Associate Software Engineer

Software Engineering Institute | Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University seeks an Associate Software Engineer to help advance intelligent edge systems. You will work with world‑class faculty, researchers, and industry partners to prototype, mature, and transition cutting‑edge AI and edge technologies for government and defense programs.

You will contribute across the SDLC, apply modern DevOps practices, and grow your expertise in safe, reliable software for high‑stakes environments.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Responsibilities

• Prototype, mature, and transition AI edge technologies for government and defense applications.
• Collaborate with CMU faculty, researchers, and industry partners to deploy edge systems.
• Design and optimize intelligent edge software ensuring safety, reliability, and performance in resource-constrained environments.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly within agile teams.

Skills

Core SDLC

Programming languages

DevOps/CI-CD

AI-assisted workflows

Growth mindset

Git & Docker/K8s

Communication skills

Education

BS in CS/SE

Tools

Git

Docker/Kubernetes

CI/CD tools

Job description

What We Do

The Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is a premier national research center dedicated to advancing software engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. We work at the intersection of defense, government, industry, and academia to solve some of the nation's most complex software challenges. Our mission: enable organizations to build, deploy, and scale resilient, secure, defect‑free software systems that perform reliably in critical operational environments.

Position Summary

At the SEI’s Enabling Edge Intelligence (E2I) team, we bridge the gap between cutting‑edge AI and edge systems research and real‑world deployment. Our team of software engineers, researchers, and data scientists designs and optimizes intelligent edge systems for operation in resource‑constrained edge environments where safety, reliability, and performance are essential.

We are seeking a driven Associate Software Engineer eager to shape the future of intelligent edge systems. In this role, you will collaborate with world‑class faculty, leading researchers, and industry to prototype, mature, and transition technologies to government and defense organizations. If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of intelligent edge systems, mastering next‑generation software engineering workflows, and solving high‑impact technical problems, E2I is the place for you to accelerate your career.

Requirements

• Education: BS or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: At least 3 years of hands‑on experience in designing, developing, and deploying software systems.
• Travel: Willingness to travel (less than 10%) to engage with the CMU community, present at conferences, and work alongside sponsor organizations.
• Security Clearance: You will be subject to a background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance (requires background investigation).

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Core Software Engineering: Solid foundation in software engineering principles across the full software development life cycle (SDLC).
• Programming Proficiency: Strong coding skills in at least one core language, such as Python, C++, C, or Java.
• Deployment & DevOps: Practical experience deploying software into local or cloud environments, with familiarity in DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
• AI‑Assisted Workflows: Experience with leveraging generative AI and agentic tools to streamline coding, debugging, and deployment workflows.
• Growth Mindset: Strong curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new languages, frameworks, and edge technologies on the fly.
• Tooling & Collaboration: Comfort using software management and orchestration platforms (e.g., Git, Atlassian Suite, Docker/K8s).
• Problem‑Solving & Communication: Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly within multi‑disciplinary, agile teams.

Desired Experience

• At least 3 years of hands‑on experience in designing, developing, and deploying edge systems or performance‑critical software.
• Hands‑on experience building, testing, or deploying agentic AI systems.
• Background or strong interest in software architecture and edge system optimization.
• Practical exposure to AI/ML model training, evaluation, and systems integration

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
• Statement of Assurance