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Scientific Programmer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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Scientific Subject Matter Expert I

Silver Spring, MD · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Koniag IT Systems is seeking a Scientific Subject Matter Expert I to support our data abstraction and quality control processes for regulatory applications and scientific reports. This position ...

kgs

Scientific Subject Matter Expert I

Silver Spring, MD · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Koniag IT Systems is seeking a Scientific Subject Matter Expert I to support our data abstraction and quality control processes for regulatory applications and scientific reports. This position ...

kgs

Scientific Subject Matter Expert I

Silver Spring, MD · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Koniag IT Systems is seeking a Scientific Subject Matter Expert I to support our data abstraction and quality control processes for regulatory applications and scientific reports. This position ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Scientific Software Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$86K - $198K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Scientific Software Engineer The Opportunity: As a back-end developer, you know that a good site or system needs the right combination of clean code, APIs, analytics, and infrastructure to develop a ...

Booz Allen Hamilton

Scientific Software Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$86K - $198K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

R0244218 Scientific Software Engineer The Opportunity: As a back-end developer, you know that a good site or system needs the right combination of clean code, APIs, analytics, and infrastructure to ...

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All JobsScientific Programmer JobsScientific Programmer Jobs in Washington

Scientific Programmer information

See Washington salary details

$12

$45

$81

How much do scientific programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for scientific programmer in Washington is $45.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.40 and $65.05 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a scientific programmer?

Scientific programmers are professionals who develop, implement, and optimize software solutions for scientific research and data analysis. They work closely with scientists and researchers to translate complex scientific problems into computational algorithms, scripts, and tools. Their work often involves programming in languages like Python, C++, or R, and may include tasks such as data processing, simulation, modeling, and visualization. Scientific programmers play a crucial role in advancing research by making scientific computations more efficient and reproducible.

What does a scientific programmer do?

The duties of a scientific programmer are to design a variety of tools for researchers to perform statistical and mathematical modeling on large datasets. They often work within a specific framework or software, and their responsibilities are to script tools that make it easier for scientists to use the programs or models. Their duties may include designing a new user interface or creating shell scripts for the UNIX or Linux operating systems. A scientific programmer also conducts code review and quality assurance tasks to ensure that programs are ready to be used. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in computer science, bioinformatics, or computational biology. If you want to specialize in a particular discipline, you may need additional experience or advanced qualifications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a scientific programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Scientific Programmer, you need a solid background in computer science, mathematics, or a related field, along with strong programming skills in languages like Python, C++, or R. Familiarity with scientific computing libraries (such as NumPy, SciPy), data analysis tools, and version control systems like Git is typically required, and experience with high-performance computing or parallel processing is a plus. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are key soft skills that distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for developing reliable, efficient code to support complex scientific research and for collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

How does a scientific programmer typically collaborate with researchers and other technical staff on projects?

Scientific Programmers often work closely with research scientists, data analysts, and IT teams to develop and optimize software tools for scientific studies. They participate in project meetings to understand research goals, translate scientific requirements into code, and troubleshoot issues that arise in computational workflows. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as Scientific Programmers must ensure their solutions align with both technical standards and the scientific objectives of the research team.

What is the difference between Scientific Programmer vs Data Analyst?

AspectScientific ProgrammerData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Physics, or related fields; programming skillsBachelor's or higher in Statistics, Data Science, or related fields; analytical skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, scientific institutions, academia, industry R&DBusiness, finance, healthcare, marketing sectors
Employer & Industry UsageResearch organizations, universities, scientific companiesCorporations, consulting firms, government agencies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding technical roles in scientific computingAnalyzing data to inform decisions

Scientific Programmers focus on developing software and algorithms for scientific research, often working with complex simulations and data modeling. Data Analysts interpret data sets to generate insights and support decision-making. While both roles require strong programming skills and analytical thinking, Scientific Programmers are more involved in software development for scientific purposes, whereas Data Analysts focus on data interpretation and reporting.

Is scientific programming a good career?

Scientific programming is a viable career that involves developing software for research, data analysis, and simulation in scientific fields. It requires strong programming skills, knowledge of scientific concepts, and often proficiency in languages like Python, C++, or MATLAB. The demand for scientific programmers is steady in academia, industry, and government research organizations.
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Scientific Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Scientific Programmer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,913 per year, or $45.2 per hour.

Scientific Programmer III

Home - GAMA-1 Technologies

Silver Spring, MD • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

About the Opportunity

The Scientific Programmer III develops and modernizes cloud-based software solutions that support large-scale scientific data systems and archive workflows in a remote work environment. This role focuses on migrating applications to AWS, developing Python applications, and implementing CI/CD automation to improve the reliability, scalability, and performance of scientific data processing.

Success in this role means delivering robust, well-documented solutions that efficiently manage complex scientific datasets while collaborating with scientists, engineers, and cloud architects to develop innovative, high-performing software.

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