C++/Cloud Engineering Scientist Associate

The University of Texas at Austin; United States; On-site; USD 89,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin Space and Geophysics Laboratory seeks a C++/Cloud Engineer to design, develop, test, and maintain high-performance software for cloud environments supporting science and engineering research.

You will implement C++ code, build CI/CD pipelines, design cloud architectures, and ensure reliability across multi-region deployments. A DoD 8140–compliant security clearance and US citizenship are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, CS or related field.
• Demonstrated ability and knowledge of experience in C++ software development.
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++11/14/17).
• Experience with object-oriented design and design patterns.
• Knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and software architecture.
• Version control experience (Git).
• Familiarity with build systems (CMake/Make).
• Understanding of software development lifecycle.
• Experience with debugging and profiling tools.
• Memory management knowledge.
• Familiarity with CI/CD practices.
• Understanding of distributed systems principles.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD 8140 compliant security clearance in six months.
• US Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Implementation & Testing: write high-quality C++ code with tests and reviews.
• Cloud Infrastructure & Deployment: design cloud solutions and CI/CD pipelines.
• Software Design & Architecture: craft scalable cloud-native software in C++.
• Operations & Reliability: monitor and optimize costs and performance.
• Collaboration & Documentation: produce runbooks and design docs, share knowledge.

Skills

C++ development

Modern C++ (C++11/14/17)

Object-oriented design

Data structures & algorithms

Git

CMake/Make

CI/CD practices

Debugging/profiling tools

Distributed systems

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science/Engineering/CS

Tools

Git

CMake

Make

Terraform

Kubernetes

AWS/Azure/GCP

Google Test/Catch2

Job description

Purpose

The Space and Geophysics Laboratory (SGL) is seeking a C++/Cloud Engineer to design, develop, test, and maintain high-performance software systems using C++ deployed on cloud infrastructure. This position leverages C++ best practices and modern cloud-native architectures to build scalable, reliable, and efficient software that supports science, research, and engineering applications. This role combines C++ software development expertise with cloud engineering capabilities to deliver optimized solutions running in cloud environments.

Responsibilities

• Implementation & Testing: Implement high-quality C++ code meeting coding standards and best practices. Write comprehensive unit tests, integration tests, and system tests. Perform code reviews and ensure code quality. Debug and resolve software defects. Implement performance optimizations, memory management strategies, and cloud resource tuning. Build automated testing and deployment pipelines.
• Cloud Infrastructure & Deployment: Design and implement cloud architecture solutions for applications across multiple environments. Deploy and configure cloud resources including compute, storage, networking, and databases. Set up multi-region and multi-availability zone deployments. Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines for C++ application builds and deployments. Implement Infrastructure as Code for reproducible environments.
• Software Design & Architecture: Design and implement software solutions in C++ following established architecture patterns for cloud-native deployments. Create scalable, maintainable, and efficient software designs. Working within software requirements, interfaces, and module specifications. Make architectural tradeoffs to balance performance, memory usage, and cloud resource efficiency. Evaluate and recommend C++ libraries and frameworks for cloud environments. Create and maintain architecture diagrams and design documentation.
• Operations & Reliability: Monitor application and infrastructure health, performance, and cost. Implement robust monitoring, alerting, and logging solutions. Optimize resource utilization and cloud costs. Manage the lifecycle of cloud resources supporting C++ applications.
• Collaboration & Documentation: Partner with cross-functional teams to understand requirements and deliver software solutions. Create and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, and operational procedures. Provide technical guidance on C++ development practices and cloud best practices. Communicate technical concepts clearly to stakeholders. Support knowledge transfer and team collaboration.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability and knowledge of experience in C++ software development.
• Proficiency in modern C++ (C++11/14/17).
• Experience with object-oriented design and design patterns.
• Knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and software architecture.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Familiarity with build systems (e.g., CMake, Make).
• Understanding of software development lifecycle.
• Experience with debugging and profiling tools.
• Knowledge of memory management.
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools and practices.
• Understanding of distributed systems principles.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD 8140 compliant security certification within six months of employment.
• US Citizen. Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to the project requirements of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and deploying C++ applications in cloud environments.
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Knowledge of performance optimization.
• Experience with multi-threaded and concurrent programming.
• Familiarity with test-driven development (TDD) and unit testing frameworks (e.g., Google Test, Catch2).
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Experience with container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes or ECS.
• Experience with CI/CD tools such as GitLab CI or Jenkins.
• AWS certifications such as Solutions Architect, SysOps Administrator, or Developer.
• Knowledge of monitoring solutions such as CloudWatch, Datadog, or Prometheus.
• Experience with database services such as RDS, Aurora, or DynamoDB.
• Familiarity with serverless architectures.
• Experience with static analysis tools and code quality metrics.
• Understanding of security best practices in software development and cloud.
• Three or more years experience in software engineering.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0.

General Notes

An agency designated by the federal government handles the investigation as to the requirement for eligibility for access to classified information. Factors considered during this investigation include but are not limited to allegiance to the United States, foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations, drug involvement, the likelihood of continuation of such conduct, etc.

Salary Range

$88,500-$120,000+/negotiable depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity
• Some weekend, evening and holiday work
• Possible interstate/intrastate travel

Required Materials

• Resume/CV 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest
• Unofficial college transcripts

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

About Us

Start Here, Change the World At The University of Texas at Austin, tradition meets innovation in the heart of a city that frequents lists of the best places to live and work. Named by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you're at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world-changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000+ students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world. Looking for a student job? Please see our Student Employment site.

Comments and Inquiries

Email comments to [e-mail]. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at [phone], or toll-free at [phone]. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus