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Research Engineer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Navarro Inc.

Process Engineer

Oak Ridge, TN

Navarro Research and Engineering is recruiting an Project Engineer in Oak Ridge, TN. A DOE Q Clearance or DOD Equivalent is preferred to be considered for this position. Navarro Research ...

Asurion

Senior Research & Development Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$100K - $138K/yr

Research & Development Product Engineer Asurion isthe global leader in technology support and protection. Innovation and dedication to delighting customers have made it the preferred provider of ...

Barnhart Crane & Rigging

Lead R&D Engineer

Memphis, TN · On-site

$99K - $131K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Lead Research & Development Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for both high-level engineering contribution and team-level coordination, mentoring, and delivery. This role ...

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Research Engineer information

See Tennessee salary details

$33.6K

$96.2K

$129.3K

How much do research engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for research engineer in Tennessee is $96,219.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,400.00 and $94,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a research engineer?

Research engineers are professionals who apply scientific and engineering principles to conduct research, develop new products, and improve existing technologies. They typically work in laboratories, research and development departments, or academic settings, collaborating with scientists and other engineers. Their work often involves designing experiments, analyzing data, and creating prototypes to solve technical problems or advance knowledge in their field.

How do research engineers typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Research Engineers often work closely with scientists, data analysts, product managers, and software engineers to develop and implement innovative solutions. Collaboration usually involves regular meetings to align on project goals, sharing technical findings, and integrating research outcomes into product development. Effective communication and the ability to translate complex research concepts into actionable insights are key to ensuring the project progresses smoothly and meets its objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Engineer, a strong background in engineering principles, advanced mathematics, and scientific research—often supported by a relevant degree or postgraduate study—is essential. Familiarity with data analysis tools like MATLAB or Python, CAD software, and laboratory instrumentation is typically required, along with experience in technical report writing. Strong analytical thinking, creativity, and effective collaboration skills help Research Engineers excel in multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital for developing innovative solutions, advancing technology, and ensuring rigorous, impactful research outcomes.

What is the difference between Research Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectResearch EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsTypically requires a master's or Ph.D. in engineering, computer science, or related fieldsUsually holds a master's or Ph.D. in statistics, computer science, or related areas
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D departments, technology companiesData analysis teams, analytics departments, tech firms
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, and tech industriesCommon in finance, healthcare, marketing, and tech sectors

Research Engineers focus on developing new technologies, prototypes, and engineering solutions, often working on hardware or system design. Data Scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and support decision-making. While both roles require strong technical skills and advanced degrees, their core functions and industry applications differ significantly.

Do I need a PhD to be a research engineer?

A PhD is not always required to become a research engineer, but it can be beneficial for roles involving advanced research, complex problem-solving, or specialized fields. Many research engineers hold a bachelor's or master's degree, along with relevant skills in programming, data analysis, and engineering tools. Industry experience and technical expertise are often equally important as formal education levels.
More about Research Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Engineer jobs in Tennessee?

The most popular types of Research Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:

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For Research Engineer jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Research Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $96,219 per year, or $46.3 per hour.

Research Software Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge, TN • On-site

$177K/yr

Other

Re-posted 27 days ago

Oak Ridge National Laboratory rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 16 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 120 rated laboratories

Job description

Requisition Id 16231
Overview:
The National Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS) at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL), which hosts several of the world's most powerful computer systems, is seeking highly qualified individuals to play a key role in developing, and deploying data management tools and persistent services that support scientific and AI/ML campaigns that run on NCCS computing infrastructure, including the world's first exaflop system, Frontier.
The Team:
As a Research Software Engineer (RSE) in the Data and Platform Services (DAPS) group, you will work within the HPC Operations Section and closely collaborate with other Lead Software Engineers on various software engineering projects. The DAPS group designs and operates data management platforms, tools, and services for the end-to-end data lifecycle from ingestion to publication and supports several large initiatives and facilities at ORNL. Our primary development and deployment platform is the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) Slate Service, built on Kubernetes and Rancher, which provides a container orchestration service for running critical operation applications and user-managed persistent applications that run alongside our OLCF supercomputer systems and other OLCF managed HPC clusters.
The Role:
As a Research Software Engineer, you will implement, operate, and maintain federated data platforms, data management portals, data processing pipelines, API gateways, and persistent services for the entire data lifecycle on our on-premises Kubernetes clusters, with a strong focus on scalability, reliability, and maintainability. You will also assist with AI initiatives at OLCF, integrate key data engineering and MLOps technologies, be an individual contributor for small-medium sized projects, and collaborate with Platform engineers in delivering a robust set of production services for OLCF users. This role requires: significant experience with full stack application and API development, working knowledge of Kubernetes and containerization. Knowledge of current AI/ML tools and workflows is preferred but not required.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
Application Development and Deployment
  • Gain working expertise with federated data management (e.g., Pelican, Rucio), data catalog solutions (e.g. CKAN, DKAN, Schema.org), streaming data (e.g., Kafka), and data movement (XRootD, Globus, S3) tools and technologies.
  • Design and implement web portals and API services for data management using a combination of modern web technologies.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain Kubernetes deployment recipes for data portals, catalogs, API gateways, and other ancillary services like key-value stores and databases.
  • Implement solutions for MLOps including model lifecycle management and storage, as well as integration with existing platforms like MLFlow.

Collaboration
  • Partner closely with internal platforms, cybersecurity, and account management teams to ensure the platform meets security, compliance, role-based access controls, and usability expectations.
  • Participate in cross-functional projects related to platform enhancements and cluster lifecycle automation.
  • Be able to represent the DAPS team with internal collaborators and partners across the lab.

Basic Qualifications:
  • BS degree and 3+ years of relevant experience or equivalent experience.
  • At least two years of experience with data management platform and tools development.
  • At least two years of experience with full stack application and API development.
  • Experience with CI/CD tooling, GitOps, and Kubernetes.
  • Experience with code review and familiarity with tools like git, GitHub and GitLab.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Excellent interpersonal/communications skills, and the ability to work as part of a team.
  • Experience implementing and maintaining highly available systems/services.
  • Experience with PHP, Python, modern Javascript frameworks (React, AngularJS, NodeJS).
  • 5+ years of experience in addition to the degree.
  • Experience with modern software practices such as test-driven development, Agile software development practices and a firm, proven knowledge of software development lifecycles.
  • Demonstrated activity within the broader open-source software community.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
If you have trouble applying for a position, please email
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

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