Backend Software Engineer

Backend Software Engineer (Hybrid)

*No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a globally recognized leader in technology, data management, and large-scale citizen science supporting birds and biodiversity conservation. We curate more than a petabyte of digital assets, one billion bird sightings, and leverage innovative big data analysis tools and machine learning to produce web applications and services to empower a global community of bird and nature enthusiasts, researchers, conservationists, and educators. We rely on a team of high-performance engineers to help navigate intriguing technical challenges to provide data-driven services, learning platforms, and science communications supporting biodiversity and conservation communities in all corners of the globe. This role will develop technical infrastructure and services that support numerous user-facing applications, including eBird, Merlin, Macaulay Library, Birds of the World, and BirdCast.

The Opportunity

Are you a tech-savvy problem solver who loves birds, data, and cutting-edge web development? We are looking for backend software engineer to help build the next generation of bird conservation tools! In this role, you'll: Design, develop, and maintain complex web applications that support bird research, conservation, and public engagement. Shape our technical future by helping transition to scalable, cloud-based systems. Collaborate across teams to integrate and optimize our application infrastructure. Work with Java, Spring, enterprise GIS, SQL (Postgres), and APIs to create seamless, high-performance systems.

The primary responsibilities include:

• Design, develop, and maintain complex web-based applications, APIs, and related services utilizing Java, Spring, enterprise GIS systems, and SQL (Postgres) for the Center for Avian Population Studies and Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO).
• Participate actively in the design and evolution of our technical infrastructure and hosting platforms, including the transition to more scalable, agile, cloud-based systems.
• Work closely with design and database teams to ensure seamless integration and user experiences.
• Help maintain our application code base, troubleshoot and fix bugs, and work to support and enhance application performance and system responsiveness.
• Stay up to date on the latest software development and web application best practices and processes.
• Contribute to the overall success of the engineering team.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

What We Need

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three (3)+ years of relevant experience working on substantial computer software projects and collaborating with a team of engineers.
• Three (3)+ years of object-oriented programming and modern web application development techniques building and integrating APIs, web services, and frontend user interfaces.
• Three (3)+ years of experience with Java, Spring, and SQL.
• Experience with relational database table design and with writing and optimizing complex queries.
• Experience with containerization using Kubernetes or Docker.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure platforms and services from major vendors such as AWS (preferred) or Azure.
• Experience with continuous integration, deployment, and automation technology such as Jenkins.
• Experience running services on Linux.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g. Git) and modern development workflows (e.g. Agile, Scrum).
• Experience with project management tools such as Jira.
• Proven experience documenting and testing code.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to build working relationships to solve problems and achieve common goals in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to establish realistic goals and deliver work on schedule, handle multiple concurrent tasks and priorities, and adapt to changing priorities, situations and demands.
• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation, and an ability to exercise sound judgment in decision making and in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a sensitive or confidential nature.
• Ability to work weekends or evenings when participating in the 24x7 on call duty rotation.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in computer science or related field.
• Experience web frameworks such as React, Vue.js, Angular, Next.js, or Nuxt.
• Familiarity with the Linux command-line and experience with shell scripting.
• Experience with highly available, high volume transactional web applications.
• Experience with GIS data and server software such as GeoServer.
• Experience managing large volumes of data for replication, warehousing, and archival storage.
• Prior use and understanding of eBird, Merlin, BirdCast or other Cornell Lab tools and resources.
• Interest in birds, nature, conservation, and/or natural science.

Application Information:

• A Cover Letter and Resume are required for further consideration for this position. When applying through our system, please remember to attach your application materials (Cover Letter and Resume) in PDF format.
• Visa Sponsorship of any kind is not available for this position.
• This position requires working on-campus three (3) days per week.

What We Offer

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• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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EEEO Statement:

Cornell University's history of diversity and inclusion encourages all students, faculty and staff to support a diverse and inclusive university in which to work, study, teach, research and serve. No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified disabled individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act have rights in the application process and in employment under federal law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.