Location: Remote

Type of Contract: Part-time

Flexibility: Flexible work arrangements will be considered.

About the Project:

This project, led by LA Reference in collaboration with Lyrasis, aims to strengthen the infrastructure of open access repositories in Latin America. We focus on improving the adoption, management and sustainability of DSpace, the most used repository platform in the region. The project will address technical, training and governance challenges, with a strong regional and international collaboration component. We are looking for a DSpace programmer who is passionate about open access and has technical experience to join our team.

Responsibilities:

  • Development and Maintenance of DSpace:
    • Contribute to the DSpace codebase, developing new features, fixing bugs and optimizing performance.
    • Work on simplifying the DSpace installation, configuration and update processes, with a focus on usability for non-technical personnel.
    • Develop tools and scripts to facilitate migration between DSpace versions.
    • Ensure compatibility of mods with the main DSpace codebase and community guidelines.
    • Optimize DSpace for resource-constrained environments.
  • Collaboration and Community:
    • Actively participate in DSpace developer meetings.
    • Proactively communicate development plans and collaborate with the global DSpace community.
    • Work closely with the project team (coordinators, documentation specialists, trainers, etc.).
    • Interact with the national nodes of LA Reference and participating institutions.
    • Compartir conocimientos y mejores prácticas con la comunidad de repositorios de América Latina.

Requirements:

  • Experience:
    • Demonstrable experience in development with DSpace (ideally DSpace 7, but experience with previous versions will be valued).
    • Solid knowledge of Java and Spring Framework.
    • Familiarity with relational databases (PostgreSQL preferably).
    • Experience with version control systems (Git).
    • Knowledge of web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML).
  • Skills:
    • Ability to work autonomously and in a team.
    • Excellent troubleshooting and code debugging skills.
    • Proactivity and capacity for continuous learning.
    • Good communication skills (oral and written).
    • Commitment to the principles of open access and open source software.
  • Languages
    • Proficiency in Spanish or/and Portuguese
    • Advanced English (reading and understanding technical documentation, communication with the international community).

Will be assessed (Not Exclusive):

  • Previous experience in open source projects.
  • Experience with user interface (UI) development using Angular.
  • Knowledge of the ecosystem of open access repositories in Latin America.
  • Experience in implementing and managing DSpace repositories.
  • Previous contributions to the DSpace codebase.
  • Familiarity with agile development methodologies.
  • Knowledge of metadata standards and interoperability protocols (OAI-PMH).
  • Experience with containers (Docker).

How ​​to Apply:

Interested applicants should send their CV and a cover letter highlighting their relevant experience, links to code repositories (GitHub, GitLab, etc.) or examples of contributions to DSpace to the email address larereference@larereference.redclara.net.Please use the subject: “Application for DSpace Programmer”.

Application Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025