Senior Scientific Computing Software Developer

Applied-Research-Associates,-Inc; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mission, Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Senior Scientific Computing Software Developer for our Alexandria, VA location.

The role focuses on refactoring legacy Fortran into Rust and developing tools to assist users with simulation setup and analysis, with future work on high-performance computing platforms and ML-accelerated tools. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in physics, mathematics, or engineering, a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computational science, computer science, physics, or engineering.
• Experience with Rust and at least one of Fortran, C, or C++.
• Minimum 8 years experience (6 with Masters, 3 with PhD).
• Strong programming skills in Windows and Linux environments.
• Must be a US citizen and able to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Refactor existing code bases with a focus on verification and validation of model predictions.
• Implement new material models or numerical techniques in physics-based codes.
• Updating legacy codes to meet modern software cybersecurity requirements.
• Utilize high performance computing resources to run sophisticated, high-fidelity simulations.
• Perform modeling analysis and provide technical guidance in support of customer objectives.
• Work with customers to determine potential areas of interest and provide solutions with new or existing computational approaches.

Skills

Rust

Fortran

C

C++

Windows

Linux

Security clearance

US citizen

Education

Bachelor's degree in computational science or related field

Master's or PhD (preferred)

Tools

CUBIT

ParaView

VisIt

High-performance computing

Job description

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following our Accessibility Accomodation for Applicants page.

Senior Scientific Computing Software Developer

• Posted on September 23, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location

• On-site
• Scientific/Analytical
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: SENIO010107

Description

The Mission, Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Senior Scientific Computing Software Developer for our Alexandria, VA location. The ideal candidate has interests in developing scientific computing software for a wide range of users. The candidate should have significant experience in developing scientific computing code with Rust, as well as running computational models to perform analysis and predictions of weapons effects. As such, a proficiency in physics, mathematics, or engineering is highly desirable. The initial focus of this position will be to assist with refactoring legacy Fortran codebases to modern Rust, as well as developing tools to assist users with simulation setup and analysis. Future projects will include software development for high performance computing platforms, using machine learning techniques to create faster running tools and reduced order models, among others. This position will place you in a team of engineers and scientists developing modeling, simulation, and analysis tools to address weapons effects environments for the Department of War. Our culture encourages personal and professional growth by pushing the limits of technology while creating opportunities for cross-training and mentoring within the team. The Computational Scientist may be required to:

• Refactor existing code bases with a focus on verification and validation of model predictions
• Implement new material models or numerical techniques in physics-based codes
• Updating legacy codes to meet modern software cybersecurity requirements
• Utilize high performance computing resources to run sophisticated, high-fidelity simulations
• Perform modeling analysis and provide technical guidance in support of customer objectives
• Work with customers to determine potential areas of interest and provide solutions with new or existing computational approaches

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computational science, computer science, physics, or engineering.
• Education or experience with computational methods for fluid dynamics or structural mechanics
• Minimum 8 years experience (6 with Masters, 3 with PhD)
• Strong Programming skills to include experience with Rust and at least one of Fortran, C, or C++
• Software development in both Windows and Linux Environments
• Must be a US citizen
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in computational science, computer science, geophysics, or geotechnical engineering.
• Proficiency in mathematics, physics, and / or engineering.
• Experience applying machine learning to physics based models
• Experience with Linux based high performance computers
• Experience with meshing software such as CUBIT
• Experience with scientific computing visualization tools such as ParaView or VisIt

Compensation & Benefits:Pay Ranges: From $120,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position. We mostly reserve the upper half of our compensation bands for internal growth. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 1700 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. We build a positive and collaborative work environment grounded in trust and professional respect that enables each member to effectively contribute to our development efforts, create new concepts and ideas, enable lifelong learning, and pursue work that ignites each owner’s professional passions. Ultimately, we want each team member to assert that this is the best job they have ever had, whether it is the first professional experience out of college or the last job before retirement. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com .

Behaviors

Required

Team Player : Works well as a member of a group

Innovative : Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking

Enthusiastic : Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Detail Oriented : Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Dedicated : Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Motivations

Required

Self-Starter : Inspired to perform without outside help

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Computational Science or related field.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.