Founded in 2019, the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences is a university-wide, degree-granting academic unit comprising scholars and researchers in core and applied areas of computing, computational, and data-driven inquiry who engage in multidisciplinary collaborations across academic disciplines at Boston University. Founded in 2019, CDS complements and connects traditional academic disciplines through the language of computation and data. In support of the University’s strategic goals, CDS is laying the foundation for promoting civic-minded computing through mission-driven Impact Labs that act as catalysts for maximizing the societal impact of its research, curricular, and co-curricular programs.

About BU Spark! Founded in 2017, Spark! is a technology incubator and experiential learning lab for interdisciplinary computing and data science projects. In 2020, Spark! was absorbed into the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences where it will continue to deliver high quality experiential learning opportunities for students through a series of practicum courses, interdisciplinary practicum courses, and labs organized around thematic priority areas such as equity, education, and civic tech.

The Assistant Solutions Engineer will report to the Spark! X-Lab Program Manager to deliver quality experiential learning opportunities in collaboration with faculty, students, and external partners. Responsibilities will include supporting the Spark! X-Lab Program Manager to scope projects, evaluate student applicants, oversee a portfolio of student projects, and work with the Spark! Solutions Engineer to build a technical infrastructure that will strengthen project quality, maintain and enable public access to technical artifacts produced through Spark! programs. The Assistant Solutions Engineer will have opportunities to work directly on special projects and initiatives in coordination with external partners and experts in residence.

Collaborating partners involved with Spark! and the CDS Impact/ co-Labs include the following BU and external entities: The BU Initiative on Cities, The NAACP - Boston Chapter, The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, The Baystate Banner, WGBH, The Associated Press, the ACLU-Massachusetts, and many more.

Required Skills

• BA/BS degree in Computer Science, mathematics, statistics, or related technical STEM field.
• Experience with technology consulting from project scoping to client/partner management to overseeing the completion of high-quality project deliverables
• Solid quantitative and computational skills and working knowledge of contemporary programming languages and software platforms including, but not limited to R, Python, Matlab, Sql, GIS software, and graph databases.
• Working knowledge of advanced scraping techniques, databases and data mining techniques, machine learning and algorithm development, APIs and other web services within integrated applications.
• Deep knowledge of and experience with the best practices in data management and analysis, including data extraction, pre-processing, transformation, harmonization, and security.
• Basic knowledge of software engineering languages and frameworks ideally, including but not limited to: React, Flask, Rails, Node, Express, Swift, Kotlin, Ionic or Flutter.
• Experience and passion for working on interdisciplinary computing and commitment to user-centered design principles and practices.
• Ability to provide advice, problem solve, and interact with individuals at all levels from students to senior government officials to distinguished alumni.
• Strong process and project management skills
• Outstanding communication and people skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Must have comfort working in a fast-paced, dynamic work setting. Flexibility is a must. Positivity and teamwork is a must.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Basic IT skills (MS Office/Google Office, slack, trello, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with data visualization practices and tools such as Tableau or PowerBI
• Master’s Degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics or a related STEM field
• Familiarity with ethical and responsible computing principles and practices
• Experience working in a professional or mentoring capacity with students
• Voluntary activities related to social impact
• Demonstrated commitment to antiracist research in a personal and professional context.

Required Experience

• BA/BS degree in Computer Science, mathematics, statistics, or related technical STEM field.
• Experience with technology consulting from project scoping to client/partner management to overseeing the completion of high-quality project deliverables
• Solid quantitative and computational skills and working knowledge of contemporary programming languages and software platforms including, but not limited to R, Python, Matlab, Sql, GIS software, and graph databases.
• Working knowledge of advanced scraping techniques, databases and data mining techniques, machine learning and algorithm development, APIs and other web services within integrated applications.
• Deep knowledge of and experience with the best practices in data management and analysis, including data extraction, pre-processing, transformation, harmonization, and security.
• Basic knowledge of software engineering languages and frameworks ideally, including but not limited to: React, Flask, Rails, Node, Express, Swift, Kotlin, Ionic or Flutter.
• Experience and passion for working on interdisciplinary computing and commitment to user-centered design principles and practices.
• Ability to provide advice, problem solve, and interact with individuals at all levels from students to senior government officials to distinguished alumni.
• Strong process and project management skills
• Outstanding communication and people skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Must have comfort working in a fast-paced, dynamic work setting. Flexibility is a must. Positivity and teamwork is a must.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Basic IT skills (MS Office/Google Office, slack, trello, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with data visualization practices and tools such as Tableau or PowerBI
• Master’s Degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics or a related STEM field
• Familiarity with ethical and responsible computing principles and practices
• Experience working in a professional or mentoring capacity with students
• Voluntary activities related to social impact
• Demonstrated commitment to antiracist research in a personal and professional context.