Applications Analyst at Howard University

Job description

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission. At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth. Here is what we offer: Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture Join Howard University and thrive with us! https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness We are seeking an Applications Analyst who will be a pivotal member of the University Affiliate Research Center (UARC) DevOps Team, serving as the primary technical bridge for a consortium of nine academic institutions. This role is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of strategic applications that facilitate government-contracted research and development (R&D). Headquartered at the UARC hub, the Analyst ensures that researchers across all nine schools have access to integrated, high-performance software solutions. The role involves assessing diverse institutional needs, managing vendor relationships for specialized research tools, and ensuring that all applications meet stringent federal security and data-handling standards. Nature and Scope: The Applications Analyst has end-to-end responsibility for the consortium's application ecosystem. This includes assessing the unique software requirements of research teams across nine schools, researching and recommending vendor-based solutions (e.g., modeling, simulation, and data analysis tools), and developing custom integrations where necessary. The Analyst acts as a central coordinator, ensuring that new applications are seamlessly integrated into the UARC’s secure Azure environment and that cross-institutional training and communication are handled effectively. Principal Accountabilities: Consortium Application Support: Provide advanced technical support and troubleshooting for strategic applications used across the nine-school consortium, ensuring minimal downtime for critical research projects. Requirements Gathering & Analysis: Collaborate with faculty and PIs from all member institutions to document functional and technical requirements for new R&D software. System Integration: Design and implement data bridges between disparate institutional systems and the central UARC repository to facilitate secure data sharing. Vendor Management: Evaluate and manage third-party software vendors, focusing on tools that support aerospace, defense, or high-performance computing (HPC) environments. Application Development & Scripting: Develop custom web interfaces, APIs, and automation scripts (using Python or JavaScript) to enhance the functionality of off-the-shelf research tools. Security & Compliance Monitoring: Ensure all applications adhere to UARC security protocols, including NIST 800-171 and CMMC compliance for sensitive research data. Training & Knowledge Transfer: Create and deliver training materials and technical documentation tailored for a multi-institutional user base. Performance Optimization: Conduct regular application audits to ensure software is performing optimally within the UARC’s Azure cloud infrastructure. Competencies/Qualifications: Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of application architecture, API integration, and database management (SQL, NoSQL). Programming Skills: Minimum 2+ years of experience with Python or JavaScript for application customization and automation. Cloud Awareness: Familiarity with deploying and maintaining applications within an Azure environment. Collaborative Problem Solving: Ability to navigate the compl