Software Development Engineer

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 50,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

The SCI Institute at the University of Utah seeks Software Development Engineer I/II to help design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software supporting AI research, cloud computing, and data infrastructure initiatives on campus.

You will work with researchers, software engineers, PhD students, and PostDocs on AI-ready infrastructure and data systems, across the full SDLC, in a collaborative, innovation-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and related experience.
• Proficiency in Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, Go or similar.
• Experience with cloud platforms, APIs, and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software applications, services, APIs, databases, and cloud-based systems.
• Participate in the full software development lifecycle from requirements to maintenance.
• Develop scalable and reliable solutions for AI, ML, data science, and research computing initiatives.
• Create technical specs, design documents, and implementation plans.
• Support web applications, middleware, data pipelines, and integrated platforms.

Skills

Python

Java

JavaScript

Go

C#

Cloud computing

REST APIs

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Job description

Software Development Engineer

Job Summary

The SCI Institute

The SCI Institute is a world‑class research institute located within the new Warnock Engineering Building on the University of Utah campus. We are a highly dynamic, driven group of over 170 faculty, staff, and students. The overarching goals of the SCI Institute's scientific computing research are to create new techniques, tools, and systems, by which scientists may solve problems affecting various aspects of human life. We believe that to advance the state‑of‑the‑art and create meaningful computational solutions for such complex systems, one needs to advance research in a number of areas within scientific computing, including: visualization, simulation, and modeling. The SCI Institute presents a highly challenging, collaborative work environment that can be deeply rewarding for the right individual. Further information is available at http://www.sci.utah.edu/.

We are seeking multiple Software Development Engineers with experience and interest in state‑of‑the‑art AI technologies, data science, and research software engineering. These positions offer the opportunity to work in a world‑renowned research institute alongside faculty, software engineers, PhD students, and PostDocs on the development of cutting‑edge AI‑ready/agentic infrastructure and data systems.

The Software Development Engineer I/II designs, develops, tests, deploys, and maintains software applications, platforms, and services that support advanced research, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data infrastructure initiatives. This position contributes to the development of scalable, secure, and reliable software solutions that enable AI‑driven innovation, data integration, scientific workflows, and emerging technology adoption.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the Software Development Engineer participates in all phases of the software development lifecycle, including requirements gathering, system design, development, testing, deployment, documentation, and ongoing support. The position collaborates with researchers, scientists, technical staff, government partners, and industry collaborators to develop software solutions that support initiatives, including the NSF‑funded SAFE‑AI (Sandbox for Accelerated Feedback and Experimentation for AI Innovation), and National Data Platform (NDP). This will include development and support of secure AI experimentation environments, cloud‑native applications, federated data platforms, high‑performance computing integrations, and AI‑enabled research ecosystems.

A Software Development Engineer I works under general supervision while building foundational software engineering skills and contributing to project deliverables. A Software Development Engineer II demonstrates increased technical proficiency, contributes to system architecture and design decisions, and independently leads components of software development projects.

Responsibilities

Software Design and Development

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software applications, services, APIs, databases, and cloud‑based systems.
• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, technical design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• Develop scalable and reliable solutions that support AI, machine learning, data science, cloud computing, and research computing initiatives.
• Create technical specifications, design documents, and implementation plans based on project requirements and stakeholder needs.
• Support the development of web applications, middleware, data pipelines, and integrated software platforms.

Cloud, Data, and Infrastructure Engineering

• Develop and maintain cloud‑native solutions using modern cloud platforms and services.
• Design and implement integrations between distributed data repositories, computing resources, and software services.
• Contribute to secure, auditable, and scalable environments for AI experimentation, validation, and deployment.
• Build and maintain APIs, microservices, and data exchange mechanisms that support interoperability across systems.
• Assist with managing application performance, reliability, security, and scalability.

Research and Emerging Technology Support

• Collaborate with researchers and subject matter experts to prototype and implement innovative software solutions.
• Support projects involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, data platforms, scientific workflows, and advanced computing technologies.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, frameworks, and development approaches.
• Participate in proof‑of‑concept development, pilot projects, and technology demonstrations.
• Contribute to the creation of reusable software components and platform capabilities.

Quality Assurance and Support

• Analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve software defects and performance issues.
• Perform unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and debugging activities.
• Review and refactor code to improve maintainability, efficiency, and reliability.
• Monitor deployed applications and support ongoing operational needs.
• Ensure software solutions adhere to security, privacy, compliance, and organizational standards.

Collaboration and Documentation

• Work closely with technical and non‑technical stakeholders to gather requirements and translate business needs into technical solutions.
• Document software architecture, code, deployment procedures, and operational processes.
• Participate in code reviews and knowledge‑sharing activities.
• Support project planning, sprint activities, and Agile development practices.
• Communicate technical concepts and project status effectively to diverse audiences.

Additional Responsibilities for Software Development Engineer II

• Lead technical design and implementation of application components and services.
• Mentor junior developers and provide guidance on software engineering best practices.
• Contribute to architectural decisions, technical standards, and development methodologies.
• Independently manage development tasks and deliverables for complex projects.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:

Software Development Engineer, I

Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience or a master's (or equivalency) degree.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of software engineering principles and development methodologies.
• Programming experience in one or more modern languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, Go, or similar.
• Understanding of database concepts, APIs, and modern web technologies.
• Familiarity with source control systems such as Git.
• Basic understanding of cloud computing concepts and distributed systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot and debug software issues.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Software Development Engineer, II

Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, Go, or similar.
• Experience developing cloud‑native applications and services.
• Experience with databases, APIs, and distributed software architectures.
• Knowledge of software testing, debugging, performance optimization, and security practices.
• Experience using version control, CI/CD pipelines, and modern development workflows.
• Ability to independently analyze requirements and deliver technical solutions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with researchers, technical teams, and external stakeholders.

Preferences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, or data science applications.
• Experience with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, or other cloud environments.
• Experience building data platforms, data pipelines, or federated data systems.
• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience supporting scientific computing, research computing, or high‑performance computing environments.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity, privacy, compliance, or regulated technology environments.
• Experience developing RESTful APIs, microservices, and distributed applications.
• Experience contributing to open‑source software projects.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices, infrastructure as code, and automated deployment pipelines.
• Experience working in collaborative environments involving academia, government, industry, or research organizations.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN46143B

Full Time or Part Time?: Full Time

Work Schedule Summary: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm

Department: 00810 - Scient Comp & Imag Instit-Oper

Location: Campus

Pay Rate Range: Software Dev Eng I- $50,000 to $75,000; Software Dev Eng II- $60,000 to $87,000

Close Date: 11/05/2026