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Research Software Engineer Jobs in Hawaii (NOW HIRING)

They are seeking a Software Engineer (AI Focus) to develop user-facing applications that leverage ... AI researchers. Responsibilities : • Lead full-stack feature development from ideation to ...

The resulting research and development help to continuously advance government programs and ... We have an exciting opportunity for an MLOps Software Engineer to join a customer on-site as an ...

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SIMILAR CAREER TITLES Mobile Security Analyst, Reverse Engineer, Malware Analyst, Mobile Application Penetration Tester, Security Researcher, Software Reverse Engineer, Vulnerability Researcher ...

Data Engineer

Honolulu, HI · On-site

$113K - $135K/yr

A degree in operations research, engineering, applied math, statistics, computer science or ... Experience should demonstrate competency in key concepts from software engineering, computer ...

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Research Software Engineer information

See Hawaii salary details

$115.8K

$214K

How much do research software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for research software engineer in Hawaii is $208,321.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $213,000.00 and $213,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Research Software Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (often in Python, C++, or Java), a solid understanding of algorithms, and an academic or industry background in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, cloud platforms, and experience using scientific computing libraries and frameworks are valuable, while a master's or Ph.D. can be advantageous for specialized roles. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaborative skills help in working closely with researchers and multidisciplinary teams. These capabilities are crucial for successfully translating complex research problems into robust, reproducible software solutions that advance scientific inquiry.

What are some typical daily responsibilities for a Research Software Engineer?

As a Research Software Engineer, your daily work often involves designing and implementing software to support cutting-edge research projects, collaborating with scientists to understand their computational needs, and ensuring code reliability and reproducibility. You may spend time optimizing algorithms, writing unit tests, documenting software, and participating in code reviews within a collaborative team environment. Additionally, you might help deploy research applications on high-performance or cloud computing platforms and contribute to research publications. Balancing independent programming tasks with ongoing communication is key to making meaningful contributions to both the research and software development processes.

What is a Research Software Engineer job?

A Research Software Engineer (RSE) combines expertise in software development and research to create, maintain, and optimize software used in scientific or academic projects. They work closely with researchers to develop efficient, reliable, and reproducible software solutions for data analysis, simulations, or machine learning. RSEs bridge the gap between research and software engineering, ensuring that computational tools meet the needs of scientific investigations. Their role may involve coding, performance optimization, software sustainability, and deploying applications on high-performance computing or cloud platforms.

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Software Engineer jobs in Hawaii? The most popular types of Research Software Engineer jobs in Hawaii are:
What job categories do people searching Research Software Engineer jobs in Hawaii look for? The top searched job categories for Research Software Engineer jobs in Hawaii are:
What are popular job titles related to Research Software Engineer jobs in HI? For Research Software Engineer jobs in HI, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Senior Software Engineer

$125K - $167K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

The NSF Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST), operated by the National Solar Observatory (NSO), is the world’s largest and most advanced solar telescope, designed to help answer fundamental questions about our Sun and its complex magnetic fields. DKIST, which completed construction and began operations in November 2021 on the summit of Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii is a major program within the NSO. The NSO, an NSF national research and development center dedicated to solar science, is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). AURA, a consortium of 49 U.S. institutions and 3 international affiliates, operates world-class astronomical observatories. Its role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that drive innovative astronomical research.

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on development for our High-Level Software (HLS) systems supporting advanced telescope and instrumentation platforms. This role will solve complex technical challenges, guide engineers and partners, and contribute directly to system design, development, and operations at the DKIST facility.

You will play a key role in delivering robust, scalable software systems that support scientific discovery, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams across engineering and operations.

Essential Functions
Technical Leadership & Development
  • Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain high-level software systems for telescope and instrument applications
  • Lead complex engineering efforts and provide technical direction to team members and collaborators
  • Architect and implement scalable, multi-threaded, distributed systems
  • Support system integration across observatory platforms
Collaboration & Execution
  • Partner with engineering teams, operations staff, subcontractors, and stakeholders to deliver solutions
  • Plan and execute work aligned with technical, schedule, and budget requirements
  • Identify and resolve complex problems with minimal direction
  • Recommend and implement improvements to systems and processes
Documentation & Quality
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation (design specs, APIs, test plans, user guides)
  • Ensure high-quality software delivery through testing and best practices
  • Support CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks
Operations Support
  • Provide software support for summit and science operations as needed
  • Participate in system upgrades and new initiatives
Compliance & Safety
  • Adhere to safety standards and organizational policies
  • Ensure compliance with government award requirements (if applicable)
  • Promote a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative work environment
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
  • 10+ years of software development experience, including:
    • 5+ years with Java (including Swing)
    • Experience building multi-threaded, distributed systems
    • At least 1 year of Python
  • Experience with Linux-based development environments
  • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work from high-level objectives
  • Experience with databases (PostgreSQL or similar)
  • Familiarity with Agile development practices
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

This position involves access to technical data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Pursuant to these regulations, only U.S. persons (as defined in the regulations) are eligible for access to the controlled technical data. A "U.S. person" includes a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or person granted asylum or refugee status. Applicants must be eligible to access export-controlled information as defined by U.S. law.

Preferences
  • Experience in scientific, engineering, or large-scale technical environments
  • Knowledge of distributed control systems or observatory/telescope systems
  • Experience with:
    • Middleware frameworks (e.g., EPICS, TANGO, DDS, ICE)
    • High-throughput data systems (GB/s scale)
    • CI/CD pipelines and automated testing
    • Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP)
    • Container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Familiarity with motion control systems (e.g., Beckhoff, Omron, Delta Tau)
  • Experience managing vendors or technical contractors
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
  • Primarily office-based with extended computer use
  • Occasional lifting (up to 25 lbs)
  • Periodic work at high-elevation observatory site (~10,000 ft)
  • Frequent communication and collaboration with team members

Salary Range: $125,000 - $167,000 per year. The final salary will depend on skills, qualifications and experience.

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at Benefits by Location - Aura Human Resources 

Apply by July 5, 2026 for priority consideration. This position will remain open until it is filled. Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: LastName DocName.

Individuals needing assistance with the employment process can request assistance here.