Research Associate – Software Developer

Department :

UNC Inst for the Environment-635200

Career Area :

Information Technology

Posting Open Date : 01 / 15 / 2026

Application Deadline :

01 / 29 / 2026

Open Until Filled : No

Position Type :

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title :

Research Associate – Software Developer

Appointment Type : EHRA Non-Faculty

Position Number : 20074324

Vacancy ID : NF0009492

Full Time / Part Time :

Full-Time Permanent

FTE : Hours per week :

40

Position Location : North Carolina, US

Hiring Range :

$65,000 - $79,000 annually

Proposed Start Date :

02 / 23 / 2026

Be a Tar Heel! :

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities . Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work / life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit :

The UNC Institute for the Environment (IE) has a multifaceted mission : (1) To strengthen environmental research capacity across UNC by supporting a multi-disciplinary community of scholars that enhances collaboration, increases sharing of knowledge, and identifies solutions to the world’s critical environmental problems. (2) To work in partnership across UNC and with external partners to coordinate and deliver 21st century educational programs that provide students with the experience and skills to thrive in a growing global economy. (3) To put new environmental knowledge into action by engaging and serving communities, here in North Carolina and around the world. (4) To fuel and harness the university’s sustainability activities through the Sustainable Carolina Initiative

Position Summary :

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The Research Associate – Software Developer will report to the Director of the Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development, within the Institute for the Environment. The Research Associate will support software development focused on environmental applications for air quality management. This will include acquiring datasets related to multiple air quality sensors from diverse data sources, develop open-source, easy to use tools to compare different types of air quality measurements in different data formats. The overall scope of this position is to develop software systems that help better understand localized air pollution concentrations and developing dashboards that integrate data from diverse sources. Further, the Research Associate – Software Developer will be involved in developing documentation of procedures and protocols for future implementation, developing professional reports and assist with preparing manuscripts for broader dissemination.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements :

Masters degree in Computer Science or foreign equivalent, and two years of experience in developing software applications and at least one year focused on environmental data

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience :

• Proficiency in Python, PostgreSQL, Flask, HTML, JavaScript, CSS
• Expertise in developing iOS applications using SwiftUI
• Experience in working with large-scale datasets, with a focus on spatial analyses such as K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithms, etc. and Google Map APIs
• Familiarity with Jira or similar software for agile software development, team collaboration and project management
• Proficiency in software version control and documentation using GitHub

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience :

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities :

Not Applicable.