Closing date: Wednesday, 18 February 2015

SOFTWARE ENGINEER (WIPO/15/P3/FT009)

29 January 2015

Vacancy Announcement No: WIPO/15/P3/FT009

Title: SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Grade: P3

Appointment/Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment

Duration: two years *

Publication Date: 21 January 2015

Application Deadline: 18 February 2015

Organizational Unit: Patent Database Section

Global Databases Division, Global Infrastructure Sector

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Post Number: 1580/10000813

Organizational Context

The post is located in the Patent Database Section, within the Global Databases Division.

This Section is responsible for developing and maintaining the PATENTSCOPE system. PATENTSCOPE, one of WIPO's global databases, is a patent search system providing public access to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications in full text format and national patent collections contributed by offices with whom agreements have been reached.

The main role of the incumbent is to develop new functionality in the PATENTSCOPE system, taking benefit from the latest advances in open source software and from the enrichment of the patent raw data available from participating patent offices.

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Patent Database Section, in collaboration with the Heads of the other sections within the division.

Main duties

The incumbent performs the following principal duties:

1. Undertake the analysis, design and implementation of new functionality, such as new web interface features, new prior art search strategies, new data display components and new data visualization, aggregation and statistics for the PATENTSCOPE system, as well as improvements to the existing functionality.
2. Keep the PATENTSCOPE system in synchronization with the evolution of the software libraries employed (SOLR, JSF, JFreeChart) and propose improvements.
3. Evaluate new libraries to use in PATENTSCOPE and propose and justify possible migrations.
4. Specify, test and integrate new software modules to be integrated in PATENTSCOPE for which the development is outsourced.
5. Design, develop and maintain testing procedures and technical documentation for the new developed functionality.
6. Maintain technical expertise by keeping up to date with new technology, assess applications and make proposals to supervisor.
7. Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

WIPO Core Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.
2. Respecting individual and cultural differences.
3. Showing team spirit.
4. Managing yourself.
5. Producing results.
6. Embracing change.
7. Respecting ethics and values.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Essential: First-level university degree in computer science or information technology.

Desirable: Certification in JAVA, UNIX, system architecture, Prince2 and/or web application design.

Experience: Essential: At least six years of experience developing complex web systems with innovative functionality.

Desirable: Experience in developing internet search systems based on SOLR.

Skills: Essential: Comprehensive knowledge of web framework development tools such as JSF or Spring, Javascript/JQuery, charting tools, SOLR/Lucene, JAVA, open source development environments and database environments including Oracle, MySQL or similar products.

Good understanding of IT best practice and its application in a business environment.

Ability to analyze and resolve user needs and complex systems problems.

Ability to communicate on technical issues with a diverse audience.

Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Desirable: Knowledge of other patent search systems.

Languages: Essential: Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Desirable: Knowledge of other UN official languages.

Annual salary: (Net of tax)

56,198 USD

60,205 USD (with primary dependants)

Post adjustment: 86.5 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

Additional Information: Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

• Initial period of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance. No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

This vacancy announcement is available in English only.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.4.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.

• *Please refer to WIPO's Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Applications from qualified women candidates are encouraged.

• *The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.
• *Initial appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical examination.
• *Not applicable for interns and to Individual Contractual Service subscribers.

For further instructions regarding the online application process, please visit the WIPO internet page at: http://www.wipo.int/erecruitment/en/