Scientific Developer

10% DOCUMENTATION Create and maintain up-to-date software documentation, using media such as man pages, Earthquake Center wiki pages, and white papers.

10% IT SUPPORT Work with the System Administrator to diagnose and troubleshoot computing, networking, and device problems as needed. Support the Earthquake Center virtual cluster hardware and software. Contribute to discussions involving Earthquake Center IT plans and future technologies. Collaborate in developing long range strategic plans for computing and networking information technologies. Facilitate alignment of information technology services to serve University and departmental missions, goals, and priorities as designated by the organization.

10% ON-CALL EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE Participate in the center's rotating 24/7 duty seismologist role serving approximately one week every two months. Duties include relocating large earthquakes in the state within performance standards. Act as an initial point-of-contact to stakeholders.

35% SCIENTIFIC SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Use knowledge of languages including Python, Perl, and C to write new programs and modify existing software for Earthquake Center operations. Support, as directed, affiliated research staff with technical needs and coding. Collaborate and co-develop new software based on published scientific techniques with other members of the Earthquake Center software development team. Develop, test, document, and implement applications according to published standards and methodologies. Within guidelines, organize, prioritize, and implement work activities.

35% SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT Ensure continuous operation of critical Earthquake Center software functionality. Fix bugs and add new features, as requested, in current software. Ensure that existing software conforms to Earthquake Center coding standards. Analyze, document, install, develop, and maintain software. Use problem solving and analysis to resolve standard software and hardware problems and issues, which may require researching issues involving multiple components or systems to determine and solve problems.

We are seeking the right person to marry new geophysical techniques with rigorous standards to develop code that supports the earthquake monitoring mission of the center. A knowledge of seismology is not required, but familiarity with computational scientific techniques common in mathematics, physics, or geophysics is highly desired. Because earthquake data is collected and processed in real-time, experience working with time series data is a strong plus.

The core of this job will be to develop codes that enhance and expand the capabilities of our earthquake analysis system. You will work with scientists and technical experts to create tools that stakeholders can rely on in a crisis to protect lives and property. Your work will impact people.

The Earthquake Center is housed at the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where it has served for decades as the definitive source for earthquake information in Alaska. We are the primary source of earthquake information for thousands of Alaskans, government agencies, and private firms every day.

Our work environment mixes staff with a wide variety of scientific, technical, and communications expertise. You will have significant discretion to figure out the best solutions to your tasks. We value the way problems are solved as much as the actual results. And we believe that people who lead engaged lives outside of work bring more insight to the office. Because earthquakes occur at all hours, every member of our team is called on, on occasion, to respond 24/7.