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Research Software Developer

McGill Universityabout 21 hours ago
Hybrid
CA$64,770 - CA$97,150/Annual
Mid Level
Full-Time

Top Benefits

Health, dental, and life insurance
Defined contribution pension plan (up to 10% employer match)
RRSP and TFSA contributions

About the role

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Position Summary:
LORIS is a web-based data management software designed at the McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (MCIN). The candidate will be contributing to the development and maintenance of LORIS and specifically to The Clinical, biospecimen, imaging and genetic (C-BIG) repository LORIS platform which delivers a multimodal informatics infrastructure to provide users access to curated health data, with open-access repository. The C-BIG Repository is an Open Science collection of biological samples, clinical information, imaging, and genetic data from patients with neurological disease as well as from healthy control subjects.

Reporting to the Senior Research Software Developer, the candidate will support the design, development, testing, and maintenance of tools and pipelines on LORIS platform. This includes building new automated importers for diverse data types—such as clinical, imaging and behavioral data—originating from multiple internal and external research groups. Responsibilities include implementing new features, enhancing existing functionality, bug tracking and resolution, user support, and maintaining both frontend and backend components of the platform. The developer will also be expected to contribute to documentation and help ensure data integrity and standardization in alignment with FAIR and open science principles.

Primary Responsibilities:

(i) Assist in defining the technical roadmap and delivering initiatives that support the strategic direction of software systems for the C-BIG Repository.

(ii) Design, develop, test and maintain research software applications, databases, APIs, and user interfaces for C-BIG data management.

(iii) Develop and support secure workflows for data ingestion, transformation, harmonization, and integration across multiple data sources and formats.

(iv) Implement data quality validation frameworks and automated pipelines to ensure completeness, accuracy, and consistency of repository data.

(v) Collaborate with researchers, analysts, and operational staff to gather requirements, define system specifications, and deliver software solutions aligned with research objectives.

(vi) Maintain and optimize database systems and data storage infrastructure to support large-scale repository operations, including high-volume imaging and genetic datasets.

(vii) Develop and maintain interoperability with external systems, tools, and standards (e.g., REDCap, LIMS, DICOM/PACS, BIDS, OMOP, HL7/FHIR, genomic variant formats).

(viii) Support secure data access mechanisms including authentication, authorization, audit logging, role-based access controls, and data request workflows.

(ix) Implement and maintain version control, CI/CD practices, code review standards, and software lifecycle management processes to support sustainable development.

(x) Troubleshoot system issues, perform debugging, apply patches, and resolve operational incidents to ensure repository platform stability and availability.

(xi) Prepare and maintain technical documentation, user guides, system architecture diagrams, and standard operating procedures.

(xii) Ensure software development practices comply with institutional policies, privacy legislation, ethics board requirements, and data governance frameworks.

(xiii) Evaluate emerging technologies and research computing tools, recommending improvements to repository systems, workflows, and infrastructure.

(xiv) Provide training, support, and technical guidance to repository users, research teams, students, and collaborators.

(xv) Contribute to project planning activities including effort estimation, timeline development, milestone tracking, and reporting on progress to leadership.

Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities

(i) University degree or related work experience in computer science, neuroscience or related field.

(ii) Experience with neuroimaging data processing.

(iii) Strong understanding of database systems, software development, and research infrastructure.

(iv) Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

(v) Research or industry experience with relational database systems (SQL).

(vi) Expertise with web development (PHP, JavaScript/JQuery, Bootstrap, Apache).

(vii) Experience with non-relational database systems is an asset (NoSQL).

(viii) Experience with Unix/Linux operating systems.

(ix) Experience computing on large datasets is an asset.

(x) Experience with version control systems (e.g. git, svn) and team-based development methodologies.

(xi) Strong programming skills and understanding of modern languages (Python, Perl).

(xii) Knowledge of HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap and W3C standards.

(xiii) Familiarity with academic research environments.

(xiv) Experience using and developing REST APIs

As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:

  • Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
  • Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
  • Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
  • Competitive vacation policy
  • Two (2) personal days
  • Two (2) floating holidays
  • Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
  • Paid time off over the December holiday period
  • Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
  • Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level 4on a scale of 0-4***.***

For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click here***.***

Minimum Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree 3 Years Related Experience /

Annual Salary:

(MPEX Grade 04) $64,770.00 - $80,960.00 - $97,150.00

Job Profile:

MPEX-IST2R - Research Software Development - Professional 2

Hours per Week:

33.75 (Full time)

Supervisor:

Associate Professor (Clinical)

Position End Date (If applicable):

2027-07-12

Deadline to Apply:

2026-05-31

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca***.***

About McGill University

Higher Education