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Contractual Scientific Software Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cadence Design Systems Inc.

$101K - $188K/yr

... software, consulting services, and Orion, the only cloud-native fully integrated software-as-a ... Extend OpenEye's programming toolkits by developing and implementing new and useful scientific and ...

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Contractual Scientific Software Developer information

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$83.5K

$102.5K

$135.5K

How much do contractual scientific software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for contractual scientific software developer in the United States is $102,500.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,000.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Contractual Scientific Software Developer vs Scientific Software Engineer?

AspectContractual Scientific Software DeveloperScientific Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Physics, or related fields; often contract-basedBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Physics, or related fields; full-time employment
Work EnvironmentProject-based, often freelance or temporary contractsFull-time, in research labs, universities, or industry
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, government agencies, biotech firmsResearch institutions, industry R&D departments, academia

While both roles involve developing scientific software, Contractual Scientific Software Developers typically work on short-term projects under contract, focusing on specific deliverables. Scientific Software Engineers usually hold full-time positions, contributing to ongoing research and development efforts within organizations. The choice depends on employment preference and project scope.

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What cities are hiring for Contractual Scientific Software Developer jobs? Cities with the most Contractual Scientific Software Developer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Scientific Software Developer jobs? The most popular types of Scientific Software Developer jobs are:
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What job categories do people searching Contractual Scientific Software Developer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Contractual Scientific Software Developer jobs are:
Contractual Scientific Software Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contractual Scientific Software Developer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,500 per year, or $49.3 per hour.
AP108 HEASARC Senior Scientific Software Developer

AP108 HEASARC Senior Scientific Software Developer

ADNET Systems, Inc.

Greenbelt, MD • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

AP108 HEASARC Senior Scientific Software Developer
The High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive (HEASARC) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) seeks a senior scientific software developer with significant experience in developing, maintaining, and managing open source software. Experience with developing or maintaining C and C++ code would be a plus. We maintain a large code base of analysis software called HEASoft written over several decades and using multiple languages from a variety of contributors and developers. We need to modernize the development and management practices we use. As we open source parts of this code, we expect contributions also from the community. We are furthermore developing a plan for modernizing the software itself and will need an experienced developer to be involved in the design as well as implementation of this future code base.
Required Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining large, long-lived code bases in a collaborative or open source environment
  • Proficiency in at least one systems-level language (C, C++, Fortran) and at least one scripting language (Python, Perl, or shell)
  • Experience with modern software development practices: version control with git, code review workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and issue tracking
  • Experience managing open source projects, including contribution workflows, licensing considerations, and community-facing documentation
  • Ability to work across a multi-language, multi-contributor code base and improve consistency without requiring full rewrites
  • Strong written communication skills for technical documentation and contributor-facing guidance
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science or a relevant physical science
  • US Citizenship or Permanent Residency (LPR) required, with US residency for the past 3 consecutive years.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 1 Investigation through NASA.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience modernizing or refactoring legacy scientific software
  • Familiarity with HEASARC tools or high-energy astrophysics data formats (HEASoft, FTOOLS, XSPEC, FITS)
  • Experience with software build systems (CMake, Autotools, or similar) across multiple platforms
  • Background in scientific computing or research software engineering
  • Experience designing software architecture for long-term maintainability and extensibility
  • Master of Science degree or higher in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science or a relevant physical science

Team ADNET brings over 30+ years of experience to information systems and professional services for the federal government. With a history of expertise in software development, computer network design, IT security, mission operations support, and educational outreach, Team ADNET is deeply embedded in the Space and Earth Science at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD.
ADNET Systems, Inc. is working with Goddard Space Flight Center to fulfill NASA's vision for space exploration, and working with the Science and Exploration Directorate to fulfill its many missions.
ADNET Systems, Inc. is an employee-centric company, committed to providing premier benefits that support our employees and their families. With affordable medical and dental plans coupled with leading disability and life insurance options, ADNET offers our employees the benefits most sought after by today's professional candidate. Furthermore, our benefits package features the extras that distinguish us from other small businesses, ensuring our high employee retention that our customers appreciate.
Some features of our compensation plans and environment perks include:
  • Annual Leave/Sick Leave
  • Military and Family Emergency Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Performance Bonuses
  • Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
  • Direct Deposit Payroll
  • 401K Plan with Company Matching
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Swag bags

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