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Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hadronts

ENTRY-LEVEL SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Dallas, TX

The Select Group is seeking an Entry-Level Software Engineer with a strong apt for Object-Oriented Design and a passion for technology in Bellevue, WA . * This enterprise-storage and advanced ...

RFA Engineering

Entry Level Software Engineer

Dubuque, IA · On-site

$65K - $90K/yr

... Entry Level Software Engineer This position is associated with the design and development of embedded software that controls machine operations and functions. Various development roles are available ...

New York University

Software Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$100K - $250K/yr

... astrophysics, biology, neuroscience and quantum computing. The selected candidates will work ... The Software Engineer will report to Shirley Ho, Senior Research Scientist and is a full-time fixed ...

VDURA

Software Engineer - Entry Level

Niwot, CO · On-site

We are seeking an entry-level Software Engineer to join our engineering team in Colorado and help develop the next generation of the VDURA Data Platform. This role is ideal for a recent graduate or ...

VDURA

Software Engineer - Entry Level

Niwot, CO

We are seeking an entry-level Software Engineer to join our engineering team in Colorado and help develop the next generation of the VDURA Data Platform. This role is ideal for a recent graduate or ...

VDURA

Software Engineer - Entry Level

Longmont, CO · On-site

We are seeking an entry-level Software Engineer to join our engineering team in Colorado and help develop the next generation of the VDURA Data Platform. This role is ideal for a recent graduate or ...

Pae

Entry Level Software Engineer

Dahlgren, VA · On-site +1

Amentum is looking for Software engineers to join our USN advance technology development team ... Engineering, Math, Computers Science, and/or Physics with entry level experience. * Must have an ...

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Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer information

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How much do entry level astronomy software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level astronomy software engineer in the United States is $104,863.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,000.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science fundamentals, programming (commonly in Python, C++, or Java), and a basic understanding of astronomical concepts, typically supported by a degree in computer science, physics, or astronomy. Familiarity with software development tools, version control systems like Git, and experience with scientific computing libraries or astronomical data processing frameworks are highly valuable. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication make candidates stand out in collaborative, research-driven environments. These skills and qualities are crucial for developing robust, efficient software that supports scientific discovery and teamwork in astronomy projects.

What is the difference between Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer vs Entry Level Data Analyst?

AspectEntry Level Astronomy Software EngineerEntry Level Data Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Astronomy, Computer Science, or related fieldBachelor's in Statistics, Mathematics, or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, observatories, tech companiesBusiness, finance, healthcare sectors
Industry UsageScientific research, space agencies, tech firmsCorporate, consulting, government agencies
Common Search IntentJob roles combining astronomy and software skillsData analysis, reporting, visualization roles

Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineers focus on developing software for astronomical research and space applications, often requiring knowledge of physics and programming. In contrast, Entry Level Data Analysts interpret data to support business decisions, emphasizing statistical skills. While both roles involve programming and data handling, their industries and specific skill sets differ, making each suitable for different career interests.

What does an Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer do?

An Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer develops and maintains software tools used by astronomers for data collection, analysis, and visualization. They often work with large datasets from telescopes and space missions, writing code to process and interpret astronomical observations. These engineers collaborate with scientists to create applications that advance research in astronomy, and may also help automate tasks or improve software performance. Their work requires knowledge of programming languages like Python or C++, and a basic understanding of astronomical concepts.

What types of projects or tasks can an Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer expect to work on in their first year?

As an Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer, you will typically work on tasks such as developing and maintaining software tools for data analysis, automating data processing pipelines, and supporting the integration of new instruments or telescopes. You may collaborate with astronomers and senior engineers to implement algorithms for image processing or help troubleshoot software issues that arise during observations. Early projects often involve learning codebases, writing unit tests, and gradually taking on more complex features as you become familiar with the scientific and technical requirements of the team.
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Entry Level Astronomy Software Engineer jobs near you

