Remote Research Software Engineer Jobs
Remote Research Software Engineer jobs are open across academic computing centers, national laboratories, biotech companies, and technology-driven research organizations hiring distributed teams. Roles range from early-career positions at open-source research groups to senior and staff-level engineers on established remote teams. Employers hiring remotely right now include Penn State University, CPMC, and ABI Research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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See related jobsAPPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants .
POSITION SPECIFICS
We are searching for a Software Research and Development Engineer to join the Command and Control Software Solutions Department of the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State. Our team works at the intersection of software development, data modeling, simulation, and sensor systems—building tools that improve decision-making, automation, and system performance. You will work with our team to integrate diverse sensor types, data sources, and analytical methods to solve complex national security challenges.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Develop and test software components for data-driven applications, including front-end and back-end functionality
- Leverage modern development tools including AI assistants to write, test, and document high-quality code efficiently
- Work with engineers and scientists to implement algorithms, models, and data processing pipelines
- Apply engineering fundamentals to solve technical problems and contribute to system design decisions
- Support the design and execution of experiments and testing activities, including data collection and analysis
- Assist in integrating software into prototype systems and participate in demonstrations to stakeholders
- Communicate results and ideas through clear documentation, presentations, and visualizations
- Collaborate in a team environment and contribute to technical discussions, design reviews, and problem-solving efforts
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
- Programming language such as Python, Java, Rust, or C++
- Basic software development practices (debugging, version control, testing)
- Ability to apply foundational mathematics or statistics concepts
- Interest in working in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment
- Strong communication skills and eagerness to learn, adapt, and grow
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret/ SCI level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required.
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
- Degree in Computer Science or Mathematics
- Data processing, modeling, or visualization
- Exposure to sensor systems, embedded systems, or robotics
- Agile development practices (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)
- Common development tools (e.g., Git, IDEs)
- Basic DevOps skills, including experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines
- Coursework or projects in areas such as machine learning, signal processing, or simulation
Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA but options exist for hybrid of on-site/work from home based on project-dependent ability. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as R&D Engineer - Software (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
2+ years of relevant experience
Required Certifications:
None

If filled as R&D Engineer - Software (ARL) - Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
No prior relevant work experience required
Required Certifications:
NoneARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu .
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL):
Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $174,708.00.Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page .
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants .
POSITION SPECIFICS
We are searching for a Software Research and Development Engineer to join the Command and Control Software Solutions Department of the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State. Our team works at the intersection of software development, data modeling, simulation, and sensor systems—building tools that improve decision-making, automation, and system performance. You will work with our team to integrate diverse sensor types, data sources, and analytical methods to solve complex national security challenges.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
- Develop and test software components for data-driven applications, including front-end and back-end functionality
- Leverage modern development tools including AI assistants to write, test, and document high-quality code efficiently
- Work with engineers and scientists to implement algorithms, models, and data processing pipelines
- Apply engineering fundamentals to solve technical problems and contribute to system design decisions
- Support the design and execution of experiments and testing activities, including data collection and analysis
- Assist in integrating software into prototype systems and participate in demonstrations to stakeholders
- Communicate results and ideas through clear documentation, presentations, and visualizations
- Collaborate in a team environment and contribute to technical discussions, design reviews, and problem-solving efforts
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
- Programming language such as Python, Java, Rust, or C++
- Basic software development practices (debugging, version control, testing)
- Ability to apply foundational mathematics or statistics concepts
- Interest in working in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment
- Strong communication skills and eagerness to learn, adapt, and grow
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Top Secret/ SCI level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required.
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
- Degree in Computer Science or Mathematics
- Data processing, modeling, or visualization
- Exposure to sensor systems, embedded systems, or robotics
- Agile development practices (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)
- Common development tools (e.g., Git, IDEs)
- Basic DevOps skills, including experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines
- Coursework or projects in areas such as machine learning, signal processing, or simulation
Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA but options exist for hybrid of on-site/work from home based on project-dependent ability. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as R&D Engineer - Software (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
2+ years of relevant experience
Required Certifications:
None

If filled as R&D Engineer - Software (ARL) - Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
No prior relevant work experience required
Required Certifications:
NoneARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu .
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL):
Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $174,708.00.Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page .
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
See All 5 Remote Research Software Engineer Jobs
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Find JobsRemote Research Software Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in remote research software engineer jobs.
- Proficiency in Python and at least one compiled language such as C++ or Fortran
- Experience developing software in a research, academic, or scientific computing environment
- Familiarity with version control systems and collaborative development workflows
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, computational science, or a related field
- Experience with high-performance computing environments, job schedulers, or parallel programming models
- Ability to collaborate with domain scientists and translate research needs into software solutions
Tips for Your Remote Research Software Engineer Job Search
Apply early to remote roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists remote research software engineer openings from across the U.S. in one place, so you can find roles that match your stack and research domain and apply directly without sifting through non-remote listings.
Show your code in a reproducible public repository
Remote hiring managers for research software roles rely on visible work to evaluate candidates. Publish clean, documented repositories that demonstrate reproducible results, well-structured scientific code, and familiarity with version control workflows like Git.
Signal async fluency in your application materials
Remote research teams prize written clarity above all. Your cover letter and any work samples should demonstrate that you can document decisions, explain technical trade-offs in writing, and communicate progress without synchronous check-ins.
Target research-specific remote communities for openings
Openings for remote research software engineers often circulate through domain-specific forums, scientific computing mailing lists, and open-source project channels before appearing on general job boards. Staying active in those communities surfaces roles earlier.
Remote Research Software Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a remote research software engineer job?
Target remote-first research organizations, national labs with distributed computing teams, and biotech or AI companies that run fully remote engineering groups. Remote employers screen for self-directed work habits, strong async written communication, and proficiency in research-oriented tools like Python, C++, Julia, or domain-specific simulation frameworks. A public code portfolio on GitHub showing reproducible research software gives you a clear edge over candidates with equivalent credentials but no visible work.
Which companies hire remote research software engineers?
Employers currently hiring remote research software engineers include Penn State University, CPMC, and ABI Research, per current remote listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Remote openings for this role are common at research-focused technology companies, national laboratories operating distributed teams, and biotech firms building computational infrastructure.
Can you get a remote research software engineer job with no experience?
Yes, but remote entry roles in research software engineering are harder to land because you need to demonstrate independent problem-solving from day one. Open-source research projects, reproducible computational notebooks, and contributions to scientific software libraries are the most effective substitutes for formal experience. Remote-first startups and academic computing collaborations are the most likely entry points for candidates without a full professional history.
Do you need a degree for remote research software engineer jobs?
Usually, but the specific degree matters less than domain knowledge and demonstrable software skills. Many remote employers in this field value a background in a scientific discipline, mathematics, or engineering as much as a computer science credential. A strong portfolio of research software, peer-reviewed contributions, or open-source work in a relevant domain can offset a non-traditional educational path.
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