Senior Software Architect/Engineer

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 Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) is a community of IT professionals committed to understanding our users and devoted to making it easier for faculty, students, and staff to teach, research, learn, and work through the effective use of information technology. We are recruiting an IT workforce that has both breadth in collaboration and innovation across disciplines and depth in specific areas of expertise. HUIT offers opportunities for IT professionals to learn and work in a unique, service-focused environment. If you are technically proficient, nimble, user-focused, and accountable—and thrive in a collaborative team environment—we are looking for you! 

Reporting to the Associate Director who leads the technical team within the Research Administration and Compliance Solutions group, the Senior Software Engineer/Architect supports the delivery of university-wide systems, solutions, and services with a focus on research administration, research compliance, and research management. This position is focused on the Grants Management Application Suite (GMAS), Harvard’s enterprise system of record for sponsored programs. Working in an Agile environment, the role provides opportunities to drive architectural design decisions, lead development initiatives, and collaborate closely with technical and business partners. 

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the technical architecture, detailed technical design, and development of Java/JEE software modules and components.
• Lead small project teams (2–3 developers) through requirements analysis, technical design, development, and enhancement of new and existing software modules.
• Contribute equally to the design and development of core architectural components, UI and Java components, and back-end database models.
• Mentor junior developers and champion engineering best practices through design and code reviews.
• Collaborate with business analysts and QA to clarify project scope, specifications, and alternative solutions.
• Evaluate industry best practices and emerging technologies relevant to the application stack.
• Contribute to and apply project-wide standards, tools, and processes.
• Participate in a rotating on-call support schedule for Research administration and compliance applications.

More About HUIT:

Our Mission: huit.harvard.edu/about

We empower the Harvard community with essential and transformative technologies to advance education, knowledge, and discovery.

HUIT’s core values are: 

• Human-centered 
• University-focused
• Innovation-driven
• Team-oriented

IT Academy (designed for IT Staff):
HUIT’s IT Academy aims to enable each IT staff person to grow professionally and become a trusted partner to her or his team. The IT Academy is built on the belief that every IT staff member across the University (including technology employees at each school and campus) can grow in her or his area of expertise as well as building strong people and project management skills. Learn more here: https://itacademy.harvard.edu/.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

Required Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• 4+ years of experience in the design and development of Java/JEE enterprise applications.
• Familiarity with multi-tier application architecture and integration.
• Experience with full software lifecycle: requirements, analysis, design, development, testing, and deployment.
• Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to translate business requirements into technical design and implementation.
• Experience designing UI and Java components and defining back-end database structures.
• Familiarity with multi-tier application architecture and integration.
• Current technical experience must include:
  • Servlets, JDBC, JMS, and JEE frameworks such as JSF (PrimeFaces) and Spring.
• Web Services: SOAP and RESTful APIs.
• ORM & Data Layer: Hibernate, SQL, PL/SQL, and data modeling (Oracle preferred).
• Familiarity with APEX/ORDS.
• XML: Schema development and validation.
• Application Servers: BEA's WebLogic and Tomcat.
• Development platforms: Windows, Unix and Linux.
• Experience with Maven, Git (preferred) or Subversion, and CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI).
• Additionally, the ideal candidate will be committed to producing excellent software, will be a self-starter and will be committed to delivering projects on-time.
• The aptitude and desire to be a "hands on" contributor is essential.

The following Additional Qualifications are strongly preferred. If you meet some, but not all, you are still encouraged to apply; we value employees with a willingness to learn. 

• The demonstrated ability to learn new technologies.
• Experience with developing an API’s using Apigee platform.
• Experience with Apigee API Gateway.
• Experience with additional programming languages, e.g., Python and Shell scripting.
• Java Server Pages (JSP).
• Familiarity with APEX/ORDS.

Certificates and Licenses:

• Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: Monday - Friday: Support planned production releases, occasionally during extended hours or weekends.
• This position can be fully remote or hybrid.
  • Travel to the campus may be required for important project events with advance notice.
  • Harvard employees must live and work from one of the following states; California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, or Washington.
  • Relocation assistance is not available.
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information:
  Please provide a cover letter and resume as one document with your application.
  This position has a 180-day orientation and review period.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that the duties and responsibilities can effectively be performed fully remotely at a non-Harvard location. Employees in fully remote positions must work all scheduled hours in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. At the discretion of the department, fully remote employees may occasionally be required on site at a Harvard location. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.