Research Engineer – Cognitive Science & Data Systems

The Many Brains Project | employment@manybrains.net
Remote (U.S.-based. Eastern Time Zone Preferred) | Full-Time

About The Many Brains Project

The Many Brains Project is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing cognitive and behavioral science through scalable digital assessment tools, scientific infrastructure, and open research resources. We develop and support the TestMyBrain platform, including TestMyBrain cognitive assessments, public educational and research resources, and the TestMyBrain.org TMB Digital Lab. Our work supports researchers, clinicians, educators, and organizations around the world through scientifically rigorous cognitive testing, large-scale behavioral data collection, and research collaboration.

We are mission-driven, collaborative, and deeply committed to rigorous science, long-term thinking, and meaningful real-world impact. We believe scientific infrastructure matters, and we are building tools that help advance research and improve understanding of human cognition and behavior.

About the Role

We are seeking a scientifically rigorous and technically versatile Research Engineer to support our psychometrics, analytics, and software development efforts.

This role is ideal for someone with advanced scientific training who enjoys building applied systems and tools and is interested in a stable, long-term career outside the traditional academic track. Candidates may come from backgrounds such as psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, computational social science, biostatistics, or related fields.

The role combines elements of cognitive science research, psychometrics, data analytics, scientific software development, and research infrastructure. You will work closely with leadership across psychometrics, analytics, and software development to help expand and maintain the TestMyBrain platform and associated research systems. Successful candidates will be thoughtful, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in highly collaborative environments that value clear communication and strong documentation practices.

Responsibilities

Support development, refinement, and implementation of cognitive assessment tools
Assist with psychometric evaluation, validation, and normative modeling
Build and maintain data pipelines, dashboards, visualizations, and reporting systems
Support organization, versioning, and documentation of cognitive tests and datasets
Contribute to frontend and/or backend software development
Help maintain and improve scientific and technical infrastructure
Collaborate with external researchers on study design and implementation
Participate in debugging, QA, and software testing efforts
Contribute to internal tools and workflows that improve operational efficiency
Assist with technical support for external collaborators and partners

In Your First Year, You May:

Contribute to development and refinement of cognitive testing infrastructure
Build or improve internal analytics and reporting workflows
Support implementation of new research studies and assessment tools
Collaborate with senior staff to improve operational and technical systems across the organization
Help identify opportunities for new tools, workflows, analyses, or infrastructure improvements aligned with your strengths and interests

Preferred Qualifications

PhD or advanced degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, computational social science, biostatistics, or a related field
Strong quantitative and statistical background
Experience programming in JavaScript, Python, R, or similar languages
Experience working with behavioral, cognitive, or longitudinal datasets
Familiarity with psychometrics, experimental design, or digital assessment methods
Interest in applied research and scientific infrastructure
Ability to work independently in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment
Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Nice to Have

Experience with web application development
Familiarity with databases and cloud/server infrastructure
Experience with data visualization frameworks
Knowledge of research security/privacy standards
Experience supporting external collaborators or research partners

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: approximately $95,000–$125,000 depending on experience and technical background
Fully remote work environment (U.S.-based; Eastern Time Zone preferred)
22 vacation days, 11 organization-wide holidays, 1 floating holiday, 2 paid personal days, 8 paid sick days
401(k) retirement plan with employer matching after 6 months of employment
Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits for full-time employees, including employer-supported dependent coverage
Flexible and supportive remote work culture with established core collaboration hours
Opportunities for professional growth and long-term career development
Meaningful ownership and autonomy within a mission-driven nonprofit organization

Growth & Long-Term Opportunity

This role is intentionally broad and interdisciplinary. Because we are a small and collaborative organization, successful candidates often have the opportunity to shape parts of the role around their strengths and interests over time.

We are especially excited about candidates who bring unique combinations of scientific, technical, analytical, creative, or operational skills that may expand how we think about the role and the organization’s future capabilities.

Potential areas of growth may include:

scientific programming
psychometrics and analytics
software engineering
data visualization
product and tool development
research operations and infrastructure

We care deeply about intellectual curiosity, adaptability, initiative, and long-term growth. This role is especially well suited for someone who enjoys scientific problem-solving and technical building, but who may not want a traditional academic career path.

If you are excited by the idea of building tools and infrastructure that support impactful cognitive and behavioral research at scale, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submit:

a cover letter describing your interest in the role and relevant experience
and a current resume or CV

Candidates are also welcome to include links to relevant technical projects, publications, GitHub repositories, or work samples.

Applications should be sent to:

employment@manybrains.net

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled.

We recognize that strong candidates may not match every qualification listed above. If you are excited about the role and believe your background could contribute to our work, we encourage you to apply.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Many Brains Project is an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, and we are committed to building an inclusive and collaborative workplace.