Open Position for a Scientific Programmer (March 2022; Closed)

Updated in May 2022. Already closed

JOB DESCRIPTION

ERATO Hasuo Metamathematics for Systems Design Project (ERATO MMSD) invites applications for a scientific programmer. The work is aimed at the commercialization of our research outcome, which we plan to pursue via a startup company.

The candidate will work at National Institute of Informatics, Tokyo, Japan, and will develop a data analysis tool suite that combines formal logic techniques (temporal logic, automata theory) and statistical techniques (stochastic optimization, machine learning). The tool targets time-varying signals that arise typically in the context of cyber-physical systems.

The successful candidate will be comfortable with both server side and frontend programming, while having an interest for formal logic techniques. The work will be in close collaboration with Dr. James Haydon and Prof. Ichiro Hasuo.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

  • Frontend development (React, Typescript).
  • Familiarity with basic functional programming.
  • Familiarity with AWS/GCP.
  • Must be able to communicate and work well with various team members and customers.
  • Strong willingness to learn and experiment with new technologies.
  • Fluency in English.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

  • Familiarity with advanced functional programming, e.g. Haskell, OCaml, Scala.
  • DevOps experience.
  • Familiarity with formal logic techniques.
  • Ability to read and implement academic papers.
  • Familiarity with optimization algorithms.
  • Familiarity with statistical and machine learning techniques.
  • (Japanese language skills are appreciated but not mandatory.) 

EDUCATION

The candidate must possess a minimum of a master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field. A combination of education, training, or certification that provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities may be substituted for the degree.

PRACTICAL

  • This call was posted in March 2022, with slight modifications in May 2022. It will remain open until the position is filled.
  • Annual gross salary: JPY 5,868,000 — 8,580,000 yearly, gross (depends on qualifications and experience).
  • The contract is initially until the end of a fiscal year (March 31), with the possibility of extension (maximum until the project ends in March 2025).
  • Our admin staff will provide support for moving, visa application, etc.
  • Starting date: June 1, 2022 (negotiable)
  • Location: Tokyo, Japan (remote work from abroad is not allowed)

APPLICATIONS AND INQUIRIES

Applications should be sent to application_eratommsd [at] group-mmm.org, with the subject “ERATO Scientific Programmer Application.” Please include

  • your brief CV,
  • and any other optional materials that speak for your experience and expertise.

We will contact you for further material, provided that we find sufficient relevance in your application.

Inquiries should also be sent to application_eratommsd [at] group-mmm.org, with the subject “ERATO Scientific Programmer Inquiry.”

LIVING AND WORKING IN TOKYO

We have employed 10+ researchers and scientific programmers from abroad–see our list of members/former members. We have ample experience of supporting them in coming to and living in Tokyo.

SOCIAL BENEFITS

Something comparable to those in Europe and Canada. This also explains our salary range (that should not put you off just because it is below the US standard).

The income tax is lighter than in many European countries. Try https://japantaxcalculator.com/ for an idea.

PRICES

Tokyo is not an expensive city. On actual prices and availabilities you will find a lot of information sources on the web (including this). Some sample prices:

  • An studio apartment, 30m2, 30min door-to-door to our Tokyo site: JPY 80,000 / month
  • A 2-bedroom apartment, 40m2, 20min door-to-door to our Tokyo site: JPY 130,000 / month
  • A 15-min metro ride: JPY 200
  • A quick (but nice) Japanese set meal: JPY 600-1000
  • An exquisite sushi set meal (which even locals rarely have 🙂 ): JPY 30,000
  • A pint of beer: JPY 700

APARTMENTS

You can easily find an apartment using the following websites: www.sabbaticalhomes.comwww.sakura-house.com/engaijinpot.com, and others.

LANGUAGE

The working environment is totally in English, with more than half of the team coming from abroad. Japanese language skills will help everyday life, but one can definitely live without them, as we know from our colleagues’ experience.