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Software Engineering Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This role combines engineering leadership, software architecture governance, DevSecOps and release ... The role will partner closely with cross‑functional teams including R&D, Product, Manufacturing ...

Software Engineer Software Engineer, Senior Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Dayton, Ohio HX5 is an ... engineering, research and development, and technical services to clients such as NASA and the ...

SEACORP is seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead technical teams in the research, design, development, and testing of tactical navigation systems for surface and submarine platforms. This ...

Research Software Engineer

Tampa, FL · On-site

$193K/yr

The Research Software Engineer will develop software tools for machine learning applications in ... engineering, including requirements, design, code, test, quality, configuration & release ...

Software Engineering Manager

Naples, FL · On-site

$185K - $250K/yr

Innovation and Research: Stay abreast of the latest trends in software engineering and introduce innovative tools and techniques to enhance development processes. * Resource Management: Manage ...

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Software Engineering Research information

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$111.5K

$206K

How much do software engineering research jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineering research in the United States is $200,510.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $205,000.00 and $205,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is software engineering research?

Software engineering research is the systematic study of methods, tools, and practices used to design, develop, test, and maintain software systems. Researchers in this field aim to improve software quality, productivity, and efficiency by exploring new techniques in programming, project management, and software architecture. Their work often involves both theoretical studies and practical experiments, contributing to advancements in technology and industry best practices. The results of software engineering research influence the development of new software tools, methodologies, and standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Software Engineering Researcher, and why are they important?

To excel as a Software Engineering Researcher, you need a strong background in computer science, programming, algorithm design, and a graduate degree (often a Ph.D.) in a related field. Familiarity with advanced research tools, version control systems, programming languages like Python or C++, and experience with academic publishing and data analysis platforms is typical. Analytical thinking, creativity, effective communication, and collaboration are essential soft skills for presenting findings and working with interdisciplinary teams. These abilities enable researchers to innovate, contribute original insights, and advance the field of software engineering.

What is the difference between Software Engineering Research vs Software Development?

AspectSoftware Engineering ResearchSoftware Development
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (Master's, PhD), research experienceBachelor's or higher in Computer Science or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic institutions, R&D departmentsCorporate offices, startups, tech companies
Industry UsageFocus on developing new theories, algorithms, and methodologiesBuilding, testing, and maintaining software products
Common Search IntentResearch methods, academic careers, innovative technologiesJob roles, project management, coding skills

Software Engineering Research involves exploring new theories and methodologies in software development, often within academic or R&D settings. In contrast, Software Development focuses on creating and maintaining software products in industry environments. Both roles require strong technical skills, but their goals and work settings differ significantly.

How does a Software Engineering Researcher typically collaborate with product development teams?

Software Engineering Researchers often work closely with product development teams to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application. This collaboration may involve presenting findings, proposing innovative solutions to engineering challenges, and assisting in the integration of new technologies or methodologies into existing workflows. Researchers also frequently participate in design and code reviews, as well as brainstorming sessions, to ensure that research outcomes are aligned with the team's goals and practical constraints. Such interdisciplinary cooperation not only accelerates product innovation but also helps researchers gain insight into market needs and technical limitations.
More about Software Engineering Research jobs
Infographic showing various Software Engineering Research job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $200,510 per year, or $96.4 per hour.
Director, Software Engineering

Director, Software Engineering

RaySecur

Westwood, MA • On-site

$190 - $250/hr

Other

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

About RaySecur

RaySecur is redefining threat detection through advanced terahertz imaging technology that helps organizations identify hidden threats safely and efficiently. Our solutions support customers across corrections, government, critical infrastructure, and commercial environments. As we scale commercially and expand into highly regulated federal environments, we are evolving our software organization to support secure, operationally mature, and highly reliable product delivery across hardware, firmware, software, and cloud-connected systems.

Position Summary

We are seeking a hands‑on Director of Software Engineering to lead the evolution of our software engineering organization from an innovation‑driven product development environment into a scalable, secure, operationally mature engineering function.

This role combines engineering leadership, software architecture governance, DevSecOps and release management oversight, cross‑functional product execution, and organizational development.

