Temporary Research Software Engineer

JOB TITLE

Temporary Research Software Engineer

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Humanities & Arts - JM

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) seeks a temporary Research Software Engineer to support the Music-induced Analgesia Genome Study (IMAGS), an interdisciplinary research project investigating the use of music and physiological sensing technologies to support chronic pain management.

The successful candidate will help transform the IMAGS software into a portable, reproducible research platform that can be readily deployed and adapted by research teams at other institutions. Working closely with faculty investigators, the Research Software Engineer will design and implement a modern deployment architecture-utilizing containerization technologies such as Docker-to simplify installation, improve long-term maintainability, and support open scientific collaboration.

This work will contribute directly to the broader dissemination of the IMAGS platform by enabling researchers to install the software with minimal technical expertise while preserving a consistent, reproducible research environment across institutions. The position is funded through a summer research grant and provides an opportunity to contribute to an innovative project at the intersection of software engineering, music technology, biomedical sensing, and digital health.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement a containerized deployment of the IMAGS software platform using Docker or a similar container technology.
• Develop an installation workflow that enables researchers to deploy the complete IMAGS system with minimal configuration.
• Package web applications, databases, and supporting services into a reproducible software environment.
• Configure persistent data storage, networking, and security for research deployments.
• Create installation guides, technical documentation, and developer documentation for external research teams.
• Improve the portability, maintainability, and long-term sustainability of the IMAGS software architecture.
• Collaborate with faculty investigators to identify software requirements and prioritize development goals.
• Test deployments across multiple operating systems and computing environments.
• Participate in project meetings and provide regular progress updates.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or current enrollment in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Experience developing software in Linux environments.
• Experience with Docker, containerization technologies, or virtualization platforms.
• Familiarity with web application deployment and server administration.
• Strong programming and software engineering skills.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative research team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Docker Compose, Kubernetes, or other container orchestration tools.
• Experience deploying web applications using technologies such as Node.js, Python, PHP, or similar server-side frameworks.
• Familiarity with databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite.
• Experience with Git and collaborative software development workflows.
• Experience creating installation scripts, CI/CD pipelines, or automated deployment systems.
• Interest in open-source software, reproducible research, scientific computing, or digital health technologies.

About the IMAGS Project The Music-induced Analgesia Genome Study (IMAGS) investigates how music can be used to help individuals manage chronic pain. The project employs custom physiological sensing hardware and software to measure changes in stress levels while participants listen to music. These data are analyzed and visualized to help researchers and music therapists better understand the characteristics of music that contribute to pain relief. IMAGS seeks to develop safe, accessible, and personalized alternatives that may complement traditional approaches to chronic pain management.

As part of this project, the IMAGS software platform is being redesigned to support reproducible, open scientific research by enabling research groups around the world to easily deploy and customize the system for their own studies.

Compensation:

Hourly rate is $20.00 per hour. This is a hybrid 15 hour per week position.

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.