H-1B Visa Research Software Engineer Jobs
Research Software Engineer jobs at H-1B visa sponsoring employers sit squarely in specialty occupation territory, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field. These roles appear across university research labs, national laboratories, biotech firms, and tech-driven enterprises, all of which regularly file H-1B petitions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Data Science and Systems Integration (DSSI) division at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) develops scientific software to orchestrate experiments, including control systems, automation, networking, data management, and analysis.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is seeking a Research Software Engineer / Data Scientist to join the Data Science and Systems Integration (DSSI) Division at the National Synchrotron Light Source-II (NSLS-II). This unique position is in part supported by the ILLUMINE initiative, a DOE-wide collaboration advancing intelligent experiment steering and in part by the Genesis Mission BES AI Pathfinder Program to support the automatic analysis of powder diffraction data. These projects support and complement each other to deliver unique world leading capabilities to NSLS-II's users.
The successful candidate will contribute to the development of cutting-edge software infrastructure that powers intelligent beamline control and experimental methods and will contribute to the automation of Powder Diffraction data reduction and analysis. You will help build critical technologies for self-driving beamlines by integrating AI-driven decision-making directly into experimental workflows, accelerating scientific discovery across all six DOE light and neutron sources. You will help apply all of these developments in practical applications.
This role offers an outstanding opportunity to work with artificial intelligence, high-performance scientific software, and advanced x-ray diffraction. The position focuses on fundamental software engineering, AI/ML integration, and real-time data systems with direct impact on beamline operations and user science at NSLS-II and across the DOE complex.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop, deploy, and maintain open-source software for experiment planning, control, and data acquisition within the Bluesky/Tiled ecosystem.
- Develop tools to automate and streamline the processing and analysis of powder diffraction data.
- Collaborate with scientists and engineers to integrate AI algorithms into beamline operations and enable intelligent experiment steering.
- Provide user-facing support, training, and documentation while publishing and presenting results to the broader community.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s and 8+ years, or Master’s and 6+ years, or Doctorate and +2 years post-PhD in physics, chemistry, material science, biology, computational science, an engineering discipline or closely related field of study.
- Proficiency in Python or C++ programming.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.
- Self-motivated, with a strong ability to learn quickly and adapt to new challenges.
- Experience with scientific instrument data acquisition and analysis.
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Expertise in powder diffraction data analysis methods.
- Experience managing distributed software systems.
- Contributions to community-led open-source projects.
- Familiarity with data acquisition and analysis at a synchrotron light source, neutron source, or other major scientific facility.
- Experience in developing and deploying AI models.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate on distributed software development teams.
- Experience with HTTP APIs and Microservices.
- Experience with containerization technologies (docker or Kubernetes).
- Familiarity with message bus solutions such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, or ZeroMQ.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The full salary range for this position is $104,700.00 - $150,733.00 / year. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program.
Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.
As a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory requires employees to obtain and maintain a DOE Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) credential in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) requirements. The credentialing process is completed as part of onboarding and enables access to DOE facilities and information systems. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a UPIV credential. These requirements are established under DOE Order 206.2 Chg. 2, Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM), and DOE Order 473.1A- Physical Protection Program.
About us
Brookhaven National Laboratory delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer-Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file
INTRODUCTION
The Data Science and Systems Integration (DSSI) division at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) develops scientific software to orchestrate experiments, including control systems, automation, networking, data management, and analysis.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is seeking a Research Software Engineer / Data Scientist to join the Data Science and Systems Integration (DSSI) Division at the National Synchrotron Light Source-II (NSLS-II). This unique position is in part supported by the ILLUMINE initiative, a DOE-wide collaboration advancing intelligent experiment steering and in part by the Genesis Mission BES AI Pathfinder Program to support the automatic analysis of powder diffraction data. These projects support and complement each other to deliver unique world leading capabilities to NSLS-II's users.
The successful candidate will contribute to the development of cutting-edge software infrastructure that powers intelligent beamline control and experimental methods and will contribute to the automation of Powder Diffraction data reduction and analysis. You will help build critical technologies for self-driving beamlines by integrating AI-driven decision-making directly into experimental workflows, accelerating scientific discovery across all six DOE light and neutron sources. You will help apply all of these developments in practical applications.
This role offers an outstanding opportunity to work with artificial intelligence, high-performance scientific software, and advanced x-ray diffraction. The position focuses on fundamental software engineering, AI/ML integration, and real-time data systems with direct impact on beamline operations and user science at NSLS-II and across the DOE complex.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop, deploy, and maintain open-source software for experiment planning, control, and data acquisition within the Bluesky/Tiled ecosystem.
