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Research Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer, Foundation Models About the Opportunity We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Research Engineer

Worcester, MA · On-site

$72K/yr

JOB TITLE Research Engineer LOCATION Worcester DEPARTMENT NAME Computer Science - NFR JM DIVISION NAME Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI SUMMARY The research engineer will work with the PI on ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

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Research Programmer information

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$11K

$112.8K

$129K

How much do research programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for research programmer in the United States is $112,800.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,000.00 and $129,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paid software developer?

Senior software developers, especially those with expertise in specialized fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, or cybersecurity, tend to be among the highest paid in the industry, with salaries reaching over $150,000 annually in many regions. Highly experienced developers working in leadership roles or at large tech companies can earn significantly more, often exceeding $200,000 or more with bonuses and stock options.

What are research programmers?

Research programmers are professionals who develop software, algorithms, and computational tools to support academic or scientific research projects. They work closely with researchers to design, implement, and optimize code for data analysis, simulations, and experiments. Their role often involves adapting existing software or creating new applications to solve specific research problems, ensuring that the software meets the requirements of the research team. Research programmers may also contribute to writing technical documentation and publishing results.

What is the difference between Research Programmer vs Data Analyst?

AspectResearch ProgrammerData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Data Science, or related fields; programming skillsBachelor's or Master's in Statistics, Data Science, or related fields; analytical skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic institutions, tech companiesBusiness, healthcare, finance, or marketing sectors
Employer & Industry UsageResearch projects, academic research, R&D departmentsData interpretation, reporting, and decision support in organizations

Research Programmers focus on developing software and tools for research purposes, often working in academic or research settings. Data Analysts interpret data to provide insights for business decisions. While both roles require strong technical skills, Research Programmers emphasize programming and software development, whereas Data Analysts focus on data interpretation and visualization.

How do Research Programmers typically collaborate with researchers and other team members during a project?

Research Programmers often work closely with principal investigators, data scientists, and subject matter experts to develop, test, and optimize software solutions tailored to research needs. Collaboration is highly iterative and may involve regular meetings to align on project goals, troubleshoot technical challenges, and adapt code to evolving research requirements. Effective communication and a flexible approach are key, as programmers frequently translate complex research concepts into functional code and may also assist with data analysis or visualization tasks.

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

To thrive as a Research Programmer, you need a strong background in computer science, programming languages (such as Python, Java, or C++), and a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with scientific computing tools, version control systems (like Git), and data analysis platforms is typically required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with research teams and translate complex requirements into code. These skills enable you to develop robust software solutions that advance research goals and ensure project success.

How much does a programmer analyst make in the US?

A programmer analyst in the US typically earns between $70,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often require proficiency in programming languages, systems analysis, and problem-solving skills, with salaries increasing with certifications and specialized expertise.

What are the highest paying jobs in research?

Research programmers working in specialized fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, or bioinformatics often earn high salaries, especially with advanced skills in programming languages like Python or R and experience with large datasets. Senior roles, such as research scientists or lead data engineers, tend to have higher compensation, particularly in industries like technology, pharmaceuticals, and finance.

What do research software engineers do?

Research software engineers develop, test, and maintain software tools and applications used in scientific research. They often collaborate with researchers to create data analysis pipelines, implement algorithms, and optimize code for high-performance computing environments, utilizing programming languages like Python, C++, or Java. Their work supports data collection, analysis, and visualization to advance scientific discoveries.
More about Research Programmer jobs
What cities are hiring for Research Programmer jobs? Cities with the most Research Programmer job openings:
What states have the most Research Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Research Programmer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Research Programmer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,800 per year, or $54.2 per hour.

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Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Research Engineer, Foundation Models


About the Opportunity


We are seeking a Research Engineer to help advance the next generation of large-scale AI systems. This role sits at the intersection of research and engineering, focusing on the development, training, evaluation, and deployment of state-of-the-art machine learning models.

You will work across the full model lifecycle, from building large-scale datasets and training infrastructure to experimenting with new model architectures and inference techniques. This is an opportunity to contribute directly to cutting-edge work in large language models, reinforcement learning, long-context systems, and scalable AI infrastructure.


Responsibilities


  • Develop and optimize training, evaluation, and deployment pipelines for large-scale AI models
  • Improve inference efficiency, latency, and throughput across advanced model architectures
  • Design and maintain research and production frameworks used for model development
  • Train and scale foundation models across large distributed GPU environments
  • Build and manage large-scale data processing, collection, and curation pipelines
  • Create high-quality datasets to improve model performance and targeted capabilities
  • Research, prototype, and benchmark novel model architectures and training approaches
  • Contribute to experimentation in areas such as reinforcement learning, long-context modeling, reasoning systems, and inference optimization
  • Collaborate closely with researchers and engineers to transition ideas from experimentation to production


Qualifications


Required


  • Strong software engineering and systems development experience
  • Deep understanding of modern machine learning and deep learning techniques
  • Experience training, fine-tuning, or evaluating large language models
  • Familiarity with distributed computing and large-scale infrastructure
  • Experience building and maintaining data pipelines and ETL workflows
  • Ability to design experiments, analyze results, and iterate on research directions
  • Strong problem-solving skills and a research-oriented mindset


Preferred


  • Experience working with large GPU clusters and distributed training frameworks
  • Background in model optimization, inference systems, or AI infrastructure
  • Contributions to machine learning research, open-source projects, or published work
  • Experience with reinforcement learning, long-context models, or large-scale data systems


What We Value


  • Ownership and accountability
  • Strong collaboration and communication skills
  • Bias toward execution and practical problem-solving
  • Intellectual curiosity and continuous learning
  • High standards for technical excellence and product quality
  • Ability to thrive in fast-moving, high-impact environments


Compensation & Benefits


  • Competitive base salary and equity package
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401(k) program with employer matching
  • Flexible paid time off policy
  • Relocation assistance and visa sponsorship, where applicable
  • Opportunity to work alongside a highly talented and mission-driven team
  • Access to cutting-edge infrastructure and research resources


Keywords:


Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Large Language Models, LLMs, Foundation Models, Generative AI, Applied AI, AI Research, Research Engineering, Model Training, Distributed Training, Pretraining, Fine-Tuning, Post-Training, Reinforcement Learning, RLHF, Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback, Inference Optimization, Model Serving, Model Evaluation, Long Context Models, Reasoning Models, AI Infrastructure, GPU Clusters, High Performance Computing, HPC, Distributed Systems, CUDA, PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow, Neural Networks, Transformer Models, Retrieval Augmented Generation, RAG, Synthetic Data, Data Engineering, Data Pipelines, ETL, Data Processing, Web Crawling, Data Collection, Feature Engineering, MLOps, ML Systems, Scalable Systems, Parallel Computing, Model Architecture Design, Experimentation, Research Scientists, Research Engineers, Software Engineering, Backend Engineering, Performance Optimization, Production ML, AI Agents, Agentic AI, Autonomous Systems, Prompt Engineering, Multi-Agent Systems, Vector Databases, Embeddings, Quantization, Model Compression, Infrastructure Engineering, Cloud Computing, Kubernetes, Python, C++, Open Source AI, Frontier Models, Applied Research, Statistical Learning, Computer Science, Algorithms, Large Scale Computing, Model Alignment, AI Safety, Training Infrastructure, Compute Optimization, Inference Systems, Foundation Model Research, Machine Learning Infrastructure, AI Platform Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Infrastructure, Production Systems, Scalable AI Systems, Research & Development, Advanced AI Systems, Emerging Technologies, Distributed Computing, GPU Optimization, AI Product Development,