Application Developer, IIHR

The Application Developer, IIHR will contribute to the research mission of IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering and the Iowa Flood Center by supporting faculty and research staff to manage project tasks and deadlines to meet stakeholder expectations and project deliverables. Communicate project updates to internal and external stakeholders and perform other duties as needs arise. The role would focus on application development and maintenance, with an emphasis on building map-based user interfaces and generating reports in form of interactive maps. The person in this position will work independently, with guidance from the Lead Application Developer to perform tasks associated with the design, installation, configuration, administration, security, operational integrity, and support of custom-developed or integrated software solutions for administrative and research units. Software development, implementation, and maintenance associated with the applications are an integral part of the position’s scope of responsibilities. Projects include working directly with departmental contacts and end users, as well as other university contacts and outside vendors.

This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with users to define functional/technical specifications for limited scope solutions.
• Review and assess information, organize the analytic process, develop and write progress and project reports.
• Review and analyze software defects. Troubleshoot/debug/identify malfunctioning systems. Propose and implement software fixes. Debug software and deploy fixes as necessary.
• Review ongoing and completed work to determine if it meets all relevant specifications and regulations. May communicate with customer to verify finished product meets customer expectations and industry standards.
• Develop work plan and time schedules for computing projects including outlining phases and identifying personnel and computing equipment requirements. Monitor progress and revise schedule and plan as needed.
• Plan and develop project scope, budget, and schedule as needs arise. Prioritize concurrent project work to ensure expectations are met and deadlines are maintained.
• Assist with identifying business system solution requirements by analyzing work processes and operations; evaluate business and information systems functionality.
• Identify and make recommendations to resolve singular or recurring failure point(s) in systems.
• May provide mentoring related to software systems for staff and leadership.
• Communicate software concepts to faculty, staff, and students. Communicate with internal project team members to assure reliable project coordination.

To obtain the full job description including key areas of responsibility, technical competencies, and desirable qualifications, please contact [email protected]

About The College Of Engineering

The College of Engineering at the University of Iowa is driven by talented faculty, staff, and students who are dedicated to producing knowledge that addresses grand challenges in advanced technologies, health sciences, sustainability, energy, and the environment. We pride ourselves on producing ethical, globally aware engineers whose work makes the world safer and more efficient. As a center of innovation and discovery, the College of Engineering is committed to improving the quality of life for our Iowa community, as well as for people across the United States and around the world.

We uphold the values of respect, community, and collaboration in all our endeavors, fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where members are valued and supported. Joining our team means becoming part of a supportive environment that values work-life balance and personal well-being. The University of Iowa offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health and wellness resources, dual career support, and opportunities for professional development. Learn more about working at the University of Iowa: Build A Career/Build a Life.

Education Requirement

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or Civil, Mechanical, Computer, or Electrical Engineering or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of experience developing and maintaining software programs.
• Proficient in programming languages such as JavaScript or TypeScript and Python.
• Working knowledge of web-based application development and maintenance, including the development of map-based user interfaces and interactive visualizations, and familiarity with tools and frameworks for integrating map servers and geospatial services, with a preference for solutions based on the Google Maps API or similar mapping platforms.
• Demonstrated proficiency with commonly used vector and raster data formats in environmental sciences and hydrology (e.g., NetCDF, HDF5, GeoTIFF, Shapefile), including experience using software libraries and packages to process, analyze, and visualize geospatial and hydrologic research data.
• Good knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git) supporting collaborative research software development, reproducibility of results, and long-term code maintenance.
• Experience consuming and interacting with relational database endpoints (e.g., via APIs) in support of data-driven applications, with a preference for PostgreSQL-based backends.
• Strong communications skills: effective oral and written communication of scientific concepts (both technical and non-technical) and the demonstrated ability to work with others in a research environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience designing, building, and deploying RESTful APIs using Flask, with Nginx for application serving and routing.
• Experience applying WebGL techniques to customize visualization and improve performance in web-based mapping applications.
• Experience working with data stored in cloud environments, particularly on AWS and Google Cloud Platform.
• Project management experience.
• Strong technical writing ability.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience related to the duties of this job description.

Application Details

In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

For questions, contact Alex Schutman at [email protected]

Benefits Highlights

• Regular salaried position. Pay level 4B. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
• For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.

About Iowa

Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Application Developer
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Compensation

• Pay Level: 4B

Contact Information

• Organization: College of Engineering
• Contact Name: Alex Schutman
• Contact Email: [email protected]