We're Hiring! (Research Software Engineer)
The Northern Mesonet Project at the Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory is looking for a Research Software Engineer to join our team! This role is an opportunity to help build and advance a national-scale meteorological data hub, supporting severe weather research and real-time environmental monitoring across Canada.
Please feel free to share with anyone who may be interested! You can apply for the position here (ID# 41923).
Classification & Regular Hours
Hours per Week: 40
Salary Grade R2
The base salary will be $75,828.57 - $89,234.29 per annum. Starting salary will be aligned with the successful candidate’s experience, skills, and demonstrated qualifications.
About Western
With an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada's top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities and one of Canada's most beautiful campuses.
About Us
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is one of four departments in the Faculty of Engineering. Faculty and staff in the department support and foster the educational and research pursuits of undergraduate and graduate engineering students, while providing the best student experience.
The Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory (CSSL) aims to advance the identification, assessment, understanding and prediction of severe convective storms (SCS) and their impacts across Canada. The CSSL aims to be the authoritative source for SCS research and data in Canada, thereby improving the safety and wellbeing of Canadians. The NMP operates under the larger umbrella of the CSSL, along with the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), and Northern Hail Project (NHP).
Responsibilities
The Research Software Engineer is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of research software systems and data infrastructure supporting the Northern Mesonet Project (NMP) and the Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory (CSSL). The role supports the operation of software and database systems that enable real-time ingestion, quality control, visualization, and archival of Canadian weather and severe storms data. The position contributes to the ongoing development and maintenance of the Canadian Mesonet Portal and the Canadian Severe Storms Event Database (CSSED), including the integration of data from mesonets, field instrumentation, and external open data repositories. Working under the direction of the NMP Director, the Research Software Engineer assists with system upgrades, onboarding of new stations or instruments, and the testing and evaluation of new technologies for severe weather research. The role provides technical support to researchers and students, contributes to documentation, reporting, and research outputs, and ensures that software systems are reliable, secure, and aligned with established development practices and research objectives.
Qualifications
Education:
- Master’s Degree focused in Software Engineering or Computer Science required or 4 year Bachelor's Degree focused in Software Engineering or Computer Science with relevant experience
Experience:
- 3 years’ experience designing, developing, and maintaining software systems in a research, academic, and data-intensive environment
- Experience developing and supporting web-based applications, data portals, dashboards, or APIs for accessing and visualizing data
- Experience working with research or operational datasets, including data ingestion, processing, quality control, and archival workflows
- Experience using distributed version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborating through platforms such as GitHub
- Experience supporting researchers, students, or interdisciplinary teams by translating scientific or operational requirements into technical solutions
- Experience producing technical documentation, reports, or scholarly outputs in collaboration with research teams
- Experience managing multiple projects or priorities while meeting research, operational, and reporting deadlines
- Experience working with environmental, meteorological, geospatial, or time-series datasets, including observational weather data
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Knowledge of software engineering principles, including system architecture, modular design, testing, documentation, and long-term maintainability
- Knowledge of programming languages and technologies commonly used in scientific computing and web development (e.g., Python, C++, C/C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, SQL, React)
- Knowledge of data management and stewardship practices, including data quality control, metadata, and long-term preservation of research data
- Knowledge of web technologies and frameworks used to develop data portals, visualization tools, and application programming interfaces (APIs)
- Knowledge of collaborative software development workflows, including code review, issue tracking, and release management using platforms such as GitHub
- Knowledge of meteorological, environmental, geospatial, or time-series datasets, including observational weather data and severe storms data workflows
- Familiarity with University research policies and practices preferred
- Ability to ensure expenditures and resources are within allotments, and to make appropriate modifications when required
- Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives, improve outcomes and support work beyond one's own unit
- Project management skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously from conception to completion within tightly prescribed timelines
- Proven ability and natural inclination to develop relationships by interacting with people in a professional, respectful and diplomatic manner
- Excellent troubleshooting ability along with hands-on expertise in technical support
- Communication skills to describe technical concepts and the proper and safe use of materials and equipment effectively to both novice and sophisticated users
- Ability to write clear, concise and accurate procedural documentation
- Ability to work in a manner that models best practices in confidentiality standards
- Ability to provide solutions and ideas for improvement by using imaginative approaches where constructive thinking and innovation are required
- Ability to handle details with a high degree of accuracy and to organize and prioritize a high volume of work to meet deadlines
- Commitment to ongoing professional development, with a willingness to stay abreast of technological developments and a desire to take on new challenges
- Must have own transportation with ability to travel between Western Engineering and field locations; Valid Class G driver’s license required
- Ability and willingness to travel within Canada, often on short notice, and to work within a flexible schedule to accommodate the activities of the research project
- Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project) and other software applications or equipment used to support the project would be and asset (such as mapping software, geographic information system (GIS), and aerial photography equipment)
- Possess a reputation for resourcefulness with a strong sense of accountability and initiative
- Ability to search within and outside the formal boundaries of the organization for innovative ways to improve work
- Ability to work independently and effectively as a member of the team to achieve department goals
Western Values Diversity
The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.
Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone 519-661-2194.
Please Note:
This position is an existing vacancy. This position is fully in person, on-site. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.
