Technical Product Lead

The Rosetta Commons under the Open Molecular Software Foundation (OMSF) is dedicated to advancing molecular sciences through open science and open-source research software. We are seeking an innovative and driven Technical Product Lead to drive the development, maintenance, and optimization of our Rosetta software for biomolecular modeling and design. The primary goal of this role is to develop and transform existing tools into easy-to-use, well-documented, and thoroughly tested software products that meet the needs of a diverse scientific community. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background, leadership experience, and a passion for advancing computational tools in the field of molecular sciences. This includes:

• Strategic vision and implementation: Develop and implement a strategic vision for Rosetta software, align development with organizational goals, and actively contribute to roadmap planning and execution.
• Project management and maintenance: Oversee and directly contribute to all stages of the software lifecycle, manage key projects, and ensure long-term maintainability through regular updates and best practices.
• Interoperability and user interfaces: Ensure seamless integration with external tools, directly contribute to the development of user-friendly interfaces and APIs, and enhance accessibility and usability.
• Software development and optimization: Actively participate in designing, developing, and maintaining high-quality, scalable software solutions while incorporating the latest advancements in molecular sciences and software engineering.
• Community support and documentation: Provide technical support to contributors and end-users, foster collaboration by sharing best practices and encouraging contributions. Maintain comprehensive documentation to facilitate knowledge transfer and improve usability.

This role is a fully remote position with flexibility in work location and schedule. The initial term is for up to two years, contingent on available funding, with the possibility of extension depending on future funding availability. Since this position is largely grant-funded, you will need to be legally authorized to live and work in the United States. If your visa is sponsored by your current employer, please apply and leave a note that you may require visa assistance. We will not accept overseas applications for this role.

Please note that, depending on your location, you might occasionally need to participate in meetings outside of normal business hours due to time zone differences. Our teams and collaborators are mostly based in the United States and in Europe. This role offers a high degree of autonomy, allowing you to structure your work in a way that best suits your productivity. This role will require occasional travel for work.

The Tech Lead will work closely with the Rosetta Commons’ leadership team, stakeholders, and internal and external users and developers of the software that share the common goal of improving molecular sciences through open science and open source research software. This is a newly established centralized professional role in the organization complementing our academic distribution model. This role offers many opportunities to shape up our community and the role itself, and a driven and resourceful individual would be best suited for the role. The ideal candidate is a proactive and engaging individual with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of maintaining attention to detail in a dynamic work environment. The Tech Lead will report to the OpenRosetta Project Director and will be supported by the technical staff in the Rosetta Commons.

Key duties and responsibilities:

1. Strategic Vision and Leadership:
   • Work with the technical staff and the community to develop and implement a strategic vision for the Rosetta software, aligning with organizational goals and scientific advancements.
   • Lead the roadmap planning, prioritizing features and improvements to maximize the software’s impact and usability.
   • Coordinate with stakeholders, including scientists, developers, and end-users, to ensure the software meets diverse needs and maintains scientific rigor.
2. Project Management:
   • Oversee all stages of the software development lifecycle, from initial concept through deployment and maintenance.
   • Ensure that projects have clear objectives, deliverables, timelines, and governance plans.
   • Monitor progress and adjust plans as necessary to meet deadlines and quality standards.
3. Maintenance:
   • Establish and enforce best practices for code quality, version control, and documentation to ensure consistent and maintainable software.
   • Regularly evaluate, update, and optimize existing tools to remain functional, secure, and compatible with new technologies and scientific advancements.
   • Monitor software performance and user feedback, making iterative improvements to enhance stability, usability, and scalability.
4. Software Development and Optimization:
   • Guide the development team in designing, developing, and maintaining high-quality software tools and applications.
   • Optimize code and algorithms to enhance performance, scalability, and reliability.
   • Stay current with advancements in molecular sciences and software engineering to incorporate cutting-edge solutions.
5. Interoperability and User Interfaces:
   • Ensure interoperability with external molecular modeling tools, including various ML tools, molecular dynamics, chemistry, and quantum chemistry software.
   • Develop user interfaces that are discoverable, functional, and easy to learn, enhancing user experience and accessibility.
6. Documentation and Knowledge Sharing:
   • Prepare comprehensive documentation for software tools, algorithms, and processes to facilitate knowledge transfer and future development.
   • Assist with training and onboarding new users and contributors to the developed tools.
7. Testing and Validation:
   • Implement and set up automated tests to ensure the accuracy and reliability of software tools.
   • Implement standard error handling and ensure all core functionalities are fully covered by unit tests.
8. Community Engagement:
   • Engage with the broader scientific community to identify and address major bottlenecks or challenges in software development.
   • Document and share best practices while developing tools or guidelines to streamline and standardize the process for contributing to the Rosetta codebase effectively.
9. Support and Troubleshooting:
   • Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance to end-users.
   • Ensure timely resolution of issues to maintain user satisfaction and software reliability.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Computational Chemistry, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Strong software architecture and programming skills, particularly in Python and C/C++, C++ STL.
• Experience with Python packages infrastructure, PyPI, Conda and other software distribution platforms, including packaging and deployment.
• Proven experience in collaborative software development, preferably in open-source projects, including version control systems (e.g., Git, GitHub).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex scientific problems and implement efficient software solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work effectively and independently in a fully remote, collaborative research/academic environment, demonstrating strong self-motivation and time management.

Preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with GPU platforms and deployments, including local and cloud-based environments.
• Experience with machine learning (ML) frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and their applications in biomolecular modeling, structural biology, or computational chemistry. Familiarity with training, fine-tuning, and deploying ML models is a plus.
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) clusters or similar technologies.
• Understanding of best practices and safety requirements in open-source software development, including code reviews, testing, and licensing.
• 5+ years of experience with research software development in molecular sciences, with a focus on creating robust, production-ready software products. Experience of working in academia will be a plus.
• Familiarity with optimizing user experience for scientific tools, including structuring options, naming conventions, and workflow design to enhance usability.
• Knowledge of modular software architectures and experience designing extensible systems or frameworks.
• Working knowledge of Unix systems, command line tools, and C++ toolchain.

Compensation:

The base annual salary range for these roles is expected to be between $130,000 - $150,000 commensurate with the candidates’ qualifications and experience, and in line with the organizational compensation policy. OMSF provides the following benefits to all US-based employees: a selection of healthcare plans (dental and vision included), HSA or FSA, 100% matching employer contributions to 401(k) up to 4%, and unlimited paid time off. Costs of setting up a home office and work-related travel will be covered.

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about improving scientific software and contributing to cutting-edge research, we encourage you to apply by filling out THIS FORM. For any additional queries about the role and OMSF, please contact julia.koehler.leman@omsf.io.