The Director will lead the software engineering organization while remaining technically engaged in architectural reviews and decisions, guiding implementation decisions, evaluating code quality, and mentoring engineers. This is not a purely managerial role. The ideal candidate brings strong technical credibility, enjoys being in‑the‑mix and mentoring less tenured engineers, and is comfortable leading engineering organizations that support complex hardware/software systems operating in both commercial and government regulated environments. The role will partner closely with cross‑functional teams including R&D, Product, Manufacturing, Compliance/Cybersecurity, AI, and Customer Success teams.

Key Responsibilities
  • Engineering Leadership & Organizational Development: Lead, mentor, and develop software and test engineers across front‑end, back‑end, systems, and platform engineering functions; establish scalable engineering organization, processes, and operations; drive accountability, execution rigor, and delivery predictability across multiple concurrent initiatives; lead workforce planning, hiring strategy, budgeting, and organizational roadmap development for the software function; develop engineering career paths, performance expectations, and technical leadership capabilities; foster a high collaboration, high accountability engineering culture aligned with RaySecur’s values.
  • Software Architecture & Technical Governance: Establish and govern software architecture standards; lead technical decision‑making related to scalability, maintainability, reliability, observability, and security; review system designs, architecture proposals, and critical code paths; remain technically engaged through architecture reviews, code reviews, technical mentorship, and engineering guidance; drive reduction of technical debt and transition R&D‑stage capabilities into production software; partner with firmware, hardware, and R&D teams to ensure cohesive system‑level design.
  • DevSecOps, Release Management & Product Lifecycle: Own software development lifecycle (SDLC), release process, deployment standards, and software configuration management practices; lead DevOps and cybersecurity maturity initiatives, CI/CD, automated testing and vulnerability management; ensure software quality, traceability, and documentation standards; establish lifecycle management processes for deployed systems.
  • Cybersecurity & Regulated Environment Readiness: Partner with cybersecurity and compliance leadership to integrate secure engineering practices into the product lifecycle; ensure software engineering practices support NIST, SOC 2, state and federal customer expectations; support implementation of secure update mechanisms, access control models, logging, auditability, and vulnerability remediation processes; lead engineering participation in threat modeling and penetration testing, remediation planning, and secure architecture reviews.
  • Cross‑Functional Product Execution: Partner with Product, R&D, Production, and Customer Success teams to align software delivery with business priorities; help bridge early‑stage innovation efforts into scalable production‑ready systems; improve coordination, prioritization, and execution consistency across multidisciplinary teams; support field deployment realities including edge deployments, constrained networking environments, and customer operational requirements.
  • Engineering Productivity & Modern Tooling: Evaluate and implement modern software engineering tools, automation frameworks, and AI‑assisted development workflows; drive engineering metrics and operational visibility across development cycle.
Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 10+ years of software engineering experience in complex product environments.
  • 5+ years of engineering leadership and people management experience.
  • Strong experience leading software teams supporting integrated hardware/software systems.
  • Demonstrated experience with organizational scaling and operational maturity.
  • Strong hands‑on technical background with ability to review code, evaluate architecture, and guide engineering implementation decisions.
  • Experience with modern SDLC, DevOps, CI/CD, testing automation, and release management practices.
  • Experience implementing secure engineering practices and supporting cybersecurity compliance initiatives.
  • Experience operating in regulated, security‑sensitive, or operationally constrained customer environments.

Technical Experience

Experience with portions of the following technology stack:

  • C++ / C
  • JavaScript
  • Electron
  • Python
  • AWS/Cloud
  • Windows and Linux
  • Edge/appliance software architectures
  • CI/CD and DevOps tools

Preferred

  • Experience with IoT, industrial, robotics, medical device, defense, or security technology environments.
  • Experience supporting federal or regulated customer deployments.
  • Experience with security frameworks such as CMMC, NIST, SOC 2, FedRAMP, or similar.
  • Experience leading engineering organizations through operational maturity transformations.
  • Experience supporting hybrid cloud/on‑prem or disconnected deployment models.
What Success Looks Like
  • Improved software delivery and execution rigor.
  • Increased software quality and operational reliability.
  • Mature DevSecOps and release governance processes.
  • Clear architecture standards and technical ownership models.
  • Strong collaboration and coordination between software, R&D, production, and customer‑facing teams.
  • Scalable engineering practices capable of supporting commercial growth and regulated customer environments.
Targeted Compensation

$190k - $250k

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