Research Software Engineer, First State AI Institute

Sean Morton Ins Agency Inc; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Delaware is seeking a Research Software Engineer to develop AI models, research frameworks, and computational tools at the UD First State AI Institute. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to advance scientific discovery while balancing engineering work with opportunities for teaching and professional development.

Responsibilities include implementing state-of-the-art ML models, working with large datasets, deploying scalable solutions, contributing to open-source

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of Python experience with ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit‑learn), including optimization and deployment in production environments.
• Strong grasp of AI/ML fundamentals including advanced concepts in model architectures, hyperparameter tuning, and real‑world problem solving.
• Proficiency in software development best practices (version control, testing, debugging), including CI/CD, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and robust debugging techniques.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and parallel computing, with a focus on cost‑efficient and scalable model deployment.
• Skilled in working with medium‑to‑large scale multicore and heterogeneous (CPU + GPU) clusters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and maintain software for AI research projects.
• Collaborate with researchers to implement state‑of‑the‑art machine learning models.
• Work with large‑scale datasets, designing efficient data processing pipelines.
• Support the deployment and scaling of AI models for real‑world applications.
• Contribute to open‑source AI projects and research publications.
• Stay up to date with the latest advancements in AI and machine learning.
• Be an advocate to maintain and improve computing infrastructure for code development.
• Create comprehensive documentation of any software developed.
• Complete user manuals for knowledge transfer, and ensure smooth handover with clear communication at the conclusion of the RSE software development.

Skills

Python for ML

ML libraries

Production deployment

CI/CD

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud platforms

Distributed computing

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud tooling (AWS/GCP/Azure)

Job description

University of Delaware

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer which encourages applications from Minority Group Members, Women, Individuals with Disabilities and Veterans. The University's Notice of Non-Discrimination can be found at http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html

Job No: 501974

Work Type: Staff

Location: Newark, DE

Categories: Information Technology, Full Time

Context of the job:

We are seeking a Research Software Engineer (RSE) to contribute to the development and implementation of AI models, research frameworks, and computational tools with a goal to advance science. This role is ideal for individuals with a passion for AI research, strong programming skills, and a desire to work at the intersection of engineering and scientific discovery. The role will also provide teaching and training opportunities allowing the RSE to balance their time and focus between technical and professional development.

The RSE will be part of the recently established UD’s First State AI Institute (please check out the operational AI Center of Excellence website to see some of the on‑going activities) that aims to drive advancements in machine learning, deep learning, AI and data‑driven intelligence. The Research Software Engineer will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on campus to develop innovative AI solutions that have real‑world impact.

The position includes benefits and competitive salary based on qualifications.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, optimize, and maintain software for AI research projects.
• Collaborate with researchers to implement state‑of‑the‑art machine learning models.
• Work with large‑scale datasets, designing efficient data processing pipelines.
• Support the deployment and scaling of AI models for real‑world applications.
• Contribute to open‑source AI projects and research publications.
• Stay up to date with the latest advancements in AI and machine learning.
• Be an advocate to maintain and improve computing infrastructure for code development.
• Create comprehensive documentation of any software developed.
• Complete user manuals for knowledge transfer, and ensure smooth handover with clear communication at the conclusion of the RSE software development.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of Python experience with ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit‑learn), including optimization and deployment in production environments.
• Strong grasp of AI/ML fundamentals including advanced concepts in model architectures, hyperparameter tuning, and real‑world problem solving.
• Proficiency in software development best practices (version control, testing, debugging), including CI/CD, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and robust debugging techniques.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and parallel computing, with a focus on cost‑efficient and scalable model deployment.
• Skilled in working with medium‑to‑large scale multicore and heterogeneous (CPU + GPU) clusters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience with deep learning model training, evaluation, and distributed computing.
• Contributions to AI research and open‑source projects.
• Strong collaboration skills across scientific disciplines.
• Leadership or project management experience.
• Ability to design and teach AI modules or training sessions.
• Experience presenting research in publications, seminars, or conferences.

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity:

The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.