- Develop tools to automate and streamline the processing and analysis of powder diffraction data.
- Collaborate with scientists and engineers to integrate AI algorithms into beamline operations and enable intelligent experiment steering.
- Provide user-facing support, training, and documentation while publishing and presenting results to the broader community.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s and 8+ years, or Master’s and 6+ years, or Doctorate and +2 years post-PhD in physics, chemistry, material science, biology, computational science, an engineering discipline or closely related field of study.
- Proficiency in Python or C++ programming.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.
- Self-motivated, with a strong ability to learn quickly and adapt to new challenges.
- Experience with scientific instrument data acquisition and analysis.
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Expertise in powder diffraction data analysis methods.
- Experience managing distributed software systems.
- Contributions to community-led open-source projects.
- Familiarity with data acquisition and analysis at a synchrotron light source, neutron source, or other major scientific facility.
- Experience in developing and deploying AI models.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate on distributed software development teams.
- Experience with HTTP APIs and Microservices.
- Experience with containerization technologies (docker or Kubernetes).
- Familiarity with message bus solutions such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, or ZeroMQ.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The full salary range for this position is $104,700.00 - $150,733.00 / year. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program.
Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.
As a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory requires employees to obtain and maintain a DOE Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) credential in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) requirements. The credentialing process is completed as part of onboarding and enables access to DOE facilities and information systems. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a UPIV credential. These requirements are established under DOE Order 206.2 Chg. 2, Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM), and DOE Order 473.1A- Physical Protection Program.
About us
Brookhaven National Laboratory delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer-Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Research Software Engineer
Align your degree to the role
USCIS evaluates whether your specific degree field directly relates to research software engineering duties. A degree in computer science, computational science, or software engineering strengthens your petition. A general business or unrelated STEM degree creates RFE risk, so document coursework that maps to your role.
Look up prevailing wages before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the wage level before you receive an offer, so you can assess whether the salary meets the legal floor for your city.
Target research institutions and national labs
Universities and federally funded research institutions often qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers, letting you skip the annual cap entirely. If your role involves direct research at one of these organizations, you can file year-round without waiting for the selection cycle to open.
Find verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Identifying employers with a real H-1B filing history for research software roles saves time and avoids dead ends. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship records, so you can focus your applications on organizations that have already navigated the process for this role type.
Confirm each worksite before your start date
If your research role involves working at a client site, partner lab, or secondary campus location, your employer must file a separate certified LCA for each worksite address before you work there. Confirm this with HR before accepting, especially in multi-site or hybrid research arrangements.
Treat the O*NET profile as your petition foundation
O*NET lists the core tasks and required education for research software engineers. Your employer's I-129 petition and support letter should reflect the O*NET-defined duties, particularly those requiring a specific bachelor's degree, to satisfy USCIS's specialty occupation definition and reduce RFE exposure.
H-1B Visa Research Software Engineer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Software Engineer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, Research Software Engineer roles typically qualify as specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field. USCIS evaluates the specific duties and the employer's hiring norms, so the job description should clearly reflect degree-level research and engineering responsibilities rather than general programming tasks.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Research Software Engineers?
Universities, national laboratories, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and large technology firms are among the most active H-1B sponsors for research software roles. Many academic and federally funded research institutions are cap-exempt, allowing year-round filing. You can search employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for this role type on Migrate Mate.
How long does H-1B status last for a Research Software Engineer?
H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years. Extensions beyond six years are possible only if a PERM labor certification or an I-140 immigrant petition has been filed and meets specific age-of-filing thresholds, allowing you to remain in H-1B status while pursuing permanent residence.
What is a Labor Condition Application and why does it matter for this role?
An LCA is a DOL certification your employer files before submitting your H-1B petition to USCIS. It attests that your offered wage meets the prevailing wage for your specific SOC code and work location. For research software roles, the SOC code selection matters because it determines the wage floor. Each distinct worksite requires its own certified LCA.
Can a Research Software Engineer on H-1B change employers mid-status?
Yes, H-1B portability allows you to start working for a new employer once they file an H-1B transfer petition on your behalf, without waiting for USCIS approval, provided your current status was lawfully maintained. The new employer must file a fresh LCA and I-129 for the new position, and each worksite must be covered under the new certified LCA.