Software Engineer (MESA), Center for Computational Astrophysics

Flatiron Institute

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Description
The Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) at the Flatiron Institute, a division of the Simons Foundation, is seeking a full-time research software engineer to develop, maintain, and contribute to the community-oriented software instrument tool MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics), and contribute to projects that align with the research directions of the CCA. More information about the CCA can be found on the CCA website. We expect the position to adapt over time to the needs of the broader astronomical community and CCA research community.
Research in astronomy and astrophysics depends critically on open source and other scientific software projects that are largely community driven (i.e. not developed or maintained by specific institutions). The primary role of this position (approximately 60% of effort) is to help support the community-oriented software instrument tool MESA.
The other major role of this position is to support and contribute to projects that align with the current research directions of the CCA, and provide leadership in supporting the larger software community within CCA.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The CCA seeks a full-time research software engineer to support the MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics) software instrument tool, and to help build, improve, and support software efforts within the center.
MESA is a suite of open-source libraries extensively used in computational stellar astrophysics. It uses adaptive mesh refinement and sophisticated timestep controls, and supports shared memory parallelism based on OpenMP. Its wide-ranging capabilities allow the simulation of diverse stellar evolution scenarios, from low-mass to massive stars, including advanced evolutionary stages and binary interactions. See https://docs.mesastar.org/en/latest/ for more information about MESA.
Within the MESA Project, the successful candidate will be responsible for:
  1. Technical Management and Enhancement: Adapting MESA to new technologies and evolving requirements such as compiler updates, library evolutions, operating systems progression, and hardware advances (e.g. GPU-porting).
  2. Code Maintenance and Enhancement: Providing daily care and enhancement of the MESA source code, in collaboration with the MESA-developers team and the MESA user community.
  3. Testing: Participating in the daily MESA testing framework in partnership with the MESA-developer team.
  4. Product Release: Overseeing and collaborating on the public releases of the source code to the MESA community.
  5. Community Support: Responding agilely to the software needs of the MESA user community.
  6. Team Partnership: Becoming a key partner of the mesa-developer team, with a focus on horizontal collaboration rather than hierarchical reporting.

Within the CCA, the successful candidate will be expected to:
  1. Help support various software development efforts of CCA scientists.
  2. Mentor and train junior scientists, including the Flatiron Software Research Fellows
  3. Organize community efforts around software education within CCA and potentially Flatiron

There will also be opportunities for on-going skill development in software development and scientific computing, including mentoring by senior research scientists, discussions and tutorials with the CCA software community and the SCC (Scientific Computing Core), and support for attending external tutorials and conferences. The research software engineer will be part of a growing community of Flatiron scientists and software engineers working on astronomical software, including Flatiron Software Research Fellows (postdocs), CCA-affiliated SCC scientists, and other research software engineers in CCA. Members of this community will be encouraged to collaborate as well as to create and seek opportunities for skill development.
The research software engineer will report to a research scientist (equivalent of faculty) at CCA and will join a growing team of research software engineers across the Flatiron Institute. The position will be based in person at the Simons Foundation office in New York City.
Visit the Simons Foundation career page at simonsfoundation.org/careers to learn more.
Qualifications
Education
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, computer science, mathematics, statistics, or a related technical discipline

Essential Qualifications
At least 3 years of experience with software development in a research context, including:
  • Experience developing software in a research environment (including academic contexts like graduate school and postdoctoral appointments, or research-oriented industry).
  • Proficiency with software development in at least one compiled language (e.g., Fortran 95, C, C++ etc.)
  • Proficiency with collaborative version control systems (especially Git & GitHub).
  • Experience with parallel programming (e.g. OpenMP, MPI).
  • Experience working with collaborative software engineering practices, including coding standards and code review.
  • Experience writing documentation and an interest in supporting user communities.
  • Experience with project management and developing multiple concurrent projects.
  • Technical and scientific curiosity with a collaborative attitude.

Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with the MESA software instrument.
  • Experience with commonly-used high-level languages (Python, Julia, MATLAB, etc.).
  • Experience with HPC, GPU, and/or code profiling and optimization.
  • Experience with ML/AI tools (PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow)
  • Working knowledge of applied mathematical concepts and numerical methods.
  • Working knowledge of astronomy and physics core concepts.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
  • The full-time starting annual compensation range for this position is:
    • (3-6 years of experience) $150K-$185K
    • (6-8+ years of experience) $190K-$215K
  • In addition to competitive salaries, the Simons Foundation provides employees with an outstanding benefits package.

Application Instructions
Required Application Materials
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Cover Letter

Deadline to Apply
  • Applications received by April 10, 2026 will receive full consideration. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the selection committee.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Our Commitment to Expanding Pathways to Science & Opportunities for All:
Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds, and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs, and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.
The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law

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