The Foundation
We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, weโre committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The TeamThe Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) at the Gates Foundation supports global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and achieve permanent improvements in health. We develop, use, and share computational modeling tools, and promote quantitative decision-making. The IDM team comprises both research scientists and software engineers. IDM has a bold and important vision, and you will play a key role in realizing that vision through the impact you have as a technical leader, as a collaborator, and as a thought partner.
IDMโs software engineering teams are a crucial part of this work, supporting researchers with specialist software development skills and scientific insight. IDM is committed to sharing its work as a public good benefiting the global community of scientists and health-care workers, especially in low-income and low-resource parts of the world.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 18, 2025
Your Role
We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer with a strong science background (or a scientist with a strong software engineering background) to join IDM's Rapid Reuse Modeling group, to help implement the next generation of dynamic models and analytical pipelines, thereby advancing the frontier of disease modeling.
The teamโs current focus is the Starsim framework for agent-based disease modeling. Starsim includes modules supporting modeling applications that include sexually transmitted diseases, enterics, respiratory pathogens, and maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health. Starsim applications inform product, data, and policy decisions, making tangible impact on global public health.
This role is a unique opportunity to interact with global-health policymakers, to collaborate with world-class researchers, engineers, and non-profit organizations, and to contribute to more effective disease burden reduction and eradication strategies.
This role is based in Seattle, WA and qualifies for relocation benefits.
What Youโll Do
- Work across IDMโs research teams to understand challenges, barriers, and limitations of current models and analytical pipelines with respect to key questions and stakeholder requests.
- Design, implement, test, and deploy next-generation models in partnership with IDMโs research teams and external scientific and engineering collaborators.
- Research, use, and develop AI-based tools to further accelerate model development and improve the equity and accessibility of disease modeling.
- Cross-pollinate solutions from computer science, dynamical systems, economics, physics, computational biology, and engineering to problems in health and development.
- Lead the creation of global public goods such as open-source software and academic publications.
- Collaborate with other software engineers and researchers to share knowledge and ideas, and to promote common practices and technologies.
- Drive for continuous improvement of our codebases, including major re-writes, re-designs, and re-factoring when appropriate.
Your Experience
- We seek candidates with a blend of science and software engineering backgrounds. Science qualifications can be degrees or experience in computational science. Software engineering expertise may include education, training, or work experience. Preference is given to those with health-related backgrounds, especially with experience in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Exceptional proficiency with Python. Hands-on proficiency with R, C++, or Rust is not required, but is a plus.
- Understanding of and experience with common software development lifecycle practices and associated tools and services (GitHub, Azure DevOps, etc.).
- Experience crafting, delivering, and supporting software in open-source models, particularly for use in low-resource settings.
- Eagerness to learn and engage with new challenges, including demonstrated ability to become proficient with new programming packages, tools and technologies quickly.
- Track record of open-source software projects (e.g. GitHub, PyPI, CRAN) and research publications (e.g. scientific journals, engineering conferences) is a plus.
Other Attributes
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $186,400.00 to $288,800.00 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $203,100.00 to $314,900.00 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidateโs job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.
Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Candidate Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion โ of voices, ideas, and approaches โ and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.