Web Software Developer Job
Description
Job Title: Web Software Developer
Type of Position: Full time (35 hour per week)
Pay Range: $60,000 - $80,000 depending on experience
Posting Open Date: Feb 1, 2023
Posting Close Date: March 31, 2023
Area of consideration: This position is open to all qualified candidates.
About the AAVSO
The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is a small, science-focused
501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Since its founding 1911, the
AAVSO and its members have worked with the professional astronomical community to unlock
the secrets of the cosmos through observations of variable stars and kindrid objects. Our
current mission is to enable anyone, anywhere, to participate in scientific discovery through
variable star astronomy.
AAVSO accomplishes this mission through collaboration with professional researchers,
educational activities, and data stewardship. In 2022, our engagement with researchers yielded
300 peer reviewed publications and our educational programming reached 5,500 individuals.
The majority of our effort involves curation of four databases including a photometric database
with over 54 million observations, a variable star metadata database containing information on
2.2 million variable stars, a spectroscopic database with some 10,000 spectra, and an exoplanet
database showcasing some 1,500 exoplanet transits.
Summary of Role
The AAVSO is seeking a Web Software Developer who will develop, maintain, and operate the
software and cloud services used in our web infrastructure. This is a full time (35 hour per week)
position that can be fulfilled as in-person, hybrid, or remote work depending on the employee’s
location.
What you will be doing
You will be responsible for the development, maintenance, and operation of AAVSO’s web
infrastructure. We utilize Amazon AWS, some open source software (mostly Django and
Drupal), and a variety of custom applications written in Python, PHP, and VisualBasic. Our
databases are MariaDB.
Your time will be split approximately 80% web development and 20% other duties as required.
What you need to be successful
● Prior experience with Amazon AWS cloud services.
● 2+ years of experience developing web applications in Python
● Effective verbal and written communication skills.
● Written and spoken proficiency in English.
How you can stand out
● Familiar with astronomy, photometry, spectroscopy or a related field.
● Prior experience with AstroPy
● A demonstrated track record of working with volunteers or managing small teams.
● Proficiency in languages other than English.
How to apply
Applicants should send a cover letter and their résumé / CV to Kathy Spirer at
[email protected] with the subject line “AAVSO Software Developer Opportunity.”