Job Description:
The Quality and User Support Analyst develops, evaluates, revises, applies and documents technical quality assurance protocols, methods and test plans to inspect and test a variety of data, processes, software and products for the UCSC Genome Browser project (genome.ucsc.edu). Ensures activities and items are in compliance with quality assurance standards and software/product design specifications to determine and approve software releases. Performs analysis and identifies trends in the inspection of Genome Browser data, processes, software and products and recommends corrective actions when necessary. Involved in developing, auditing, monitoring and enforcing the established release management processes and policies in support of cross-domain configuration integration, testing, completeness and consistency. Responds to project inquiries from Genome Browser users and collaborators, troubleshoots problems, researches queries regarding underlying biological assumptions and computational methods in the genome software and databases, communicates problems and suggested site improvements to others on project team.
Comprising diverse researchers from a variety of disciplines across academic divisions, the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute leads UC Santa Cruz's efforts to unlock the world's genomic data and accelerate breakthroughs in health and evolutionary biology. Our platforms, technologies, and scientists unite global communities to create and deploy data-driven, life-saving treatments and innovative environmental and conservation efforts.
The UCSC Genome Browser is an interactive web-based "microscope" that allows researchers to view genetic material at any scale - for example, all 23 chromosomes of the human genome - from a full chromosome down to an individual nucleotide. More than 130,000 biomedical researchers throughout the world use it each month for accessing data for more than 100 animal genomes. The UCSC genome bioinformatics group released the first working draft of the human genome sequence on the web and launched the UCSC Genome Browser in 2001. The Genome Browser has since become an essential resource to biomedical science.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in a biological science or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Working skills in software testing. Working understanding of the use of testing tools, including skill to perform automated QA procedures.
- Working knowledge of software functions and analysis, and working skills in software lifecycle management.
- Working skills in understanding and implementing data and software release cycles.
- Broad knowledge in biology, gene sequence organization, and gene expression and regulation in eukaryotes.
- Demonstrated experience working with large data sets.
- Ability to elicit and communicate scientific, technical and non-technical information in English in a clear and concise manner both in verbal and written form.
- Demonstrated experience with UNIX and shell-scripting.
- Demonstrated skill and experience in a customer service environment.
- Interpersonal skills to work with both technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization. Ability to elicit and communicate technical and non-technical information in a clear and concise manner.
- Self-motivated, able to learn quickly, meet deadlines, work independently and as part of a team and demonstrate problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Degree or coursework in computer science or bioinformatics
- Demonstrated experience in a programming language such as Python or Perl.
Job Duties:
30% - Carries out well-defined, moderately complex procedures to ensure that all information systems products and services meet minimum organization standards and end-user requirements. Analyzes and develops test scripts. Tests software and data to ensure proper operation and conformance to test plans. Administers standards for migration of new and upgraded software and data from test to production environment. Utilizes testing libraries in support of the software development process lifecycle.
30% - Guides migration of new and upgraded software and data from test to production environment. Analyzes requests for new software upgrades or enhancements.
20% - Documents and analyzes test results and processes. Assists with development and analysis of improvements to current procedures.
20% - Monitors and responds to email communications received from scientists off-site, under the guidance of senior QA and engineering staff. Troubleshoots problems, researches queries regarding underlying biological assumptions and computational methods in the genome software and databases, ensures that questions are answered satisfactorily, and suggests site improvements that address the sources of problems. Understands how biologists use the site, and recommends new features to help them. Creates and maintains website documentation, and may author posters and technical papers for external publication.
Salary:
Starting Salary Range: $26.34-$35.92/hourly. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience
Benefits:
This position is eligible for full UCSC benefits
