Software Engineer
About the role
We are seeking a Software Engineer to design, develop, and support mission-critical applications and data systems using Python and Microsoft SQL Server. Working closely with business stakeholders and technical teams, you'll build reliable, scalable, and user-focused solutions that support our organization's mission. We're looking for a curious, growth-oriented engineer who takes ownership, solves complex problems, and continuously builds expertise in our systems and business.
What You'll Do
- Software Development
- Design, develop, test, and maintain applications and services using Python.
- Write clean, maintainable, and scalable code following established engineering best practices.
- Participate in code reviews and help maintain high standards for quality, consistency, and reliability.
- Improve application performance, automation, and development processes through continuous refinement and innovation.
- Leverage AI-assisted development tools responsibly to improve productivity, code quality, and user outcomes.
- Improve application performance, automation, and development processes through continuous refinement and innovation.
- Participate in code reviews and help maintain high standards for quality, consistency, and reliability.
- Write clean, maintainable, and scalable code following established engineering best practices.
- Design, develop, test, and maintain applications and services using Python.
- Design, develop, and maintain SQL Server databases, queries, stored procedures, functions, views, and jobs.
- Analyze and optimize database performance using indexing, query tuning, and execution plan analysis.
- Troubleshoot database issues and support production problem resolution.
- Monitor scheduled jobs, data processing workflows, and system integrations to ensure reliable operation.
- Troubleshoot database issues and support production problem resolution.
- Analyze and optimize database performance using indexing, query tuning, and execution plan analysis.
- Collaborate with database administrators and infrastructure teams to maintain performance, availability, and data integrity.
Collaboration and Technical Leadership
- Partner with business stakeholders and technical teams to understand requirements, evaluate tradeoffs, and deliver effective solutions.
- Create and maintain technical documentation, including system architecture, data flows, process diagrams, and operational procedures.
- Mentor junior engineers through technical guidance, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.
- Help establish and maintain Python development standards and engineering best practices.
- Take ownership of technical challenges while balancing user experience, business needs, reliability, security, and long-term maintainability.
Required Qualifications
- Professional experience developing software with Python.
- Experience working with Microsoft SQL Server, including complex queries, stored procedures, functions, and performance optimization.
- Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs.
- A strong understanding of software engineering principles, design patterns, testing practices, and source control.
- Ability to analyze complex technical and business problems and develop practical, scalable solutions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with FastAPI, OpenAPI/Swagger, or similar frameworks.
- Experience mentoring developers or providing technical leadership.
- Experience working in Agile environments.
- Experience with enterprise applications, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, or containerized deployments.
Why Join Us
We're looking for engineers who take ownership, enjoy figuring things out, and are committed to building software that makes a meaningful impact. If you're excited by challenging technical problems, continuous learning, collaborative teamwork, and creating solutions that improve the experience of our users, we'd love to hear from you.
Who we are
The SEI helps advance software engineering principles and practices and serves as a national resource in software engineering, computer security, and process improvement. The SEI works closely with defense and government organizations, industry, and academia to continually improve software-intensive systems. Its core purpose is to help organizations improve software engineering capabilities and develop or acquire the right software, defect-free, within budget and on time, every time.
The Development Team
Works collaboratively with IT, business leaders, and technical staff to create enterprise-level business solutions that help the organization maintain and evolve technologies, business processes, and architectures to deliver a cohesive, and integrated business platform that constantly improves our organizational performance.
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Job Function
Software/Applications Development/Engineering
Position Type
Staff – Regular Full Time/Part time Full time
Pay Basis
Salary
More Information
Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.