Systems Designer Partners Healthcare
Boston, MA

Job Description

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

Receiving general direction from the Team Lead Development, the Systems Designer is responsible for the design, development, testing, documentation, maintenance, troubleshooting and analysis of software for support of radiation oncology treatment, including proton therapy. Designs and develops software for deployment of research results into clinical use. Must adhere to good software development practices. Expected to assume project leadership for a defined section of a major project or sole responsibility for a project. Exhibits independent judgment in software design, technical decisions, time allocation and planning.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Consults with physicists and engineering staff to create user requirements and ensures that designs provide correct functionality. Must have ability to translate high-level specification, for software objects, into designs, including creating object models (Rose, UML, etc.), defining or creating graphical user interfaces, designing application and system prototype.

Works with medical physics staff to translate research results into clinically useful applications. This involves specification, modeling, design, project management (including budgeting and outside vendor relations) and support of applications.

Responsible for writing software systems that model and prescribe treatments for radiation beam cancer therapy. Develops software for related functions such as treatment verification, image processing and radiation physics modeling. Investigates and incorporates new state-of-the-art technology to ensure clinical performance. Evaluate requests to determine technical feasibility, develop technical alternatives and recommend optimal technical solutions.

Must maintain an understanding of radiation therapy and medical physics. This includes knowledge of treatment planning, linear accelerator hardware, medical terminology, treatment devices and procedures. It also includes an understanding of the physics of radiation and the techniques used to model physical processes with computer software.

Incorporates advanced techniques in software engineering and computer science and has in-depth knowledge of programming languages (C, Java, C , Visual Basic, Python), computer graphics, internet technology, databases and user interface. Solid understanding of computer graphics and visualization and knowledge of 3D graphics packages (OpenGL, Starbase, etc) is required. Must be familiar with software coding standards, unit testing, integration testing, debugging using third-party class libraries, and working with a configuration management tool (GitHub, docker, etc.).

Must maintain an understanding of the principles and methods of computer networking. Understanding and exposure to networking/distributed computing environment concepts, client/server programming is desired. Will be involved in running software builds using Configuration Management software. Take part in creating new scripts/tools and maintaining current ones. Should be familiar with software build/release strategies, Software Development and Life Cycle Processes. Performs system programming tasks in support of system administration and medical applications.

Familiarity with scripting languages (Kron/Bourne Shell, Perl, Python, etc) is required. Maintains system software, providing modifications as required to enhance system performance or to resolve problems. Maintains, modifies or enhances existing software for new environments (i.e. new hardware, operating system) to provide greater functionality or ease of use. Diagnose and repair software problems, reconfiguring and installing software as required. Diagnose and repair hardware problems, replacing or repair components as required. Provides clinical and developmental training and support to system users. Provides direct support to treatment planners and therapists in the clinic. Prepares documentation outlining system access and use of interactive programs.

Meets with outside vendors to discuss availability of software and hardware options to support system procurement effort. Supervise repair work by outside service personnel. Assigns work to other project team members; guides and directs the detailed program development. Performs other duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Typically works with computers in an office environment, with some time spent in computer room. Work is generally non-hazardous. Possibility of computer-related repetitive stress injuries. Occasional exposure to other hazardous conditions, such as: lifting or moving heavy objects, stringing cables in ceilings, working with electrical equipment, excessive noise. Occasionally works in areas where radiation is used, but typically does not get radiation exposure. Occasionally works in clinical treatment areas. The Systems Designer produces and supports software which is used for radiation treatment of patients. Proper job performance is important to protect the health and safety of patients.

SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

Possesses advanced skills in systems development, design, analysis and programming in addition to skills in system administration and computer operations.

Advanced skills in database programming and analysis are required.

High level expertise in scientific, computer science and mathematical methods is required.

Initial knowledge of radiation therapy and medical physics is of benefit.

Must have outstanding multitasking, teamwork, and communication skills.

EDUCATION:

Master's Degree in a scientific or technical field preferred, preferably in Computer Science. Bachelor's Degree required.

EXPERIENCE:

At least 5-7 years of programming experience in C/C and code maintenance required. In-depth experience in GUI, system design, algorithms and graphics required. Experience with SQL databases and is highly desirable. Experience with Cloud environments and web protocols and is highly desirable. Windows and Linux experience is highly desirable.