Software Developer / Scientist - WEAP Platform
Stockholm Environment Institute - U.S.
Summary
The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) seeks an outstanding software developer/scientist to contribute to the continued development of WEAP (Water Evaluation and Adaptation Planning), one of the world's leading platforms for integrated water resources planning and decision support. WEAP is used by governments, utilities, researchers, NGOs, and international organizations worldwide — including the California Department of Water Resources — to address drought resilience, climate adaptation, groundwater management, infrastructure planning, agricultural water use, and ecosystem sustainability. The position combines advanced software engineering with scientific inquiry and close collaboration with researchers, modelers, and practitioners. The successful candidate will work closely with WEAP's lead developer and senior WEAP modelers and, operating with significant autonomy, translate scientific and policy needs into robust software for a global user community. They will help advance the integration of AI capabilities within WEAP, including AI-assisted workflows that support users in building, debugging, documenting, and analyzing models. The SEI-US Center has three offices: Somerville, MA, Davis, CA, and Seattle, WA; you will be joining our twelve-person team based primarily in Davis, CA. The job location is in Davis, California.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Co-Lead the full development lifecycle of the WEAP software platform, architecture, design, implementation, testing, documentation, and release, including modeling tools, user interfaces, APIs, data processing workflows, and analytical functions.
- Develop and evaluate AI-assisted functionality that helps users construct, troubleshoot, document, interpret, and analyze WEAP models.
- Collaborate with researchers and modelers to translate scientific and policy needs into robust software solutions, including for cutting-edge water planning applications in California and other water-stressed regions.
- Guide and/or support integration of hydrologic, climate, economic, geospatial, and environmental datasets into modeling workflows, including approaches that help users in data-scarce environments.
- Support, cultivate and grow the international WEAP user community through technical engagement and collaborative problem solving.
- Lead the security, integrity, and responsible stewardship of WEAP software and digital assets, including applying secure software-development practices, identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, managing access and dependencies, and conducting appropriate due diligence when adopting new technologies, libraries, AI tools, or third-party services.
- Communicate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Maintain and evolve the WEAP website and online user resources, including supporting the platform’s transition to cloud-based services.
Required Skills and Abilities
- Excellent software engineering and programming skills, including experience developing and maintaining substantial, long-lived codebases.
- End-to-end desktop application development from architecture and UI design through implementation, testing, documentation, and release, with demonstrated use of good design principles.
- Ability, wisdom and interest in applying AI-assisted development tools and workflows, both in the development process and in scientific software features.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; creativity in reaching results in new ways.
- Ability to anticipate and address risks related to software architecture, data handling, access controls, third-party dependencies, licensing, and the appropriate protection and distribution of source code and other digital assets.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical experts and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong organizational and time management skills; proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and international environments.
- Interest in sustainability, water resources, and environmental systems.
Preferred Technical Qualifications
- Highly preferred: Delphi/Object Pascal, or strong experience with compiled, statically typed languages (e.g., C#, C++) and demonstrated ability to become productive in new languages; native Windows application development; scientific or numerical computing; AI-assisted software development tools and workflows.
- Also valuable: GIS and geospatial data processing; APIs and cloud-based workflows; data engineering and visualization; environmental, hydrologic, or systems modeling platforms; experience contributing to or using integrated water resources models or decision support tools.
Education and Experience Required
A computer science degree with 5+ years of relevant professional experience in software development, scientific computing, or modeling systems.
Preferred
Expertise or strong interest in water resources or environmental systems; experience supporting external users or technical communities; experience in interdisciplinary or international settings; prior experience with numerical models, hydrological simulation, or integrated assessment tools.
Requirements
- Excellent software engineering and programming skills
- Experience developing and maintaining substantial, long-lived codebases
- End-to-end desktop application development
- Ability to apply AI-assisted development tools and workflows
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to anticipate and address software architecture and data handling risks
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and international environments
- Interest in sustainability, water resources, and environmental systems
- Computer science degree
- 5+ years of relevant professional experience in software development, scientific computing, or modeling systems
- U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 5% retirement match
- Paid parental leave
- Family medical leave
- Flexible work schedules
- 10 holidays
- 20 days vacation
- 10 days sick leave
- Moving expenses reimbursement
Company overview
The Stockholm Environment Institute - U.S. (SEI US) is the American center of the international non-profit research institute headquartered in Sweden. Established as part of SEI's global network, the U.S. center operates offices in Somerville, Massachusetts; Davis, California; and Seattle, Washington. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization and research affiliate of Tufts University, SEI US conducts interdisciplinary research focused on pressing environmental and global development challenges. The institute specializes in bridging science, policy, and practice to drive sustainable development solutions. SEI US's research portfolio encompasses energy systems, water resources, climate policy, sustainable bioenergy, and equitable transitions, with a strong emphasis on capacity building through training and collaboration. The center develops widely-used decision-support tools and engages with policymakers, civil society, and academic partners to translate scientific research into actionable policy recommendations. With a commitment to scientific integrity and partnership-driven approaches, SEI US contributes to SEI's global mission of shifting policy and practice toward sustainability while addressing critical issues of development, equity, and environmental stewardship in the U.S. context.