Software Developer, Office of the Vice President for Research

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid telework

Employer-paid medical coverage

Retirement contributions

Paid vacation and sick time

Paid holidays

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Software Developer to join the Research IT (RIT) team in the Office of the Vice President for Research. You will design, maintain, and improve secure, reliable, user-focused applications that support research administration and operations.

You will work across databases, integrations, and reporting tools, collaborating with a small, customer-oriented team to deliver modern solutions using PHP, Python, JavaScript, and AI-assisted tools.

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience in systems design, analysis and programming.
• Proven track record of delivering projects on time.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to learn new languages and systems quickly.
• Experience with PHP, Python, JavaScript; SQL Server experience required.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software applications for research administration.
• Operate and troubleshoot production services and ensure reliability.
• Evaluate tools and AI/automation solutions to support processes.
• Collaborate to define business requirements and automate where possible.

Skills

PHP

Python

JavaScript

SQL Server

Git

HTML/CSS

CLI

AI tools

Laravel

CodeIgniter

Spring Boot

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field

Tools

Git

SQL Server

MySQL

PostgreSQL

Oracle

Job description

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

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.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 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 experience with MySQL or PostgreSQL.
• Exposure to or familiarity with enterprise relational database management systems (RDBMS) such as Oracle, or institutional research/higher-education enterprise data sources (e.g., Kuali Research or Huron Research Suite).
• Experience writing automated scripts or data pipelines for backend data processing and system maintenance.
• Experience writing technical documentation.

Salary Range

$70,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Occasional weekend, overtime, and evening work to meet deadlines

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197.

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and Crime Statistics. If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.