Senior Programmer Analyst / Release Engineer
Joint Centers for Systems Biology, Columbia University
Job code 97698

BACKGROUND

An experienced Java programmer/Release Engineer is sought for continued design, development and testing of geWorkBench, a flexible, open-ended platform for bioinformatics data integration and analysis. This project is being carried out in cooperation with the NCI as a part of their high-profile caBig project, and also serves as a focal point for the new MAGNet Center (National Center for the Multiscale Analysis of Genomic and Cellular Networks) recently created at Columbia. The open-source platform being developed allows programs or algorithms, which may be written with no knowledge of each other, to exchange data and to call on or provide visualization and data management services. This platform distributes computations across client, server and grid components, scaling from local to large-scale cluster calculations. The types of data and algorithms encountered include sequence and microarray gene expression analysis, metabolic and regulatory network inference, and pattern detection and evaluation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

A primary role of this position will be to act as a release engineer, being responsible for establishing appropriate procedures for code management in CVS, developing and maintaining build scripts, overseeing the timely preparation and tracking of scheduled releases, documenting and executing rigorous testing procedures to validate new releases, etc. These activities are especially important due to the modular architecture of the geWorkbench platform and its support for multiple plug-in components which are developed and versioned independent of each other. The successful candidate will also manage the process for automatically updating installations of geWorkbench. The candidate may also expect to participate in design of Use Cases, building out the architecture, implementing new algorithms, integrating existing programs, troubleshooting problems, and producing technical documentation. This is a period of major growth for this project and the candidate will be able to make a significant contribution.

REQUIREMENTS

Candidates should have at least a Bachelor's Degree (Master's strongly preferred) in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Bioinformatics or a similar field. At least three (3) years experience programming with Java is required, including experience with object-oriented design, program architecture and structured programming; UML and the full software development cycle from writing of Use Cases to implementation and testing; plus experience with the processes necessary for building and releasing non-trivial software applications. Excellent written and spoken English is expected, as are strong organizational skills and the ability to work as a member of a team.

PREFERENCES

Understanding of software testing procedures, including unit testing, development of manual and automated testing scripts, and documentation of the testing process and its results. Practical experience with large system design.

LOCALE

Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY

HOW TO APPLY

Please use the online appliction system at http://jobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=97698