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Research Software Developer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Senior Research Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$229K/yr

The Microsoft Research Americas Engineering team supports several MSR labs (Redmond, New England, New York City, and Montreal) and seeks an innovative and experienced Senior Research Software ...

Principal Research Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

... modern developer tooling to improve experimentation, implementation, testing, evaluation ... research. #Research #MSRR Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role ...

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Software Developer II

Bellevue, WA · Remote

$90K - $120K/yr

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Software Developer with strong proficiency in Python ... Work on a blend of Research & Development and client-facing projects as company needs fluctuate ...

With your superb technical, research and analytical capabilities and demonstrated ability to get ... of software applications or operating systems. You will be able to work with Engineering Managers ...

Senior Software Developer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$108K - $216K/yr

We are looking for a Software Engineer (Backend) to join our team and contribute to the development ... Innovation & Research: Investigate and propose innovative solutions for complex mobile challenges.

With your superb technical, research and analytical capabilities and demonstrated ability to get ... of software applications or operating systems. You will be able to work with Engineering Managers ...

With your superb technical, research and analytical capabilities and demonstrated ability to get ... of software applications or operating systems. You will be able to work with Engineering Managers ...

Engineer (NTD)

Redmond, WA · On-site

$229K/yr

... developer experience. • Research complex subjects and provide expert guidance. • May take lead role of software components from prototype to production • Review code of others work in C#, C ...

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$188K - $304K/yr

Experience integrating with GitHub, Azure DevOps, CI/CD systems, code review workflows, issue ... Research Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD ...

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Research Software Developer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$54.6K

$127.3K

$188.9K

How much do research software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for research software developer in Seattle, WA is $127,283.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,400.00 and $147,900.00 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.

What job categories do people searching Research Software Developer jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Research Software Developer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Senior Research Software Engineer

Senior Research Software Engineer

Microsoft Corporation

Redmond, WA • On-site

$229K/yr

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Microsoft rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

55th of 202 rated software companies


Job description

Overview

Microsoft Research (MSR) is a multidisciplinary global organization working to create scientific knowledge and deliver innovation that leads to positive human impact at scale. To envision and build the future, we work with our scientific, engineering, academic and business partners to use Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to impact economics, health and society.

The Microsoft Research Americas Engineering team supports several MSR labs (Redmond, New England, New York City, and Montreal) and seeks an innovative and experienced Senior Research Software Engineer on the Agentic Experiences team to drive and contribute to a variety of research projects in various stages of research and productization. You will help deliver quality engineering solutions engaging in AI-native development methods, automation, and agentic workflows to design, build, evaluate, and ship software across Microsoft Research. You will collaborate with other engineers, researchers, and product teams to create innovative vision and drive high quality execution for high-impact and high-scale reach across all of Microsoft's portfolio, from core models, health, social and economics, coding and development, vision and graphics, systems and networks, and more. You will also be able to contribute to the shape our engineering culture, strategy, and execution, as well as modernize AI engineering practices all in support of accelerating our collective impact across Microsoft Research Americas, Microsoft and beyond.

At Microsoft, our mission-to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more-guides how we partner with customers to deliver trusted, impactful solutions. With a growth mindset culture, we innovate responsibly and measure success by shared progress-people, teams, and customers. Join us to do meaningful work that changes the world and helps shape what's next for everyone.

Responsibilities

  • Individual Contributor (IC) Development: Independently design and build software using appropriate artificial intelligence (AI) tools, frameworks and practices across the software development lifecycle (SDLC) in a disciplined manner. Apply innovative AI agentic tooling and workflows for efficient code generation, evaluation, debugging, and refinement. Contribute to all layers of code and infrastructure to bring scientific experiments from prototypes to reliable and scalable products ready for adoption across Microsoft.

  • Coding and Design: Owns or collaborates with other engineers on the architecture of solutions, with minimal technical oversight. Applies appropriate coding patterns and best practices (e.g., leveraging state-of-the-art generative artificial intelligence [GenAI], approaches to source code organization, naming conventions). Proactively Considers diagnosability, reliability, testability, and maintainability when reviewing code, and understands when code is ready to be shared or delivered.

  • Engineering Excellence: Leads by example within the team to produce extensible, maintainable, well-tested, secure, and performant code that adheres to design specifications. Take responsibility for the content of their AI-generated requirements, design documents, code, and other assets, assisting other members of the team to do the same.

  • Cross-Project Collaboration: Seek connections between MSR projects, design and develop "better together" systems, architectures, and implementations that align key research in support of facilitating new research as well as product transfers. Build partnerships to align engineering efforts with research priorities and Microsoft's broader innovation agenda.

  • Technical Leadership: Collaborate with MSR Americas engineering leadership to contribute to a cohesive engineering vision. Navigate ambiguity in a dynamic research environment, using tangible intermediate milestones to realize long-term vision.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 4 + years technical engineering experience coding in languages including, but not limited to, Python, Rust, C#, C++, Java, JavaScript OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's Degree and/or PhD in Computer Science or related technical field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, Python, Rust, C#, C++, Java, JavaScript

  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, Python, Rust, C#, C++, Java, JavaScript

  • OR equivalent experience.

  • 2+ years technical leadership experience, defining milestones and helping an engineering team execute on their deliverables

  • Demonstrated experience on an engineering team within a research or innovation setting, with responsibilities spanning prototypes to production.

  • Experience with Microsoft AI stack, including but not limited to Azure/AI Platform and Copilot based experiences and tools.

  • Experience contributing to or delivering AI powered products at scale

  • Experience with early stage or first generation product development

#Research #MSRR

Software Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $160,200 - $261,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:

https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations. (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html)


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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

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