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Research Software Engineer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

J&J Snack Foods

Software Engineer

La Vergne, TN · On-site

The Software Engineer prioritizes well, communicates clearly, and has a consistent track record of ... They must have a proven ability to research and solve problems in a timely manner. The requirements ...

iHeartMedia

Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

... R&D Engineer, Software Developer or related. • 24 months experience working with large data sets and managing databases utilizing tools such as MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, Mongo DB (NoSQL), Redis ...

J&J Snack Foods

Software Engineer

La Vergne, TN · On-site

The Software Engineer prioritizes well, communicates clearly, and has a consistent track record of ... They must have a proven ability to research and solve problems in a timely manner. The requirements ...

Beacon Talent

Software Engineer

La Vergne, TN · Remote

Software Engineer, Data Privacy & De-Identification About the Company - Series A A rapidly growing ... Founded by leaders from healthcare technology, research, clinical informatics, and AI, the company ...

Cadre5

Software Engineer- Vue

Knoxville, TN

Software Engineer- Vue Founded in 1999 in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, Cadre5 ... This premier research institution located near Knoxville in Oak Ridge, TN, addresses national needs ...

Cadre5

Cloud Software Engineer

Knoxville, TN

$53.50 - $69.50/hr

Cloud Software Engineer Founded in 1999 in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, Cadre5 ... This premier research institution located near Knoxville in Oak Ridge, TN, addresses national needs ...

United Airlines

Associate Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

$43K - $105K/yr

... research design development and maintenance. 3. He or she work requires the exercise of original ... software engineer skills expectations for the applicable role as defined in Professional ...

J&J Snack Foods

Lead Software Engineer

La Vergne, TN · On-site

They must have a proven ability to research and solve complex problems in a timely manner and be ... software. * Ability and willingness to learn new programming languages and technologies. * Ability ...

Cadre5

Software Engineer- Kubernetes

Knoxville, TN

Software Engineer- Kubernetes Founded in 1999 in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee ... ORNL is a premier research institution delivering breakthroughs in energy, national security, and ...

iHeartMedia

Software Engineer

Nashville, TN · On-site

Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems or a related field or foreign equivalent degree. 24 months' experience in the job offered or as a Software Engineer, R&D ...

J&J Snack Foods

Lead Software Engineer

La Vergne, TN · On-site

They must have a proven ability to research and solve complex problems in a timely manner and be ... software. * Ability and willingness to learn new programming languages and technologies. * Ability ...

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$101.2K

$187K

How much do research software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for research software engineer in Tennessee is $181,986.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $186,100.00 and $186,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Can I make 200k a year as a software engineer?

Research Software Engineers working in high-demand industries, such as tech or finance, can potentially earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, or advanced degrees. Salaries vary based on location, company size, and expertise, with senior roles and those involving machine learning, data science, or leadership often reaching or exceeding this level.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior research software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in areas like machine learning or high-performance computing, and often advanced degrees can earn $300,000 or more annually. Compensation varies based on industry, location, and company size, with some roles in tech, finance, or biotech reaching this level through bonuses and stock options.

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 does a research software engineer do?

A research software engineer develops, maintains, and optimizes software tools and systems to support scientific research. They often collaborate with researchers to implement algorithms, analyze data, and ensure software reliability, frequently using programming languages like Python, C++, or Java. Their work enables efficient data processing and reproducibility in research projects.

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 engineers make $500,000?

Senior research software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in machine learning or data science, and leadership roles can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or large tech companies. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, reflecting their advanced expertise and impact on projects.
What are the most commonly searched types of Research Software Engineer jobs in Tennessee? The most popular types of Research Software Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:
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What job categories do people searching Research Software Engineer jobs in Tennessee look for? The top searched job categories for Research Software Engineer jobs in Tennessee are:
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Research Software Engineer jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Research Software Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Research Software Engineer jobs in TN? For Research Software Engineer jobs in TN, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Research Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Software Engineer job openings in Tennessee as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $181,986 per year, or $87.5 per hour.
Research Software Engineer

Research Software Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge, TN • On-site

$177K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago

Oak Ridge National Laboratory rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 103 rated laboratories

Job description

Requisition Id 16566
Overview:
We are seeking a Research Software Engineer to join the Incident Modeling and Computational Sciences (IMCS) Group in the National Security Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). IMCS develops and maintains state-of-the-art modeling and simulation tools supporting nuclear forensics, nuclear weapon effects, radiological consequence management, and other needs for DOE, DOW, and DHS sponsors. In this role, you will design, develop, and operate enterprise AI and data infrastructure, helping to build, maintain, and scale Docker-based microservices, large language model (LLM) inference servers on GPU clusters, vector database and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, and observability stacks that advance AI capabilities across the laboratory. The successful candidate will work independently and collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, data engineers, and system administrators to deliver reliable, secure, and high-performance AI services to ORNL researchers.
Basic Qualifications:
  • A BS degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related technical field and a minimum of five years of relevant experience. A combination of education and experience may also be considered.
  • Experience with software development life cycle, including version control with Git, code review practices, and collaborative development workflows.
  • Experience writing and maintaining production-quality code in Python, with exposure to one or more additional languages (e.g., JavaScript, Bash, C++).
  • Experience deploying and debugging containerized applications using Docker and Docker Compose, including multi-service environments.
  • Experience with Linux shell scripting in a command-line environment.
  • Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams across all phases of the software development life cycle.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience deploying or operating AI/ML serving infrastructure, including LLM serving frameworks such as vLLM, Ollama, or similar.
  • Familiarity with model routing or proxy tools such as LiteLLM or comparable API gateway solutions.
  • Experience with vector databases or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines (e.g., Milvus, ChromaDB, Weaviate, or similar).
  • Knowledge of reverse proxy and web infrastructure concepts, including Nginx configuration, TLS/mTLS certificate management, WebSocket proxying, and authentication subrequests.
  • Experience with relational databases, including PostgreSQL administration and schema management.
  • Familiarity with observability tooling such as OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, or Tempo.
  • Experience with HPC environments and job schedulers such as SLURM, or general experience deploying services on remote GPU clusters.
  • Experience maintaining forks of open-source projects, including upstream merge management, patch backporting, and dependency CVE remediation.
  • Familiarity with JavaScript or TypeScript and component-based frontend frameworks such as Svelte or React.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
  • Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever-changing needs.

Special Requirements:
  • This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program. In addition, due the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.

About ORNL:
As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.
ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.
Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.
If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

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