Senior Officer, Model Frameworks

Job Posting Organization:
The Gates Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity on a global scale. Founded with the mission that every individual, regardless of their identity or circumstances, should have the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life, the foundation emphasizes the importance of diversity among its employees to reflect the global populations it serves. The organization offers an exceptional benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, retirement contributions funded by the foundation, regional holidays, and opportunities for employees to engage in various community initiatives. The foundation is committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive both personally and professionally, ensuring that they are supported in their roles and encouraged to grow.

Job Overview:
The Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) at the Gates Foundation is focused on global efforts to eradicate infectious diseases and improve health outcomes. The Senior Officer, Model Frameworks will play a crucial role in enhancing the software and AI capabilities that underpin IDM's disease modeling initiatives. This position is integral to streamlining the evidence-to-policy lifecycle in low-resource settings by minimizing the time required for researchers to generate validated model results. The Senior Officer will work within the Model Frameworks team, reporting to the Senior Manager, and will be responsible for producing high-quality, maintainable code, integrating AI tools to enhance development processes, and ensuring that the technology meets scientific standards of validity and reproducibility. The role requires a proactive approach to project management, problem-solving, and collaboration with both technical and research teams to achieve impactful outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Officer will be responsible for several key functions, including:

• Technical Execution & AI Integration: Develop well-tested, maintainable code using CI/CD practices, conduct code reviews, and implement modern quality assurance techniques. Utilize AI development tools to enhance code quality and share best practices with the team.
• Modeling Frameworks: Design, evaluate, and deploy AI-enabled modeling components, including data pipelines and evaluation harnesses, ensuring technical rigor across various modeling paradigms.
• Autonomy & Delivery: Independently manage multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery of results while communicating effectively with team members about any changes in timelines or priorities.
• Problem Solving: Break down complex modeling challenges into manageable components, applying mathematical and AI/ML techniques to find innovative solutions.
• AI for Scientific Research: Create AI capabilities that improve research workflows, ensuring scientific credibility through traceable outputs and human review.
• Collaboration & Partnership: Foster strong relationships with researchers and partners, adapting communication styles to engage diverse audiences.
• Team Culture & Growth: Promote a collaborative team environment, serving as a technical resource for peers and junior engineers, and exemplifying the foundation's values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess a strong background in software engineering, with typically 5-8 years of professional experience or equivalent demonstrated impact in research software or computational modeling. Hands-on experience with generative AI, including agent design and context management, is essential. A solid understanding of computational modeling techniques, such as agent-based modeling and statistical approaches, is required. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to deliver maintainable code within a CI/CD framework and possess strong communication skills to articulate technical trade-offs and adapt to feedback from managers and team members.

Educational Background:
A relevant educational background is essential for this position, typically including a degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Advanced degrees or specialized training in computational modeling, epidemiology, or public health may be preferred, as they provide a deeper understanding of the context in which the modeling frameworks will be applied.

Experience:
The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in software engineering, particularly in contexts related to research or computational modeling. Experience working closely with researchers or domain experts in global health or public health settings is highly valued. Familiarity with open-source software development practices and cloud-based data platforms for large-scale analysis is advantageous. Additionally, experience in low-resource environments or with software designed for such contexts will be beneficial.

Languages:
While specific language requirements are not detailed, proficiency in English is mandatory due to the nature of the work and the need for clear communication with diverse stakeholders. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly in regions where the foundation operates.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and requires unrestricted work authorization in the United States, as the foundation does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. The salary range for this position is between $190,100 and $294,700 USD, with higher ranges applicable in Seattle and Washington D.C. The foundation aims to balance competitive pay with its mission-driven focus, and new hires typically fall within the range minimum to midpoint based on their skills and experience. The hiring process will include a background check, and the foundation is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring experience for all candidates.