Application Developer C/D- Wharton Research Data Services (Hybrid-Eligible)

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Employers By State in 2021.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement for all positions at the University of Pennsylvania. New hires are expected to be fully vaccinated before beginning work at the University. For more information about Penn’s vaccine requirements and the use of Penn Open Pass, visit the Penn COVID-19 Response website for the latest information. 

Posted Job Title

Application Developer C/D- Wharton Research Data Services (Hybrid-Eligible)

Job Profile Title

Application Developer Senior

Job Description Summary

WRDS is looking for an enthusiastic junior (C grade) or senior (D grade) developer to join the Platform Development and Integration team. The PDI team is responsible for developing and maintaining the WRDS infrastructure both on-site and in the cloud.  This role will build and maintain this infrastructure, as well as develop data access from varying sources using a variety of software packages. You will work closely with other PDI team members, the Web and Data teams, as well as our PhD researchers to present our data in innovative and easy to use ways. 

Job Description

Who We Are

Wharton Research Data Services supports over 50,000 users worldwide, doing research on over 1 Petabyte of financial data.  We manage and redistribute hundreds of data products from over 50 different companies.  WRDS is part of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  We offer great benefits, a flexible work environment, and a great campus location.

Who We Are Looking For

WRDS is looking for an enthusiastic junior (C grade) or senior (D grade) developer to join the Platform Development and Integration team. The PDI team is responsible for developing and maintaining the WRDS infrastructure both on-site and in the cloud.  This role will build and maintain this infrastructure, as well as develop data access from varying sources using a variety of software packages. You will work closely with other PDI team members, the Web and Data teams, as well as our PhD researchers to present our data in innovative and easy to use ways. 

An ideal candidate can deploy and maintain an enterprise class Linux High Performance Computing environment and can write scripts to automate, scale, and optimize workflows on it.  The candidate will be familiar with database administration, including setup, replication, and backup, ideally with PostgreSQL.  The interest and ability to assist in exploring new technologies is crucial.  This includes selecting and configuring software and connecting it to data and other existing parts of the application.  Support internal staff as well as users.

The senior level developer will be expected to coordinate multiple projects and will have more responsibility for project goals and timelines, while still meeting deadlines.  The position will develop or modify procedures to solve complex problems, taking into consideration computer equipment capacity and limitations.

Job Responsibilities

• Design, develop, maintain, and document programs to access large financial databases through varying mechanisms and software platforms
• Deploy computing resources via automated processes both on-site and in cloud environments
• Apply knowledge of networking, operating systems, and storage systems to maintain WRDS’ premier service level
• Provide technical support for use of the WRDS system via email, telephone and in person
• Training and exploration of new technologies

Qualifications/Skills Required

• 2 years (Junior) or 5 years (Senior) IT experience
• Comfortable deploying, maintaining, and administering UNIX/Linux environments
• Must have excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, and must be able to support users, relay questions to vendors, and present and discuss requirements internally.
• Experience with an all-purpose programming language such as Python or Perl
• Experience with version control systems such as svn or git
• Experience with PostgreSQL, or similar database setup, replication, backup, and general administration
• Experience with the SQL query language

A preferred candidate will also have several of the following skills:

• Proficiency with PostgreSQL administration
• Experience with cloud computing architecture,
• Familiarity with configuration management systems such as ansible
• Statistical software, such as SAS, R, Matlab, or Stata
• Understanding of typical web development workflow
• Familiarity with big data tools
• Experience with networking infrastructure and knowledge of networking theory
• Experience with financial, economic, and related databases
• Senior developers must be able to manage multiple priorities and evaluate the work of team members.

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$61,046.00 – $132,906.66

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. 

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay