on time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a team.
• Willingness to learn new languages and systems.
• Experience with PHP, Python and JavaScript.
• Experience with SQL Server and writing SQL queries.
• Familiarity with Git and core web technologies (HTML/CSS).
• Experience with AI-assisted development tools.
• Experience with web frameworks such as Laravel, CodeIgniter, or Spring Boot.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test software solutions ensuring functionality and performance.
• Maintain and evolve custom applications and web services.
• Evaluate tools and integrate AI/automation to support processes.
• Collaborate with analysts to understand requirements and improve processes.

Skills

PHP

Python

JavaScript

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Git

HTML/CSS

SQL Server

Laravel/CodeIgniter/Spring Boot

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Software Developer, Office of the Vice President for Research ----

Hiring Department:

Office of the Vice President for Research ----

Position Open To:

All Applicants ----

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40 ----

FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA ----

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately ----

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue ----

Location:

AUSTIN, TX ----

Job Details:

General Notes

The mission of the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR) is to foster the expansion of the scale, quality, and impact of scholarly endeavors at UT Austin. We are committed to building capacity, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and lowering the barriers and burden involved in scientific and creative inquiry through the development of an investigator-focused infrastructure that supports the needs of UT Austin's research enterprise.

Benefits Package:

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage
• Retirement contributions
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays
• Eligible for hybrid telework

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is seeking a Software Developer to join the Research IT (RIT) team. We are a small, collaborative team that supports the IT and Research Enterprise needs of the OVPR and university stakeholders, and we actively seek customer-oriented and intellectually curious colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

As a Software Developer, you will design, maintain, and improve secure, reliable, and user focused applications that support research administration activities. This position serves as a critical bridge between technical infrastructure and research operations, ensuring that databases, integrations, web-based applications, and reporting tools are efficient, accurate, and aligned with project and organizational needs.

Responsibilities

• SOFTWARE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING: Research, analyze, design, develop, and test software solutions using appropriate technologies, ensuring functionality, performance, and adherence to established best practices. Write custom code, configure software packages, and analyze and debug moderate to complex logic in Java, Python, Microsoft, and AI-assisted (e.g. Copilot, Claude Code, ChatGPT Codex) development tools.
• OPERATE AND MAINTAIN EXISTING AND EVOLVING CUSTOM APPLICATION AND WEB SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE: Provides daily operational integrity, updating and troubleshooting for production services in a timely fashion. Consistently define and refine scope of operations and ensure integrity and reliability of applications.
• SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AND TECHNICAL CONSULTING: Evaluate and configure software tools, including emerging AI/automation solutions, to support and integrate research administration processes. Provide technical consulting and respond to error reports, problems, or questions. Write and maintain functional and technical specifications.
• BUSINESS ANALYSIS AND COLLABORATION: Work with the team to determine business requirements and system objectives; investigate available software configurations and capabilities; accurately scope projects and tasks; collaborate with business analysts to identify opportunities to improve business processes through automation, AI- assisted solutions, application enhancements, and system integrations.

Required Qualifications

• At least one year of experience in systems design, analysis and programming. Demonstrated ability to analyze, test, and debug complex code.
• Proven track record of successful project delivery in prioritized time frames.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated initiative to learn new skills, programming languages, and systems.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience in the following programming languages: PHP, Python, JavaScript.
• Demonstrated experience with relational databases, specifically Microsoft SQL Server (writing SQL queries, working with database schemas, and data manipulation).
• Experience with Version Control Systems (Git) and core web technologies (HTML/CSS).
• Experience with command-line interfaces (CLI) and shell environments (such as Bash or PowerShell) for routine development, file manipulation, and script execution.
• Experience with AI-assisted (e.g. Copilot, Claude Code, ChatGPT Codex) development tools
• Experience with Web Frameworks (such as Laravel, CodeIgniter, or Spring Boot).
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• More than three years of experience in systems design, analysis, and programming in a university environment.
• Demonstrated exp