Software Engineer -Transit Data (Contractor position)

About the Department

The Software Engineer is an independent contributor who delivers features end-to-end, contributes to team-level improvements, and operates effectively across multiple parts of the tech stack. The position shapes technical solutions, refines requirements with Product Managers, and improves code quality and code maintainability leveraging software engineering principles and practices.

Position Duties

• Perform a wide variety of software engineering tasks primarily in Elixir and/or TypeScript.

• Deliver and maintain well-architected features from design through implementation.

• Demonstrate strong fundamental coding and debugging skills by writing reliable, maintainable code while demonstrating a strong understanding of possible tradeoffs to meet deadlines by effectively articulating impacts and proposing solutions.

• Contribute to on-call rotations and address routine incidents.

• Follow engineering standards, including code reviews, documentation, and testing. Participate and offer constructive feedback to improve.

• Improve maintainability and reduce complexity through refactoring.

• Investigate defects and lead feasibility assessments to identify improvements.

• Protect data security, compliance, and privacy across all work activities by following secure coding practices.

• Participate in team rituals (stand-ups, planning, retros).

• Work collaboratively with UX and PMs to refine requirements for difficult problems and reduce unnecessary scope.

• Participate in on-call rotation of technology systems and services.

• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions.

Supervision

• No direct reports.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two (2) years of relevant professional experience in software engineering.

• Experience independently delivering features end-to-end to solve problems.

• Experience applying software engineering principles and practices to quickly and creatively achieve team or project goals.

• Experience with monitoring, on-call, incident response, and reliability engineering.

• Strong debugging and investigative skills.

• Experience with software testing best practices and CI/CD.

• Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into technology.

• Strong communication skills.

• Demonstrated proficiency in at least one or more programming languages.

• As part of the selection process, candidates will be asked to complete and pass job-related technical assessments, which may include a software design diagramming exercise and/or a timed coding exercise.

• Ability to participate in on-call rotation of technology systems and services.

Other Qualifications

• More than four (4) years of relevant professional experience in software engineering.

• Solid understanding of APIs, data flows, and failure modes.

• Experience with Elixir.

• Experience with AWS.

• Experience in public sector, transportation agency, and/or civic technology team.

• Experience with Terraform / OpenTofu / Infrastructure as Code tools.

• Experience in agile software development practices.

• Knowledge of transit data standards (such as GTFS, GTFS-RT, TODS, TIDES).

Substitutions

• A high school diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.

• An associate’s degree from an accredited institution and an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.

• A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.

• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one (1) year of experience.

Benefits

This position is not eligible for benefits through the MBTA. However, some positions might be eligible to incur paid sick time or to receive a complimentary pass for travel on the MBTA transit system. Please speak with the assigned recruiter or email [email protected] for more information.

Supplemental Questions

01

Do you have at least two (2) years of relevant professional experience in software engineering?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have experience independently delivering features end-to-end to solve problems?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have experience with monitoring, on-call, incident response, and reliability engineering?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have strong debugging and investigative skills?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have experience with software testing best practices and CI/CD?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have the ability to participate in on-call rotation of technology systems and services?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?

• Yes
• No

08

Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship to continue working in the United States (e.g. H-1B visa status)?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Address

10 Park Plaza








Boston, Massachusetts, 02116

Phone

(617) 222-3200

Website

https://www.mbta.com