Applications Programmer 3 (7300U)

Applications Programmer 3 (7300U) Berkeley Natural History Museums, 86735

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Departmental Overview

The Berkeley Natural History Museums consortium (BNHM, listed OBNUM) is a multi-departmental, multidisciplinary unit that maximizes expertise and resources in information technology and database informatics across UC Berkeley research collections. The BNHM focuses on the cyberinfrastructure needs of the primary campus natural history research collections, specifically the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ), UC Museum of Paleontology (UCMP), Essig Museum of Entomology (EME), UC & Jepson Herbaria (UCJeps), UC Botanical Garden, and collaborates with the Berkeley Reserves.

Position Summary

The Applications Programmer 3 holds a critical and multifaceted position primarily responsible for the administration and comprehensive management of the database systems that are foundational to the operation and integrity of the BNHM's extensive collection management systems (e.g. Arctos Collection Management System). This role includes both simple maintenance to encompass the full lifecycle management of associated applications, rigorous data management and partitioning, and maintenance of the VLDB database design and architecture.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 2026-06-25

Responsibilities

• Database System Administration: Plans, designs, develop, modify, debugs, deploys and evaluates complex VLDB database design and architecture, including expertise in performance tuning, security management, backup, and recovery of the core collections database infrastructure (e.g., SQL-based systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.).
• Application Management: Administering, customizing, and supporting the Arctos Collection Management System used by BNHM staff for collection record creation, editing, and management.
• Data Quality and Integrity: Implementing and enforcing strict data governance policies, performing routine data audits, cleaning and migration tasks, and developing tools to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of all collection records in alignment with international standards (e.g., Darwin Core, Dublin Core).
• Standard Compliance: Serving as the BNHM's expert on global metadata standards relevant to biodiversity and natural history data, ensuring institutional compliance, and contributing to the development of best practices within the institution.
• Online Portal Development and Maintenance: Managing the public-facing and internal web interfaces that provide access to the collections data.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced skills with VLDB database design and architecture, including schema design, normalization, data and ER modeling, data partitioning, business logic layer design
• Demonstrated skills in Data management such as Data collection and ingestion, Data governance, security, and privacy, Data integrity and obfuscation, and Data ETL (Extract Transform Load) and reporting
• Knowledge of Database security, monitoring and maintenance, including row-level security implementation, backup and recovery, streaming replication, performance tuning.
• Knowledge or experience with Natural history and cultural collection data and its metadata standards
• Thorough experience working with Operating Systems (Linux, Unix); Relational Database Management Systems (PostgreSQL, MySQL); Cloud Storage (e.g.,AWS S3)
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the Arctos collection management system