Job Listings

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

About us:

The Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a world leader in inspiring people to contribute to science and become advocates for birds and life on earth. Our model for change is to bring curiosity to scale through education and citizen science to gain insight into how natural systems work and address global conservation challenges. The Lab engages millions of people a year through our innovative educational platforms and data-powered citizen science enterprises.

We are seeking a full-stack Web Application Programmer to join our dynamic team of scientists, educators, designers, and developers. This position plays a key role in furthering the mission of the Lab by supporting the success of the platforms hosted by the center including Bird Academy, Project FeederWatch, NestWatch, Celebrate Urban Birds, and The Great Backyard Bird Count, as well as by collaborating with other Lab projects including eBird, Merlin, and All About Birds. The successful applicant will help to expand and scale up our digital platforms and develop new integrations within our citizen science data and media libraries. Work will involve collaborating closely with web designers to determine project requirements and to design and build out interactive features, seeking the most effective and inclusive strategies for educational and engaging experiences. The person in this role will help to create and foster an environment of diversity, equity and inclusion in all endeavors.

Core responsibilities will include:

• Supporting rapid growth of our WordPress-based eLearning platform (Bird Academy) and Center-led citizen science platforms (e.g., FeederWatch, NestWatch), as well as other educational and community-led science websites) by innovating back-end infrastructure in ways that translate into high-quality learning experiences including writing and customizing WordPress plugins, creating and using APIs, and optimizing and updating existing code.
• Directly contributing to the mission of the Engagement Center by producing new interactive web features and data-driven visualizations based on participant engagement and ensuring long-term stability of web platforms.
• Building systems to integrate data across projects to better understand how people engage with our digital platforms and better serve our participants.

What you must bring:

• A bachelor's degree with at least two years relevant experience or equivalent education.
• A thorough understanding of the software development lifecycle and ability to work in an agile environment with a team of developers and UX staff.
• Demonstrable experience in the following areas: (1) PHP-based application development in a SQL database environment, with a preference for WordPress expertise; (2) Creating and using APIs to build applications that handle significant amounts of data; (3) Strong collaboration skills, including experience with source code repositories, issue tracking, and documentation, as well as the ability to scope projects and translate user requirements into project timelines and technical deliverables; (4) Building and debugging public-facing web applications with the rapid turnaround sometimes needed to resolve critical user issues in a live environment.

We prefer you to have this background, but it's not required;

• Master's degree in computer or information science preferred.
• A deep understanding of WordPress and familiarity with WPEngine.
• Experience with test-driven development, writing efficient code, optimizing use of caching and database queries.
• Familiarity with best practices for web security.
• Knowledge of additional programming languages and interest in learning new technologies, especially JavaScript frameworks, a big plus.
• Experience with educational technology highly desirable.
• Expertise in WordPress Gutenberg features to modernize and improve web features and build components for reuse on other platforms (including mobile apps) a big plus.

This position may be eligible for remote work based on the location of the candidate (international and some domestic locations are ineligible).

What we offer:

• Opportunities to keep abreast of new developments in the programming field and to pursue individual professional development.
• The Lab is passionate about building and sustaining a just, diverse, inclusive, and equitable working and learning environment for all students, staff, and faculty. We believe that every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.

We hope you appreciate great benefits. Cornell receives national recognition, as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

• Our benefits program includes comprehensive health care options, access to wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, and generous retirement contributions.
• Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 12 holidays: e.g., an end-of-year winter break, from December 25th through January 1st.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, Tuition Aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance program.
• We invite you to follow this link to get more information: https://hr.cornell.edu/summaries-benefits.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

How to Apply: You must submit both a resume/CV and cover letter.

When applying through our system, please attach your application materials (resume/CV and cover letter). You can upload documents either by "dragging and dropping" them into the dropbox or by using the "upload" icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website. If you are an internal employee, please log in to Workday.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

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Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by "dragging and dropping" them into the dropbox or by using the "upload" icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at voice (607) 255-3976, fax (607) 255-7481, or email at owdi@cornell.edu.

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.