Applications Developer - Programmable Cloud Laboratory Initiative (Materials Research Institute)

Summary

Penn State University is seeking an Applications Developer for the Materials Research Institute’s Programmable Cloud Laboratory initiative. The role will develop user-facing web applications and the Cloud Lab Command Center, enabling researchers to configure experiments, monitor workflows, view and analyze data, and collaborate remotely. The developer will focus on front-end development while collaborating with scientists, facility staff, and backend developers.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain responsive web applications for the Cloud Lab Command Center
• Build interfaces for experiment design, workflow configuration, collaboration, and reporting
• Develop reusable, accessible, and well-documented UI components
• Gather requirements and optimize user experiences through collaboration with researchers, facility staff, and software developers
• Use user feedback and iterative development practices to refine features and improve usability
• Work closely with backend developers to integrate front-end applications with APIs and data services
• Consume REST APIs and real-time data streams to provide timely information and updates
• Support application troubleshooting, quality assurance, and release activities

Skills

• Successful candidates will have demonstrated strong problem-solving, communication and collaboration skills and have extensive experience developing rich, interactive web applications and dashboards using JavaScript/TypeScript and React or comparable frameworks, data visualization libraries, implementation of responsive design, web-based data services, and REST APIs for interactive web applications and dashboards
• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Bachelor's Degree
• 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S
• * Familiarity with front-end testing frameworks and automated testing practices. UX/UI principles and user-centered design
• * Agile or iterative software-development environments
• * Familiarity with scientific software, research environments, or laboratory systems is a plus but not required

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Successful candidates will have demonstrated strong problem-solving, communication and collaboration skills and have extensive experience developing rich, interactive web applications and dashboards using JavaScript/TypeScript and React or comparable frameworks, data visualization libraries, implementation of responsive design, web-based data services, and REST APIs for interactive web applications and dashboards
• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Bachelor's Degree
• 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S

Nice to Haves

• * Familiarity with front-end testing frameworks and automated testing practices. UX/UI principles and user-centered design
• * Agile or iterative software-development environments
• * Familiarity with scientific software, research environments, or laboratory systems is a plus but not required

Benefits

• Remote work arrangement for individuals residing in eligible states within the US, or a hybrid work arrangement
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children