Job Summary
Senior Research Software Engineer
Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC) - Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN
The Senior Research Software Engineer will play a key role in advancing the mission of the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing by building and supporting innovative computational tools that enable cutting-edge climate research for the Midwest Regional Climate Center. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers and technical experts while contributing to impactful work that informs communities, industry, and decision-makers.
Position overview
As a Senior Research Software Engineer, you will support the Midwest Regional Climate Center as an integral member of the research team, facilitating the effective use of large-scale research computing systems and modern software engineering practices. You will partner with researchers to translate complex scientific questions into robust, scalable software solutions and data workflows that accelerate discovery and insight.
Key responsibilities
- Lead full-stack application development for new and existing MRCC research projects, from design through deployment and maintenance.
- Develop, optimize, and maintain computational tools, data pipelines, and services that streamline data analysis and enable effective use of large-scale computing resources.
- Analyze operations and research data, diagnose a wide range of computing and data issues, and design, code, test, debug, and document complex software systems.
- Collaborate closely with MRCC researchers, Research Computing and Data (e.g., RCAC) staff, national partners, and vendors to evaluate and implement novel computing and data technologies.
- Utilize creativity and innovation to solve challenging computation and data problems raised by researchers, proposing new approaches and tools where appropriate.
- Conduct regular training workshops and consultation sessions for researchers on computational tools, best practices, and emerging technologies.
- Participate in national computing and climate data activities, including workshops and conferences, with opportunities to present research software and collaborative work.
What you’ll bring
- Significant experience in software engineering, including full-stack development, data-intensive applications, and/or scientific or research computing
- Proficiency in modern programming languages and frameworks relevant to web applications, data pipelines, and high-performance or cloud computing environments
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team of researchers and technical staff
- Excellent communication skills, with an interest in teaching, training, and partnering with domain scientists
Why Purdue and MRCC
In this role, you will:
- Join a university community that values impact, collaboration, and continuous learning while supporting research that serves the Midwest and beyond
- Work at the intersection of climate science, data, and advanced computing, helping researchers turn complex datasets into actionable insights
- Grow professionally through engagement with campus partners and national communities, while contributing to an environment that supports both personal and professional development
About MRCC
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC), a collaboration between the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and Purdue University, provides climate data services, tools, and research for the nine-state Midwest region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin). Our mission is to make climate information accessible, reliable, and useful for researchers, agencies, and the public.
About Us
Purdue’s RCAC provides access to leading-edge computational and data storage systems as well as expertise in a broad range of high-performance computing activities. To fulfill our mission, we:
- provide advanced computational resources and services to support Purdue faculty and staff researchers
- evaluate, deploy, and support hardware and software for large-scale scientific computing
- promote effective use of our research computing systems and application software through training and education, consultation, and documentation
- contribute to the discovery process through algorithm design and development of effective computing techniques
When you join Purdue University, you join a community that keeps moving forward. For more than 150 years, we’ve been known for not only our groundbreaking work in STEM research, but also for our collective imagination, ingenuity and innovation.
What We're Looking For
Education and Experience Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field. A degree in a relevant scientific field such as Atmospheric or Environmental Science, is also acceptable when supported by extensive full-stack application development experience
- Four (4) years of professional experience in
- Designing and developing computing and data-driven applications, libraries, software tools, web applications
- Using common programming languages, tools, and techniques including Python/C/C++/Java, scripting languages such as Shell, databases (SQL), or web applications
- working with researchers to integrate computing techniques into research activities
- An equivalent combination of education and/or experience will be accepted
Skills Needed:
- Ability to:
- work on a team with various backgrounds
- plan, organize and prioritize tasks, and complete projects with minimal supervision
- Experience in designing and developing software solutions
- Knowledge of:
- Linux operating system and container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
- scripting languages, i.e. Shell, PHP, Python
- version control software, i.e. GIT
- software engineering principles
Preferred:
- Knowledge of:
- commercial and public domain software packages and tools
- web development frameworks, high-performance and high-throughput computing software and tools, or machine learning/deep learning methods and frameworks
- Good verbal and written English communication skills including the ability to consult with researchers, make presentations, develop and present training material, and develop documentation
Additional Information:
- Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
- A background check will be required for employment in this position
- FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime)
- Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contribution Waiting Period
- Benefit Statement: Purdue University offers a substantial Benefit Package including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous paid time off package for sick and vacation days
Career Stream
Professional 3
- Pay Band S120
- Job Code #20003220
Career pathmaker: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/careerpathmaker/
The anticipated annual salary for this position is between $78,000 and $80,000 commensurate with the candidate’s education and experience. The final salary offer will be determined based on a variety of factors, including equity, available budget, educational background, and relevant experience.
Who We Are
Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Purdue University is an EOE employer.