Library Software Applications Developer

The University Libraries at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks an experienced Software Applications Developer to join the Libraries’ Software Development department.

As an experienced member of a highly collaborative team within the University Libraries’ Software Development department, the Library Software Applications Developer designs, implements, tests, and supports software projects at all stages of their lifecycles; evaluates advanced technologies and services to implement or customize for use by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Community; and integrates systems and works with established frameworks to support technology and infrastructure for University Libraries services and collections. The person in this position advocates for and helps lead the implementation of robust software development and diagnostic practices, including automated testing, software documentation, peer review, and the responsible stewardship of software inspired by DevOps practices. Mentorship of staff is fundamental to our department and the person in this position will contribute to and benefit from these practices.

The University Libraries has fostered a community of learning and collaboration and presents many opportunities to learn new skills and to take on a range of technically challenging projects with support from colleagues.

The Library Software Applications Developer will serve as a technical lead and software developer on large-scale projects supporting the campus Open Access initiatives and the scholarly repository infrastructure. The campus Open Access initiatives and the scholarly repository infrastructure includes the Carolina Digital Repository, digital preservation infrastructure, and systems to support staff workflows related to the research activity of the university. These projects make use of several programming languages, including Ruby and JavaScript, as well as supporting systems, such as indexing platforms, relational databases, and media servers. Each project is managed by a team that includes software developers, metadata and user experience specialists, project managers, and product owners. The University Libraries is active in and committed to open-source software and communities and the Library Software Applications Developer will have opportunities to lead and contribute to open-source software projects in a variety of ways.

The position works in partnership with libraries staff and campus partners to make technical recommendations based on an analysis of their business needs, while coordinating with other developers, system administrators, project managers, and stakeholders. The Analyst regularly shares progress with stakeholders, seeking input on prototypes. The Analyst provides support to users throughout the lifetime of the project, troubleshooting problems and maintaining code. Our colleagues have taken a variety of paths to technical specializations, and we welcome candidates seeking collaboration with professionals who care about their work, within an environment that respects a work-life balance.

Qualifications

Required

Master’s and 1-2 years’ experience; or bachelor’s and 2-4 years’ experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.
Experience developing server-based and browser-based software.
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and complete technical projects.
Experience working collaboratively and communicating effectively with software stakeholders coming from a range of technical backgrounds.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

Preferred

Awareness of relevant issues that are unique to mission-driven research and academic institutions.
Demonstrated experience contributing to professional communities.
Experience leading technical projects.
Experience mentoring software developers and developing a supportive and rewarding team culture.
Experience with agile development methodologies.
Experience working with application frameworks (e.g., Ruby on Rails, Django, Laravel, Spring, or Vue.js).
Experience applying DevOps techniques in partnership with infrastructure management colleagues.
Experience with computational research (e.g., data science) methods.
Experience with test driven development and/or continuous integration.

The University and The Libraries
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the country’s oldest state university. UNC Chapel Hill has an enrollment of approximately 29,000 students, employs more than 3,500 members of the faculty, and offers 69 doctoral degrees as well as professional degrees in medicine, social work, information science, and law.

The University Libraries aspires to set the standard for public university research libraries in the digital age. One of the largest research libraries in the U.S. South, The University Libraries is an essential part of the University’s educational and research efforts. It includes 9 libraries on campus, including the Health Sciences Library, Walter Royal Davis Library, Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library, and the R.B. House Undergraduate Library. The University Libraries hold approximately 9.2 million volumes and extensive collections of manuscripts, audiovisual, microforms, graphics, government documents and rare books. The Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Council on Library and Information Resources, and the Center for Research Libraries. Together with the libraries at Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and North Carolina State University, the members of the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN) provide services and collections to their students, faculty, and staff in support of the education, research, healing, and service missions of the universities.

The University Libraries serves campus and broader communities that reflect the socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious diversity of the state of North Carolina, and we maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and open educational and workplace climate for all. We strive to create an environment of respect and collaboration where vision and innovation can flourish. Learn more about our Strategic Framework — including our pillars, values, and priorities — by visiting https://library.unc.edu/about/strategic-framework/.

The Region
The Triangle region is one of the most desirable places to live and work in North America and offers its residents a wide array of recreational, cultural, and intellectual activities. The mountains or the seashore are less than a half day’s drive from Chapel Hill.

Salary and Benefits
This is a twelve-month, non-faculty academic librarian appointment. Standard state benefits include annual leave, sick leave, and State or optional retirement. The salary range for the Library Software Applications Developer position begins at $74,500. The University Libraries intend to hire at a minimum of $80,000, with a salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

This position is eligible for a 100% remote work arrangement, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Deadline for Application
Review of applications will begin upon receipt. The position will close on September 8, 2023.

To Apply
Please visit https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/263176 and complete the online application. Please include a resume of relevant experience, a cover letter highlighting your interest in this position and Carolina’s libraries, and the names, titles, and contact information for three professional references. Additionally, please indicate in your cover letter where you first learned of this position.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.