O'Connor Lab Software Developer

The O'Connor Lab in the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Pathology, is seeking an experienced software developer to design, build, and maintain a world‑class web platform that supports the Lungfish environmental monitoring project. Lungfish integrates environmental monitoring data, analytical pipelines, and scientific reporting systems to support research, environmental surveillance, and public health decision making. The platform will allow researchers, public health professionals, and other stakeholders to explore environmental monitoring data through interactive visualizations, analytical reports, and training resources.

The successful candidate will design and implement the architecture from scratch using modern web technologies and professional design assets to create a cohesive visual identity and user experience.

Requirements:
The developer will work closely with scientists, data engineers, and research computing staff to build interfaces that integrate data from the Lungfish data warehouse and related research data systems, including Lab Key. These interfaces must support exploration of large and complex environmental monitoring datasets by audiences with varying technical backgrounds. The role also involves applying modern development approaches, including AI‑assisted and LLM tools, to accelerate software development, debugging, and data exploration.

Location:

This position requires onsite work at the designated campus work location.

• Designs and implements test plans, and prepares systems test data.
• Trains and provides technical guidance to lower level staff.
• Leads sub‑functional team for application development or enhancement.
• Conducts analysis for evaluation and selection of vendor software solutions and packages.
• Conducts systems analysis, reviews and interprets system requirements, and develops detailed system design specifications for system integration and upgrades.
• Reviews application modules for quality assurance and checks compliance with application architecture standards.
• Develops, prepares, or modifies technical specifications for complex projects, system integrations, and upgrades.
• Reviews application design specifications, codes new applications, and makes enhancements to existing applications.
• Prepares program documentation and training requirements.
• Participates in other lab‑related and collaborator activities as needed.
• Contributes to development of data structure and systems performance strategies.
• Develop comprehensive understanding of the research data and biological science domains that underpins application and website development.
• Designs, develops, and maintains public and restricted audience websites that often display data.

• Examples of previously developed production systems, including links to deployed applications, public repositories, or portfolio materials that demonstrate role in building complex web platforms.
• At least four years of professional experience developing and maintaining production web applications.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing complex web platforms that integrate large or complex datasets.
• Demonstrated experience developing interactive data visualizations for scientific, analytical, or data‑intensive applications.
• Demonstrated experience working with application programming interfaces and integrating external data systems into web applications with complex user interaction needs.
• Demonstrated experience using collaborative software development practices including Git‑based version control systems.
• Evidence of successful delivery of production software systems in collaborative, professional settings.

• Experience developing software systems that support scientific research.
• Experience working with modern visualization frameworks used in analytical web applications, including but not limited to D3, Plotly, and Apache ECharts.
• Experience working with research data management systems such as Lab Key or similar platforms.
• Experience deploying cost‑sensitive web applications in cloud environments or research computing infrastructure.
• Experience using open‑source…