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Research Software Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Moffitt

RESEARCH SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Chicago, IL · On-site

$211K/yr

Summary The Research Software Engineer works independently to design, analyze, architect, and develop software solutions focused on biological and medical data. This role involves close collaboration ...

Moffitt Cancer Center

Research Software Engineer

Tampa, FL · On-site

$193K/yr

The Research Software Engineer will develop software tools for machine learning applications in cancer research, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to support various research projects.

HX5 LLC

Research Software Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$195K/yr

Research Software Engineer Engineer III ADV000CPX NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas HX5 is an award-winning provider of engineering, research and development, and technical services to clients ...

HX5

Research Software Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$195K/yr

Research Software Engineer Engineer III ADV000CPX NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas HX5 is an award-winning provider of engineering, research and development, and technical services to clients ...

Intuitive Machines LLC

Research Software Engineer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$203K/yr

Research Software Engineer Phoenix, AZ About Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private ...

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MIT Human Resources

Software Developer

Cambridge, MA

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER 2 , Chemical Engineering (ChemE)-Machine Learning for Pharmaceutical Discovery ... Will work closely with faculty, researchers, and graduate students to translate scientific and ...

Moffitt

Research Software Engineer

Long Beach, CA

$215K/yr

Work in a dynamic environment and collaborate with software engineers, data scientists, cancer biology researchers, and physicians. The Ideal Candidate: Expertise in the following areas: (1) software ...

Google

Research Software Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$241K/yr

As a software engineer, you will work on a specific project critical to Google's needs with ... As a part of the AI and Research Accelerator, a specialized team within the newly formed AI ...

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Research Software Developer information

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$48K

$111.8K

$166K

How much do research software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for research software developer in the United States is $111,845.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,000.00 and $130,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Research Software Developers?

Research Software Developers are professionals who create, maintain, and optimize software tools and applications that support scientific research. They work closely with researchers to understand their computational needs, develop custom code, and ensure software is reliable and reproducible. These developers often bridge the gap between domain scientists and traditional software engineers, enabling innovative scientific discoveries through robust software solutions.

How do Research Software Developers typically balance research goals with software engineering best practices?

Research Software Developers often work closely with scientists and researchers to create tools that advance specific research objectives. Balancing experimental flexibility with software reliability can be challenging, as projects may evolve rapidly and require iterative prototyping. Developers must prioritize clear documentation, modular code, and version control to ensure that software remains usable and reproducible as research progresses. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is common, and effective communication helps align technical solutions with scientific needs.

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

To thrive as a Research Software Developer, you need strong programming skills (typically in Python, C++, or Java), a solid understanding of algorithms, and often an advanced degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, high-performance computing environments, and tools for data analysis and visualization is commonly required. Excellent problem-solving ability, collaboration, and clear scientific communication are vital soft skills in this role. These capabilities are crucial for developing robust research software, enabling effective teamwork, and ensuring reproducibility and reliability in scientific investigations.

What is the difference between Research Software Developer vs Data Scientist?

AspectResearch Software DeveloperData Scientist
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in computer science, software engineering, or related fieldsUsually holds degrees in statistics, data science, or related disciplines
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic institutions, or R&D departmentsBusiness, tech companies, or research organizations
Industry UsageUsed in scientific research, academia, and research-focused organizationsApplied in analytics, business intelligence, and data-driven decision making

Research Software Developers focus on creating software tools and algorithms for research purposes, often working closely with scientists. Data Scientists analyze and interpret complex data to inform decisions. While both roles require programming skills, their primary goals and work environments differ, making each role unique in the research and data analysis landscape.

More about Research Software Developer jobs
What cities are hiring for Research Software Developer jobs? Cities with the most Research Software Developer job openings:
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Research Software Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Software Developer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,845 per year, or $53.8 per hour.
Research Software Engineer II

Research Software Engineer II

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ • On-site

$125K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Princeton University rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 26 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

21st of 544 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Overview
Princeton Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence (the "AI Lab") invites applications for a full-time Research Software Engineer (RSE). As an RSE joining the AI Lab, you will contribute to the current research that the AI Lab supports across the university. Candidates can read more about the AI Lab on the website.
In this position, you will be both a member of Princeton's RSE team, as well as an integral member of the AI Lab and the research community it supports. You will work with a diverse group of faculty, postdocs, and students from multiple disciplines. If you are passionate about advancing AI research, working alongside leading researchers, and contributing to impactful open-source projects, we encourage you to apply for this position.
This is a full-time position located in Princeton, NJ and will follow a hybrid work schedule. This is a 3-year term position, with a possibility of reappointment. The position is up to a 3-year term, with a possibility of reappointment.
Responsibilities
Application of Domain Expertise:
  • Initiate and maintain open collaboration with researchers across Princeton University. Regularly meet with, listen to, and ask questions of researchers to ensure the engineered solutions fit the research need.
  • Apply AI and machine learning algorithms to software engineering projects in the researcher's specific domain.

Research Software Engineering
  • Working independently with minimal guidance to understand and translate research priorities into flexible software solutions.
  • Collaborate with a team to develop comprehensive open source software solutions and models based on researcher-provided requirements and desired outcomes. Conduct independent or team research to identify and solve problems, and provide detailed documentation for the research team.
  • Contribute to software solutions by establishing project-specific best practices, including version control, continuous integration and delivery, software design, and programming models.
  • Ensure long-term maintainability, sustainability and open access by thoroughly documenting projects. Provide support for the use of software libraries, including detailed documentation that is accessible to both researchers and future Research Software Engineers.
  • Provide technical expertise and improve the performance and quality of new and existing code bases through hands-on work with ongoing research.
  • Collaborate with researchers to ensure solutions meet their needs, addressing software engineering questions during research planning. Communicate software engineering concepts to project teams with varying levels of expertise. Serve as a liaison with Princeton Research Computing staff on GPU cluster-related issues.

Professional Development
  • Learn the underlying science, mathematics, statistics, data analysis, and algorithms of computational research questions through independent research, studying existing code bases, and staying current with publications.
  • Build awareness of software development tools and techniques, best practices in software engineering, programming languages, high-performance computing hardware, and computational research solutions.
  • Participate in a community of research software engineers and engage in continued professional development opportunities at Princeton Research Computing.

Qualifications
Essential Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent in computer science, engineering, applied math, sciences, or related computational field.
  • A minimum of 4 years as a Research Software Engineer or equivalent experience (e.g. graduate school, industry experience, open-source software development, etc.).
  • Proficiency in programming languages used in AI and computational research (e.g. Python, C++, R, MATLAB, Julia).
  • Expertise in machine learning algorithms and techniques. Familiarity with AI frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Scikit-learn.
  • Experience working with large datasets and familiarity with GPU computing environments.
  • Demonstrated success:
    Consistently using conventional and readable coding style.
    Creating comprehensive and well-written documentation.
    Using version control systems.
  • Demonstrated successes contributing to a collaborative research team.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Strong written and oral technical communication skills with the ability to present complex research findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Expertise in conducting research in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Contributions to open-source libraries and publications in relevant journals or conferences are highly valued.
  • Experience participating in multiple software development projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards. An eagerness to take on more responsibility and develop project management skills.
  • A Masters/Ph.D. in computer science, applied science, or other related field with a strong computational focus or equivalent experience in a research setting preferred.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.
If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.
The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.
Standard Weekly Hours
36.25
Eligible for Overtime
No
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Probationary Period
180 days
Essential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)
No
Physical Capacity Exam Required
No
Valid Driver's License Required
No
Experience Level
Mid-Senior Level
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Salary Range
$125,000 to $140,000

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