Full Stack Web Developer

North Carolina State University

Asheville, NC

ID: 7134629
Posted: March 17, 2023
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

About the Department
The North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS) is a UNC inter-institutional research institute whose primary focus is to promote the discovery of new knowledge about global, regional, and local climate variability and its impacts; and to provide information that is critical for determining trends and validating climate forecasts at all these spatial scales. A primary activity of NCICS is the operation of the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth Systems Science (CISESS) formed through a consortium of academic, non-profit, and community organizations with leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) on behalf of the University of North Carolina (UNC) System. CISESS provides foci for collaborative research and associated activities in support of NOAA mission goals related to meteorological satellite and climate data and information research and development.
Essential Job Duties
The NC Institute for Climate Studies (NCICS) provides support to the NOAA Technical Support Unit (TSU) who works with the U.S. Global Change Research Program to produce the U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA) and other reports and products that are part of the sustained assessment process. NCICS is in need of a Full Stack Web Developer to design, develop, implement, and maintain both browser- and server-based solutions for scientific and analytical products utilizing industry best practices.

The position is situated within an existing web team which currently does the following work:
Designs, develops, implements, and maintains report websites for the sustained assessment process, including the report websites for the National Climate Assessment.
Designs, develops, implements, and maintains web applications that support the sustained assessment process.
Provides technical support for a range of users within this process including members of the NOAA TSU, U.S. Global Change Research Program, report authors, and members of the general public.

The Full Stack Web Developer will work within the existing web team to do the following:
Design, develop, and implement new websites and/or enhance existing sites to meet institute or sponsor requirements by writing new programming code and/or adapting existing website software and graphics packages.
Provide technical support to a broad user base to alleviate issues with any websites or applications that the group has developed and actively maintains.
Work within a cross-functional team to lay out and maintain content for all sites; perform work within coordinated cross-team efforts to meet tight deadlines and maintain production schedules.
Maintain existing websites and applications by updating code and modules, developing new functionality, and performing other maintenance as needed. This also requires staying abreast of software update cycles and new web development techniques and tools for strategic utilization.
Manage git deployment pipeline and web deployments to AWS.
Manage production environment on AWS in a Linux environment using Docker containers.
Write Mongodb database migrations to support system upgrades and data migrations from other sources.
Write Mongodb queries to support ad hoc information requests.
Migrate existing websites to different or more current content management systems (e.g. migrate Drupal 6 sites to MeteorJS/Mongo).
Recommend and implement new technologies to enhance the user experience and ensure system integrity.
Fully participate in unit (NCICS, NCEI, TSU, etc.) activities and meetings.
Make timely presentations at appropriate scientific venues as requested or needed.
Other related duties as assigned.
Other Responsibilities
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
Master’s degree in computer science, web development, information technology, or related discipline with at least three years of relevant experience, OR a bachelor’s degree with five or more years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and relevant experience.
Demonstrated computer programming proficiency utilizing modern programming and command line tools and languages (e.g., HTML, JavaScript, jQuery, CSS, Python, Bash).
Demonstrated proficiency with database design and management for SQL or no-SQL databases. Familiarity with no-SQL database management.
Proficiency with UNIX/Linux systems and command line tools.
Other Required Qualifications
Demonstrated proficiency with:
standard JavaScript, HTML, JQuery and other web languages,
integrating open source JavaScript components in a JavaScript-based content management framework,
database application development using structured and unstructured approaches,
deployment pipelines and Docker deployments on AWS,
the UNIX/Linux operating systems,
management of backend web servers (e.g., Nginx or Apache),
deployment and tuning of caching systems (e.g., Redis),
full stack development using Meteor and/or alternative technologies,
information systems, including ensuring quality and accuracy, generating reports, and knowledge of data storage structures.
Excellent interpersonal & communication skills to effectively communicate with management, sponsors, federal employees, contractors, temporary employees, etc, and coordinate efforts with cross functional project teams.
Self-starter w/strong organizational skills & ability to multitask, work independently and on team and/or coordinate multiple projects, meet tight deadlines to maintain production schedule.
Must be able to work independently and creatively and have the aptitude and willingness to serve the requirements of all team functions.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in web development associated with Earth or environmental science and engineering products.
Experience working with MeteorJS and associated Mongo databases.
Experience working with scientific data and data access from large data holding systems.
Experience in a team environment addressing scientific or technical challenges.
Experience in an academic research setting.
Experience working in a federal environment.
Familiarity with U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) is desirable.