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Contractual Scientific Software Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Work will be largely focused on problem solving; software systems architecture, scientific programming; and requirements gathering across application developers, engineering users, and system ...

Required : • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience), with 10+ years of professional software development experience ...

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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 May 31, 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.

More about Contractual Scientific Software Developer jobs
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:
What states have the most Contractual Scientific Software Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Contractual Scientific Software Developer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Contractual Scientific Software Developer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 58% Physical, 22% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,500 per year, or $49.3 per hour.

Principal Software Developer

Naval Nuclear Laboratory (FMP)

West Mifflin, PA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Naval Nuclear Laboratory is an organization that values Trust, Empowerment, and Collaboration, dedicated to the safety and reliability of naval nuclear reactors. They are seeking a Principal Software Developer to lead the development of complex software solutions for reactor engineering, mentoring engineers and overseeing projects to enhance reactor performance and data science applications.
Responsibilities:
• lead the reactor engineering community in developing and implementing complex software solutions for scientific and engineering problems
• provide common software engineering solutions for the reactor design community
• mentor and oversee multiple software engineers and nuclear engineers in designing, developing, testing, verifying, and maintaining engineering applications and programs
• work closely with management and leads to define the future of the scientific and engineering work efforts across the reactor engineering, data science and high performance computing technologies
• focus on near term execution
• evaluate thermal hydraulic and reactor performance design conditions
• develop robust, user friendly, automated tools
• function within an agile development methodology
• work effectively across multiple projects simultaneously
• develop scientific software independently, as well as within interdisciplinary teams with minimal supervision
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or Masters degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering or science field and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a related technical, engineering, science field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or Currently a Principal Reactor Training Engineer, Refueling Engineer, or Field (RPCO) Engineer at the Company.
• All candidates must be U.S. citizens.
• Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter.
• FMP is a government contractor and maintains a drug free workplace and workforce.
• All candidates must be able to pass a drug test in compliance with FMP company policy and 10 CFR 707.
Preferred:
• Strong programming skills with compiled (e.g., Java, C, C++ or Fortran) and/or interpreted (e.g., Python) scientific computing languages
• Demonstrated experience with all aspects of software architecture (design, implementation, testing, maintenance, configuration management)
• Experience with client-server software systems used across multiple operating environments (e.g. Windows, Linux)
• Experience with Graphical User Interface
• Parallel programming and running parallel jobs on supercomputing systems
• Experience functioning within an agile development methodology
• Ability to work effectively across multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability and passion for developing scientific software
• Capacity to work independently, as well as within interdisciplinary teams with minimal supervision
Company:
The Naval Nuclear Laboratory is operated by Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC. The Naval Nuclear Laboratory comprises the U.S. Founded in 1946, the company is headquartered in New York, USA, with a team of 5001-10000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.