Software Engineer, Computational Policy Lab

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Kennedy School?

The John

F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting‑edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match.

When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.

Professor Goel’s Computational Policy Lab at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School is seeking a Software Engineer with specialized expertise in software development, generative AI, and data science. This position is housed within the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. Through teaching and research at the Kennedy School of Government and its program of visiting fellows, conferences and initiatives, the Center is at the forefront of its area of inquiry.

Application Requirements

• Applications must include the following, or they will be considered incomplete:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter including:
    • A link to a piece of code on Git Hub that you wrote, ideally something that demonstrates your technical skills and you’d enjoy walking us through if you were selected for an interview.
    • A short description of the project you linked to.
    • Confirmation that you are legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for at least two years.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Core responsibilities encompass specialized tasks including:

• Independently perform complex applications/web development for projects of large to very large size and complexity.
• Design and develop complex software systems for large‑scale research projects, with a focus on education technology and generative AI‑based tools.
• Leverage recent breakthroughs in machine learning and natural language processing to build, test, and deploy advanced algorithmic tools that underpin rigorous empirical research in real‑world environments.
• Lead and collaborate on technically challenging projects involving AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and large‑scale experimentation.
• Contribute to the design and execution of randomized controlled trials and other empirical methods used to evaluate the impact of AI‑driven interventions.
• Collaborate closely with other researchers to theoretical models and experimental designs into high‑performance, production‑ready systems.
• Co‑author or contribute to academic publications and technical reports intended for peer‑reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and lay audiences.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and research developments related to AI, computational social science, and causal inference.
• Abide by and follow the Harvard University IT technical standards, policies and Code of Conduct.

Projects you will work on include, but are not limited to:

• AI in
  
  Education:
  
  We are designing and testing AI‑powered technologies that go beyond generic tools like ChatGPT to provide tailored support for student learning. Our flagship tool, Ping Pong, is currently being evaluated through a large‑scale randomized experiment across universities and community colleges nationwide. In addition, we are piloting innovations such as virtual lectures, personalized student diagnostics, and teacher co‑pilot tools. This role will help design, implement, and scale these technologies so they can be rigorously tested and used in real classroom settings.
• AI in Public Policy: We are engineering AI systems that improve public service delivery and decision‑making. Examples include tools that assist county prosecutors in making unbiased charging decisions, help public defender clients to avoid jail time due to…