Software Developer I – Open MM

at  Stanford University

The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the foundation of a liberal arts education at Stanford. The school encompasses 24 departments and 24 interdisciplinary programs. H&S is home to fundamental and applied research, where free, open, and critical inquiry is pursued across disciplines. As the university’s largest school, H&S serves as the foundation of a Stanford undergraduate education no matter which discipline students pursue as a major. Graduate students work alongside world-renowned faculty to pursue and shape foundational research that leads to breakthroughs and discoveries that shed new light on the past, influence the present, and shape the future. Together, faculty and students in H&S engage in inspirational teaching, learning, and research every day.
Department Description: The mission of the Stanford Chemistry Department is to deliver excellence in education and research by attracting the very best faculty and students. The Department serves 26 faculty members, 5 lecturers, ~90-100 postdocs, ~250-300 PhD students, ~10 research staff, and 30 administrative staff, with an annual consolidated budget of approximately $30 million. The Department facilities consist of over 300,000 square feet of research, classroom and administrative space spread over 6 buildings.

Position Summary: The OpenMM project is looking for a new software developer to join our team to work on community driven software projects. OpenMM is a widely used toolkit for molecular simulation and modeling (>1.4 million downloads, >2400 citations). It provides a unique combination of excellent performance on GPUs and extreme flexibility. Through a mix of Python scripting, custom forces, custom integrators, PyTorch integration, and plugins, it allows users to define entirely new algorithms, force fields, and simulation protocols that in other packages would require far more effort and/or code changes to the core library. It is used both as a standalone simulation package, and as an internal simulation engine within other important projects. The software developer will work closely with the lead OpenMM developer Dr. Peter Eastman and under the supervision of Prof. Tom Markland and must possess and demonstrate a positive outlook on continuous process improvement efforts while maintaining a team-based and user-focused mindset. The software developer will contribute to all aspects of the OpenMM project, including:

• Implementing new features within the OpenMM molecular simulation toolkit
• Working with users to design new features that address their needs
• Supporting users online
• Creating and maintaining build and test infrastructure
• Performing community outreach

This is a 100% FTE, two year fixed term exempt position. Both hybrid and remote candidates will be considered for this position. Remote candidates must be located in the United States. Hybrid work will be based on the Stanford campus and will be considered for an option of telecommuting (hybrid of working on-site and off-site), subject to operational need.
If you believe that this opportunity is a match for your knowledge, skills and abilities, we encourage you to apply. Thank you for considering employment opportunities with the School of Humanities and Sciences.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Current knowledge of latest software and design standards.
• Ability to define and solve logical problems for technical applications.
• Knowledge of and ability to select, adapt, and effectively use a variety of programming methods.
• Ability to recognize and recommend needed changes in user and/or operations procedures.
• Basic knowledge of software engineering principles.
• Strong knowledge of at least one programming language.

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

• Extensive programming experience in Python and C++
• Knowledge of molecular simulation methods and algorithms
• Knowledge of relevant areas of molecular biology

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently sit, grasp lightly/fine manipulation.
• Occasionally stand/walk, writing by hand.
• Rarely use a telephone, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds
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• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Assess user needs and requirements.
• Design and develop applications that may involve sophisticated data manipulation.
• Maintain and update existing programs.
• Troubleshoot and solve technical problems.
• Create programs to meet reporting and analysis needs.
• Design and implement user and operations training programs.
• Document changes in software for end users.
• Follow team software development methodology.
• Serve as technical resource with respect to applications.
• Other duties may also be assigned.