Research Computing Software Engineer

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. This role supports classified research and development and cloud computing (HPC) environments.

About the role

The Visualization and Decision Support Division (VDS) researches, develops, and applies technical innovations that provide Decision Advantage through 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 is 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 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 include:

• 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

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• For Scientific Computing Software Specialist (ARL) - Senior Professional: 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• For Scientific Computing Software Specialist (ARL) - Advanced Professional: 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• U.S. citizenship (required for security clearance eligibility)

Skills

Required:

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

Preferred:

• Active or recently active TS/SCI clearance
• Master's degree in Geography

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off (holidays, vacation, and sick time)
• 75% tuition discount for employees, eligible spouses, and children

Pay

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $174,708.00.