Research Specialist Programmer

Job Requisition:

JR101355 Research Specialist Programmer (Open)
Job Posting

Title:

Research Specialist Programmer Department:

CC00496 VIMS1 | RADV | CCRMJob Family:

Staff - Lab & Research Support Worker Sub Type:

Wage-Temporary (requires end date - non-benefited) (Fixed Term) (Fixed Term)
Job

Requisition Primary

Location:

Virginia Institute of Marine Science Primary Job Posting

Location:

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Job Description

Summary:

The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) supports informed decision-making on resource management issues at all levels of government, including private and corporate stakeholders. CCRM conducts actionable science, linking scientific research to real-world implementation to improve environmental, economic, and community outcomes across the Commonwealth.

Job Description:

The Research Specialist, Programmer supports CCRM projects by developing and maintaining data processing workflows, performing data analysis, creating visualizations, and assisting in the automation and web-based delivery of research outputs. This position works closely with project scientists and technical staff to translate scientific and environmental datasets into usable, accessible, and visually informative tools that support policy and resource management decisions.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Development of data processing algorithms in support of CCRM projects

Conduct data analysis and visualization

Attend and contribute to scheduled project meetings

This is a temporary, hourly position supporting time-limited project needs. We will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.

Required Qualifications Associate’s degree in computer science, data science, information systems, environmental informatics, or a related technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Experience with Marine and or Oceanographic Science Demonstrated experience in at least one programming language used for data analysis (e.g., Python, R, C++, or Java).Experience performing data analysis and creating data visualizations.

Ability to write, test, and troubleshoot code independently.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet project deadlines.

Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, environmental science, information systems, or related field.

Experience developing automated data pipelines or reproducible research workflows.

Experience with data visualization libraries (e.g., matplotlib, ggplot2, Plotly, D3, etc.).

Experience with HTML, CSS, or web-based dashboard development.

Experience working with environmental, geospatial, or scientific datasets.

Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git).Experience supporting research or academic project environments.

Salary
- Up to $20.00 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Conditions of Employment:

This is a term position and is not to exceed 8 months.

This is a restricted position, subject to continued availability of funding.

All hourly employees are subject to the Virginia Manpower Control Program. Total hours worked may not exceed an average of 29 hours per week over a twelve-month period beginning May 1 each year.

This is a non-exempt position eligible for overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and University policy.

May require extended hours during peak project periods as directed and approved by the supervisor.

Must be able to work in Virginia beginning March 2026

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (45%) Data Processing & Algorithm Development Develop, modify, and maintain data processing scripts and algorithms to support CCRM research projects.

Write and debug code to clean, transform, analyze, and structure large environmental and geospatial datasets.

Automate repetitive data workflows to improve project efficiency and reproducibility.

Ensure data quality through validation checks, documentation, and version control practices.

Collaborate with research staff to translate scientific requirements into functional programming solutions.

Documen…