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Research Software Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AI Research Software Engineer Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring an AI Research Software Engineer. This position is within the Advanced Light Source (ALS) Accelerator Physics Group (APG ...

Sr. Engineer, Research Software Location: San Jose, CA (on-site) Ayar Labs is shattering AI data ... Comfortable working on Linux/UNIX systems and with modern developer tooling (Git, CI, containers)

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 ...

Sr. Engineer, Research Software Location: San Jose, CA (on-site) Ayar Labs is shattering AI data ... Comfortable working on Linux/UNIX systems and with modern developer tooling (Git, CI, containers)

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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 7, 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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What states have the most Research Software Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Research Software Developer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Research Software Developer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Research Software Developer jobs are:
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.
Senior Research Software Engineer

Senior Research Software Engineer

New York University

New York, NY • On-site

$149K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


New York University rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 43 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

97th of 544 rated colleges and universities


Job description

The Senior Research Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software and application solutions for NYU researchers and instructors. This position is key to leveraging the university investments in research computing and teaching infrastructure and services including a state-of-the-art HPC cluster, an investment to research cloud for bursting HPC jobs, and a dedicated High-Speed Research Network. This position is involved in scoping, architecting, designing, building, and supporting infrastructure and computing projects, in alignment with AI, Research Cloud, and HPC needs. The Senior Research Software Engineer works closely with NYU researchers and instructors to assist in collecting their computational requirements and implementing appropriate software solutions. In addition, the position provides targeted consulting to faculty and research teams aimed at improving the competitiveness of extramural funding proposals. This role works closely with NYU IT teams to provide the input needed to align the operation and configuration of the research infrastructure investments with the needs of researchers and instructors at the university.
Required Education:
Master's Degree in Computer Science, Physics, Engineering, or related field or equivalent work experience.
Preferred Education:
Doctoral Degree in Computer Science, Physics, Engineering, or related field or equivalent.
Required Experience:
5+ years of experience working with software engineering. Programming experience in high-level languages such as Python, Go, node.jsExperience with databases, web frontend and backend components. Experience with software packaging and distribution (eg. on pypi). Fluency with git and GitHub. Experience with a wide range of computing environments such as cloud, and HPC. Excellent interpersonal communication, presentation and written and verbal communication skills, including documentation and customer support.
Preferred Experience:
5+ years of work experience as a software engineer in an academic or research setting. Experience designing, building, and deploying containers or applications on kubernetes in public cloud providers (e.g. AWS, GCP). Experience with designing, building, and deploying containers in an HPC environment. Experience developing GenAI applications. A record of successes in programming, architecting, deploying, and systems that are used or have produced concrete results. Experience working in an academic research environment.
Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
Excellent programming and math skills. Proven expertise with Kubernetes and DevOps/microservices development, CI/CD pipelines and with the Linux OS. Drive to continually expand knowledge in the areas of new technological developments and trends. Ability to present technical concepts in a clear manner to researchers through demos, proposals and presentations.
Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
Having a quantitative background, knowledge of batch schedulings, MLOps and LLMOps Experience in a consulting, collaborative, or service-like role with researchers or clients. Experience with managing structured and unstructured data. Desire and ability to write content on relevant technical subjects for a blog, white paper, or as a contribution to a grant proposal.
In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is USD $149,000.00 to USD $169,000.00. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, clinical compensation, or other items.
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/nyugreen.
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply at all levels.

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About New York University

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Since its founding in 1831, NYU has been an innovator in higher education, reaching out to an emerging middle class, embracing an urban identity and professional focus, and promoting a global vision that informs its 20 schools and colleges. Today, that trailblazing spirit makes NYU one of the most prominent and respected research universities in the world, featuring top-ranked academic programs and accepting fewer than one in eight undergraduates. Anchored in New York City and with degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai as well as 12 study away sites throughout the world, NYU is a leader in global education, with more international students and more students studying abroad than any other US university.

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Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

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Year founded

1831