Posting Summary:
The Center for Educational Equity, under the direction of Professor Jonathan Collins, is seeking an interim Software Engineering Research Assistant. The position will provide support on general operational tasks in support of various Center functions and projects, and requires a commitment of a minimum of 10 hours/week.

Job Summary/Basic Function:
The Center for Educational Equity is seeking an interim Software Engineering Research Assistant. The position will serve as the primary backend engineer for OUTREACH (www.outreach.vote), our flagship civic engagement and deliberation tool, and will subsequently contribute to the development of new Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). This role requires a commitment of a minimum of 10 hours/week.

Position Duties/Responsibilities
The interim Software Engineering Research Assistant's primary responsibilities include handling mission-critical details, specifically backend architecture, cloud functions, simple prompt engineering, and rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) testing under the direction of their supervisor. Other minor and major related responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

○ Backend Architecture & Data Integrity: Architect, implement, and manage the Supabase backend, focusing on scalable database schemas and security protocols
○ API & Cloud Function Development: Design and deploy server-side logic, API endpoints, and cloud functions to handle complex business logic and reliable data exchange between the frontend and database.
○ Quality Assurance (QA) & Testing: Take ownership of the development lifecycle, including the creation and execution of comprehensive unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to ensure the reliability and stability of all backend services and data pipelines.
○ Data Visualization Engineering: Implement the necessary data pipelines and APIs to power compelling, accessible, and intuitive data visualizations (e.g., dashboards) for presenting political science research findings.
○ Full-Stack Implementation: Translate UI/UX designs from Figma into high-quality front-end components and features, collaborating closely with the Research and Innovation Associate.
○ AI/LLM Integration: Leverage prompt engineering skills to design and integrate features using Large Language Models (LLMs) that enhance the tool's core research and user interaction capabilities.

Documents required for consideration:
- Resume
- Cover letter
Applications with missing documents will not be considered

Please note:
*This position is not eligible for tuition credits.

Scheduling
Student work schedules are based on the needs of the department and the student’s academic schedule. Students should discuss their schedules with the hiring manager/supervisor during the interview process. Hiring managers/supervisors will make every attempt to accommodate students’ needs.

Work Limitations
During the academic year, students may not hold appointments or any combination of appointments totaling more than 27 hours per week (International students may work up to 20 hours). Interim Student (IS) may hold other non-exempt positions (i.e. FWS, CA, AF) and must not exceed the maximum total allowable 27 hours per week. IS cannot hold a TA or RA position simultaneously with their IS position.

Student Learning Outcomes
Student employees will have the opportunity to develop and/or build on the following competencies while working in this position:

- Career and Self-Development
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Critical Thinking
- Technology (Software or equipment)

Minimum Qualifications:
- Must be a TC student currently enrolled in a degree program and taking at least 1 credit during the fall/spring semesters.
- Must be able to abide by Teachers College academic and personnel policies and guidelines, including FERPA, Student Confidentiality Agreement, and the Student Privacy Requirements
- Proficiency in modern JavaScript/TypeScript and experience with a front-end framework (e.g., React, Next.js).
- Expertise in Supabase, including schema design, RLS, and advanced querying.
- Proven ability to work in a high-trust, autonomous environment, taking complete ownership of assigned tasks, including QA and deployment.
- A passion for social impact, education technology, and contributing to agile development cycles.

Previous experience:
- Advanced coursework in Computer Science undergraduate program, with at least one relevant technical internship or equivalent project experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Direct experience with serverless functions or cloud environments (e.g., Vercel, Netlify, AWS Lambda, GCP).
- Experience making coding agents or workflow automations using tools like n8n, make.com, or similar platforms.
- Experience with advanced data visualization libraries (e.g., D3.js, Tableau/Power BI embedded).
- Experience with Figma-to-code workflows (e.g., Figma Make, or other agentic file generation tools).

Salary Range:

$18 - $18

Work Modality:

Student Employee - Onsite