Senior Software Engineer - Full Stack

The Harvard Library Innovation Lab (LIL) seeks a full stack Senior Software Engineer to help us imagine and build innovative software that charts the future of libraries. Our ideal candidate would be excited to join our efforts to build a variety of tools and services that help the world create, preserve, and access knowledge.

LIL’s current portfolio extends from Perma.cc, a vital web archiving platform that helps power the legal and educational sectors, to cutting edge experiments in applying large language models to civic knowledge problems, and all sorts of tools and experiments in between. Please visit our website to get a greater sense of our current projects and activities.

Located at the Harvard Law Library, LIL is a fun and collaborative lab with a broad mission focused on re-envisioning how libraries can contribute to society. We are a small but active group working at the intersection of libraries, technology, and law, and we are looking for someone with new skills and perspectives to add to our team.

We value clean architecture and maintainability in our work. We welcome developers from any technical background who are well-prepared to dive into our code.

Our work is open-source and openly available, with an eye to broad, public-interest impact. You will be working directly with team members and the whole of the library staff and beyond.

LIL’s projects can range from large to small and can bring immediate benefit or prototype the future. Our work requires creative problem solving, enthusiasm for libraries, open knowledge, and civic technology, and the ability to work collaboratively on long-term and short-term projects.

As a Senior Software Engineer – Full Stack, you will:

• Collaborate with and bring great energy to an existing cross-functional team.
• Work alongside other software engineers at LIL to research, design, develop, test, document and deploy solutions to hard problems.
• Work closely with librarians, technologists, the Lab director and other members of the Lab and surrounding community.
• Provide project management support and work with partners and clients to determine scope and help plan development projects.
• Help us adopt software development best practices and innovative technologies.

• Minimum of five years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

We are looking for people who have:

• A passion for libraries and the future of information access and civic technology.
• Broad experience across the web application stack and a willingness to pitch in where impacts can be made.
• Experience with a variety of data engineering languages and tools.
• Strong understanding of technologies like the Web, Python, JavaScript, PostgreSQL, and Elasticsearch.
• Comfort with Linux operating systems.
• A desire to share work and explore ideas in public settings, including presentations, scholarly seminars at Harvard, and posting to the Lab’s blog.

Travel is required for this position as needed, including for quarterly on-site meetings, conferences, and events.

This position is open to either remote applicants, or in-person applicants with a hybrid schedule.

Remote work is permitted for applicants living more than 50 miles from Harvard campus, based on business needs and manager approval.

All remote work must be performed within a state in which Harvard is registered to do business (CA, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT and WA).

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.