Research Programmer I, Public Health Sciences

About the Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Research Programmer I to join our Public Health Sciences team in Detroit, United States. In this role, you will develop, maintain, and optimize software applications and tools that support critical public health research initiatives. You will work collaboratively with researchers, epidemiologists, and data scientists to translate research requirements into efficient, well-documented code solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain software applications and scripts to support public health research projects and data analysis workflows
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code following established coding standards and best practices
• Collaborate with research teams to understand project requirements and translate them into technical specifications and implementation plans
• Perform code reviews and participate in quality assurance processes to ensure software reliability and performance
• Troubleshoot and debug software issues, implementing timely and effective solutions
• Manage version control systems and maintain organized code repositories
• Develop and optimize database queries and data management solutions for research datasets
• Assist in the integration of research tools, frameworks, and third-party libraries into existing systems
• Document technical specifications, user guides, and system architecture for research applications
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to continuous improvement of development processes and methodologies
• Support the deployment and maintenance of research software in production environments

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Python, R, Java, or C++
• Strong understanding of software development principles, coding standards, and best practices
• Experience with version control systems, particularly Git
• Solid knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques
• Familiarity with database design and SQL query optimization
• Experience with statistical analysis and data manipulation
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Ability to work effectively in collaborative research environments
• Experience documenting code and technical specifications

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Background or familiarity with public health, epidemiology, or biomedical research
• Experience with research data management systems and tools
• Experience with the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM), highly preferred
• Knowledge of software testing frameworks and automated testing practices
• Experience with Linux/Unix environments and command-line tools
• Familiarity with web development frameworks or APIs
• Experience with data visualization libraries and tools
• Knowledge of research compliance and data security standards
• Exposure to agile development methodologies