Backend Software Engineer

Backend Software Engineer (Hybrid)

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a globally recognized leader in technology, data management, and large-scale citizen science supporting birds and biodiversity conservation. We curate more than a petabyte of digital assets, one billion bird sightings, and leverage innovative big data analysis tools and machine learning to produce web applications and services to empower a global community of bird and nature enthusiasts, researchers, conservationists, and educators. We rely on a team of high-performance engineers to help navigate intriguing technical challenges to provide data-driven services, learning platforms, and science communications supporting biodiversity and conservation communities in all corners of the globe. This role will develop technical infrastructure and services that support numerous user-facing applications, including eBird, Merlin, Macaulay Library, and Birds of the World.

What will you do:

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

The Backend Software Engineer is expected to:

Design, develop, and maintain complex web-based applications and related services for the Merlin team based in the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO), external customers, and funding agencies. Participate actively in the design and evolution of CLO technical infrastructure and hosting platforms, including the transition to more scalable, agile, cloud-based systems. Serve as a technical liaison supporting coordination and integration of application infrastructure to meet CLO strategic objectives. Develop web-based systems, APIs, and database applications utilizing Java, Spring, javascript, enterprise GIS systems, and SQL with a Postgres backend. Stay current on software development and web application best practices and processes.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three (3)+ years of relevant experience working on substantial computer software projects and collaborating with a team of engineers.
• Three (3)+ years of object-oriented programming and modern web application development techniques building and integrating APIs, web services, and frontend user interfaces.
• Three (3)+ years of experience with Java, Spring, and SQL.
• Experience web frameworks such as React, Vue.js, Angular, Next.js, or Nuxt.
• Experience with relational database table design and with writing and optimizing complex queries.
• Experience with containerization using Kubernetes or Docker.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure platforms and services from major vendors such as AWS (preferred) or Azure.
• Experience with continuous integration, deployment, and automation technology such as Jenkins.
• Experience running services on Linux.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g. Git) and modern development workflows (e.g. Agile, Scrum).
• Experience with project management tools such as Jira.
• Proven experience documenting and testing code.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to establish realistic goals and deliver work on schedule, handle multiple concurrent tasks and priorities, and adapt to changing priorities, situations and demands.
• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation, and an ability to exercise sound judgment in decision making and in accomplishing tasks that are urgent or of a sensitive or confidential nature.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to build working relationships to solve problems and achieve common goals in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in computer science or related field.
• Familiarity with the Linux command-line and experience with shell scripting.
• Experience with highly available, high volume transactional web applications.
• Experience managing large volumes of data for replication, warehousing, and archival storage.
• Prior use and understanding of eBird, Merlin, Macaulay Library or other Cornell Lab tools and resources.
• Interest in birds, nature, conservation, and/or natural science.
• Experience with GIS data and server software such as GeoServer.

Application Information:

• A cover letter and resume are required for further consideration for this position. When applying through our system, please remember to attach your application materials (Cover Letter and Resume) in PDF format.
• No Visa Sponsorship of any kind is available for this position.
• No Relocation assistance will be provided for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• The work location is Ithaca, New York with the possibility of a hybrid work schedule that would be determined by the supervisor. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability. Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

University Job Title:

Software Engineer III

Job Family:

Information Technology

Level:

F

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$98,548.00 - $114,529.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Maria Avila

Contact Email:

[email protected]

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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2026-08-10