Research Engineer

As a University of Applied Learning, SIT works closely with industry in our research pursuits. Our research staff will have the opportunity to be equipped with applied research skill sets that are relevant to industry demands while working on research projects in SIT.

Job Details

This Research Engineer will contribute to an international joint project related to policy-making in urban planning and design, focusing on developing a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework and tool. The work will involve integrating results from GeoTOPSIS and/or VectorMCDA in QGIS, enhancing spatial decision support for blue–green infrastructure and ecosystem service evaluation.

The Research Engineer will lead the software development and interface programming, working closely with the GIS Research Fellow and interdisciplinary project team members to create a user-friendly, scalable decision-support tool for planners and policymakers. As part of understanding the ecosystem services that are involved in Singapore, the successful candidate will also be expected to perform some field-based data collection during the duration of the project.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the PI, Co-PI, and research team to ensure timely completion of all project deliverables.
• Implement and enhance GeoTOPSIS/VectorMCDA algorithms within QGIS using Python or equivalent programming frameworks.
• Develop a user-friendly interface (QGIS plugin or web-based application) for decision-making and data visualization.
• Collaborate with the GIS Research Fellow to integrate ecosystem service layers and model outputs.
• Conduct tool testing, validation, and iterative refinement based on stakeholder feedback.
• Manage documentation, data pipelines, and version control.
• Support system deployment on a secure project server and ensure cross-platform interoperability.
• Assist in project management and support the team in facilitating and organizing workshops, stakeholder sessions, and policy dialogues.
• Be involved in regular field work data collection and to perform environmental and biodiversity surveys (fish, birds and insects) as part of a research team.
• To communicate in any relevant internal or external stakeholders to ensure project deliverables are met.
• Any ad-hoc duties assigned by Supervisor.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Geomatics, Environmental Informatics, or related fields.
• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or JavaScript for spatial analysis, interface development, or web applications.
• Experience in plugin or dashboard development (e.g., PyQGIS, Dash, Streamlit, or web-GIS frameworks).
• Familiarity with GIS concepts and geospatial data structures; experience with QGIS or ArcGIS will be an advantage.
• Ability to translate analytical models into intuitive, interactive user interfaces.
• Good teamwork, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated and able to learn new tools and frameworks independently.

Additional Note:

While prior experience with GeoTOPSIS/VectorMCDA is not mandatory, it will be considered a strong advantage. On-the-job training will be provided to equip the candidate with necessary methods and integration workflows with ecosystem service models and spatial datasets.

Key Competencies

• Strong programming skills (Python/R/JavaScript) for tool and interface development.
• Ability to implement or learn GeoTOPSIS/VectorMCDA methods in GIS environments.
• Good teamwork and communication skills for collaboration with the project team.
• Strong problem-solving ability, adaptability, and willingness to learn new tools.
• Good organizational and documentation skills; familiarity with GIS is a plus.