Research Computing Software Engineer

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 97,100 - 164,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Robust retirement plans

Substantial paid time off

Job summary

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University is seeking a Research Computing Software Engineer in Reston, Virginia. This role focuses on developing and maintaining software solutions within high-performance computing environments to support cutting-edge research initiatives. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and relevant experience, with a salary range of $97,100 - $164,000, plus a competitive benefits package that includes tuition discounts and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant experience for Senior position; 3+ years for Advanced position.
• Ability to obtain a government security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required to apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop, enhance, and maintain software applications for research computing.
• Implement algorithms to handle large datasets and complex computations.
• Write clean and maintainable code using modern programming languages.
• Collaborate to ensure functionality of software tools within the environment.
• Analyze and optimize software application performance.

Skills

Code analysis

Cross-team collaboration

Data Analysis

Presentation Skills

Programming

Software architecture

Software development

Software testing

Technology acumen

Trend analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field

Job description

Position Specifics

We are seeking a Research Computing Software Engineer to join the Visualization and Decision Support Division (VDS) of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. You will work within classified research and development and cloud computing (HPC) environments to develop and maintain software solutions to support the computational and data analysis needs of the research community; design, code, test, and optimize software systems that enhance research capabilities and streamline computational workflows. The mission of VDS is to research, develop, and apply technical innovations that provide Decision Advantage to our sponsors through the use of data science, artificial intelligence, simulation, knowledge communication and virtual collaboration technologies. In this role, you will direct a team of engineers and researchers to fulfill this mission.

The position will be located in either State College, PA or Reston, VA and is not eligible for remote work.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop, deploy, enhance, and maintain software applications and tools to support research computing needs
• Implement efficient algorithms and data structures to handle large datasets and complex computations
• Write clean, well-documented, and maintainable code using modern programming languages
• Integrate software solutions with existing research computing infrastructure, including cloud platforms
• Collaborate with other engineers and researchers to ensure seamless integration and functionality of software tools within the research environment
• Analyze and optimize the performance of software applications, ensuring they meet the high demands of computational research
• Identify and address performance bottlenecks, memory usage issues, and other technical challenges
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for software issues, assisting researchers in overcoming obstacles
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for software tools, including user guides, technical specifications, and troubleshooting procedures
• Stay up to date with advancements in software engineering and computational research technologies

Additional Responsibilities of Higher Level Positions

• Propose and implement new features, improvements, and updates to enhance the functionality and usability of software tools
• Lead or participate in software development projects, including planning, development, testing, and deployment phases
• Manage project timelines, deliverables, and milestones to ensure successful and timely completion of software initiatives
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Required Skills and/or Experience

• Code analysis
• Cross-team collaboration
• Data Analysis
• Presentation Skills
• Programming
• Software architecture
• Software development
• Software testing
• Technology acumenTrend analysis

Preferred Skills/Experience Areas

• Active or recently active TS/SCI clearance
• A Master’s degree in Geography is preferred

Minimum Education, Work Experience & Required Certifications

For the Research Computing Software Engineer – Senior Professional position: a Bachelor’s Degree with 6+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. No certifications required.

For the Research Computing Software Engineer – Advanced Professional position: a Bachelor’s Degree with 3+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. No certifications required.

Background Checks & Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $97,100.00 - $164,000.00. The proposed salary range may be impacted by geographic differential.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.