Senior Software Engineer

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) is a community of Information Technology professionals committed to understanding our users and devoted to making it easier for faculty, students, and staff to teach, research, learn, and work through the effective use of information technology.  We are recruiting an IT workforce that has both breadth in their ability to collaborate and innovate across disciplines – and depth in specific areas of expertise.  HUIT offers opportunities for IT professionals to learn and work in a unique technology landscape and service-focused environment.  If you are a technically proficient, nimble, user-focused and accountable IT professional who also connects with the importance of collaborating well in a team environment we are looking for you!  

More About HUIT: 

Our Mission: huit.harvard.edu/about 

We empower the Harvard community with essential and transformative technologies to advance education, knowledge, and discovery. 

HUIT’s core values are:  

• Human-centered  
• University-focused 
• Innovation-driven 
• Team-oriented

IT Academy (designed for IT Staff): 

HUIT’s IT Academy aims to enable each IT staff person to grow professionally and become a trusted partner to her or his team. The IT Academy is built on the belief that every IT staff member across the University (including technology employees at each school and campus) can grow in her or his area of expertise as well as building strong people and project management skills. Learn more here: https://itacademy.harvard.edu/. 

Job Description

• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information:
  • Hybrid - Onsite as needed with advance notice
  • Please provide a cover letter and resume as one document with your application.
  • This position has an 180-day orientation and review period.

The Senior Software Engineer serves as an experienced technical contributor responsible for designing, developing, testing, implementing, and supporting complex software solutions for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). This role works across the full application lifecycle, contributing to technical design decisions, application modernization, and delivery of strategic technology initiatives.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, test, implement, and support complex Oracle APEX applications, PL/SQL packages, procedures, functions, views, and related database objects. 
• Lead technical design discussions and contribute to architectural decisions that improve scalability, security, and long-term maintainability. 
• Analyze business requirements and translate them into secure, scalable, user-focused technical solutions, meeting directly with stakeholders throughout the application lifecycle. 
• Develop and maintain integrations with institutional and third-party systems using RESTful APIs, Oracle REST Data Services, and related technologies. 
• Perform code reviews and promote development standards, secure coding practices, and documentation across the development team. 
• Participate fully in Agile development processes, including backlog refinement, estimation, sprint planning, testing, deployment, and retrospectives. 
• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, data issues, integration failures, and application defects through root cause analysis, implementing sustainable long-term solutions. 
• Contribute to platform upgrades, security remediation, technical debt reduction, and application modernization initiatives. 
• Evaluate emerging technologies, automation opportunities, and AI-assisted development tools that improve productivity, quality, and operational efficiency; support third-party integrations such as APEX Office Print and SerpApi. 
• Support knowledge sharing through technical documentation, cross-training, and mentoring, serving as a technical leader during solution design, code reviews, and troubleshooting.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications are the minimum threshold a candidate must meet in order to be considered for this role. 

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

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

Required:

• Minimum of 5+ years of professional software development experience, including a strong background in Oracle, APEX
• 5+ years of experience as an Oracle APEX developer or software engineer in a client-focused organization, including web application development and relational database technology.

The following qualifications are strongly preferred. If you meet some, but not all, you are still encouraged to apply; we value employees with a willingness to learn.

• Minimum of 5+ years of professional software development experience, including a strong background in SQL, PL/SQL, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 
• Experience with Oracle REST Data Services, APEX Office Print (AOP), and developing REST-based web services. 
• Experience with Git and source control management, including SQLcl Projects or similar structured deployment tools. 
• Experience with Agile software development methodologies, preferably Scrum. 
• Strong knowledge of application security best practices and secure coding techniques. 
• Experience evaluating and adopting emerging technologies, including AI-assisted development tools. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences. 
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills; proven ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic team environment. 
• Strong understanding of relational database design, data modeling, data integrity, and database implementation practices.
• Familiarity with WCAG 2.1 AA standards for web accessibility

Certificates and Licenses:

• Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred.

Additional Information

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.