Junior Scientific Software Developer

University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent South African university in Johannesburg is seeking a research programmer to optimise performance through advanced numerical and AI-based methods. The ideal candidate should have a master's degree or higher in a relevant field and strong programming skills in Python and/or C++. Responsibilities include coding, documentation, and contributing to academic publications within an international research team.

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++.
• Demonstrated ability to develop efficient, well-structured, and maintainable code.
• Proven research track record, including contributions to publications.

Responsibilities

• Write robust, efficient, and well-documented code.
• Collaborate with researchers and technical staff.
• Apply advanced numerical and AI-based methods.

Skills

Python

C++

Collaborative coding

Version control

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

MSc or higher in Computer Science or related

Job description

Overview

Brief Description

Responsibilities

• Write robust, efficient, and well-documented code to optimise performance
• Collaborate with researchers and technical staff to understand requirements and deliver solutions
• Apply advanced numerical and AI-based methods to accelerate simulations and data analysis
• Produce high-quality documentation and contribute to knowledge sharing
• Support the wider project research goals through coding, testing, and optimisation cycles
• Contribute to academic publications, including co-authoring papers and preparing supplementary materials such as figures, datasets, and code repositories
• Assist in the preparation of research reports, grant deliverables, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders
• Participate in regular team meetings, collaborative planning sessions, and cross-institutional discussions
• Provide technical support to other team members and assist with troubleshooting and mentoring as required
• Undertake additional tasks that support the research programme and institutional goals, as directed by the project lead

Minimum Requirements

• MSc or higher in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, or related
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or C++
• Demonstrated ability to develop efficient, well-structured, and maintainable code
• Experience with collaborative coding environments and version control
• Proven research track record, including contributions to publications, technical reports, or open-source projects
• Strong communication, collaboration, and organisational skills within an international research project team

Desirable Experience

• Experience building and/or training neural networks
• Background in scientific computing environments
• Knowledge of statistics and/or Monte Carlo simulation methods