Location: Redwood City or Oakland, CA
URL: http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/hr_pos/3275?x-layout=careers
WestEd - Voted Best Places to Work
Apply Online at: http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/hr_pos/3275?x-layout=careers
Position Title: Senior Research Programmer
Reports to: Senior Research Associate
Program:Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
Salary:Level H - $76,418 - $97,432
Location:Oakland, CA, Redwood City, CA
Time Base:100% (Full-Time Position)
Position No:3275
WestEd, a nonprofit research, development, and service agency, works with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. While WestEd serves the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah as one of the nation's Regional Educational Laboratories, our agency's work extends throughout the United States and abroad. WestEd has 17 offices nationwide, from Washington and Boston to Arizona, Southern California, and its headquarters in San Francisco.
WestEd's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program is committed to increasing STEM literacy among our nation?s youth. The program offers services, materials, and strategies that support teachers? professional growth in content knowledge, effective teaching practices, appropriate assessment, and evaluation.
STEM covers issues from culture and language to earth science and international science education. In addition, STEM staff increases communication, public awareness, and understanding about science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and advance research in this area.
International studies show that U.S. students rank near the bottom in science and mathematics. The STEM program seeks to reverse this trend by helping prepare teachers to meet the learning needs of all students, ensuring our nation?s future in science and mathematics education, as well as technology and engineering.
Position Description
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program at WestEd is seeking an experienced senior developer with a range of programming experiences within the educational environment to lead the development of web-based software on different educational research projects. The Senior Research Programmer will work as part of a close-knit team of content experts, artists, cognitive scientists and measurement experts to quickly build applications that have immediate and significant value to students and teachers and to the larger education community. In particular, this position will support ongoing research and development efforts within the program focused on the creating suites of online simulation-based science assessments at various grade levels and in a new project to integrate assessments of student learning into a virtual chemistry lab. The Senior Research Programmer will work with researchers to ensure successful deployment of the applications for field-based research. The position will support future projects as they are funded and, as necessary, will recruit and supervise additional developers under consultant contracts.
The position will be located in either our Redwood City, CA or Oakland, CA Office.
Responsibilities
- Work directly with WestEd?s STEM staff to gain a strong understanding of the problem domain, to analyze and propose innovative solutions and best approaches, and to build and iteratively refine the applications.
- Work closely with other backend application and database programmers, helping to design the architectural infrastructure for passing data between the learning management system and the flash applications.
- Work with non-technical (project managers) & technical teams (including web developers & software developers) to define future enhancements & features.
- Create prototypes, style guide components, and technical specifications in addition to the final live Flash applications.
- Troubleshoot and debug all Flash applications and modules.
- Help recruit, mentor and supervise junior developers.
- Work with quality assurance contractors to assist them in the design and implementation of test cases and automated testing.
Qualifications
- 4+ years development experience with expertise in solid ActionScript-driven robust Flash interaction applications with XML-type data source and scripted animation techniques (Required).
- Java, Java/Flash bridging, CPU/Memory optimization, and cross platform and browser compatibility experience (Required).
- Proven experience developing rich internet applications.
- Database design and MySQL experience highly desirable.
- Experience identifying and resolving security issues.
- Solid analytical skill set; reputation as a creative thinker; focused attention to detail.
- Able to manage multiple projects and flexibly adapt to quickly changing research needs, new technologies, and project requirements.
- Possess a solid knowledge of the software development lifecycle.
- Self-motivated, experience working both independently and in a team environment; friendly, outgoing manner.
- Great communication skills, both verbal and written.
- With your application, please include a link to your portfolio with examples of relevant educational software.
Application Process
Apply online at: http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/hr_pos/3275?x-layout=careers
We invite you to Apply for this Position.
Human Resources
WestEd
730 Harrison Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
WestEd is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Positions are open until filled.
Benefits Highlights
- All health benefits effective day one of employment
- 15% contribution toward retirement effective day one of employment
- 20 vacation days, 10 holidays, 2 personal days
- 12 days sick leave per year
To apply: Apply online at: http://www.wested.org/cs/we/view/hr_pos/3275?x-layout=careers
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