Research Software Engineer (Entry Level)

Key Skills

JavaScript, Java Programming, Python Programming, MongoDB, C++, Database, SQL, Azure, AWS, Big Data Technology, Apache Hadoop, Machine learning techniques, Data Visualization, Data Modeling, Data Analytics, PostgreSQL, R Programming, SPARK Programming, Julia

Job Description

Research Software Engineers at the RAND Corporation work in a multidisciplinary environment in support of research on a wide range of issues spanning health care, education and labor, social and economic wellbeing, national security, and military manpower. Research Software Engineers work closely with research staff in creating and managing applications to support research projects. Research Software Engineers are expected to acquire an understanding of the research topic and apply their programming and analytic skills to the research needs.

The position requires gathering requirements from users, designing software products with researchers, implementing designs in code, and iterating with users and researchers to ensure functional and quality requirements are met. The selected candidate will work on project teams of research staff and domain experts and must be comfortable acting as part of a small team of software engineers. Technical needs will vary by project so the selected candidate must be a generalist interested in gaining experience in more than one of the following application paradigms: web, mobile, desktop, database, modeling & simulation, and data analytics such as machine learning, statistical analysis, or visualization.

Responsibilities:

Proactive communication with project teams, including explaining software design, software development progress, and software tool results

Some of the following tasks:

• Developing in part interactive applications including the graphical user interface, back-end server components, and/or databases
• Developing applications or scripts to data mine, analyze, and visualize data sets, often developing expertise in that data
• Providing technical inputs into computer programming and software integration, software transition/migration and software management activities
• Limited participation in software development QA activities
• Writing documentation of software and software tool results for inclusion in client briefings and RAND publications

Required Qualifications

Experience with any of the following programming languages:

• Web programming languages (e.g., JavaScript)
• Database platforms (e.g., MongoDB, PostgreSQL)
• Data analysis languages (e.g., R, Julia)
• General programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
• Willingness to pick up new tools and technologies on a frequent basis
• Some experience with software testing, including unit, integration, and/or acceptance testing
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Works best as part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in a research environment

Experience with any of the following:

• Web application development
• UI/UX Design
• Modeling and Simulation
• Cloud service providers like AWS or Azure and tools in those ecosystems'
• Big data analytic platforms like Hadoop or Spark

Education

• BA/BS required, MA/MS preferred, preferably in computer science or highly related field such as information systems, computer engineering, etc.

Experience

• 2 years minimum relevant experience required.

Security Clearance

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance is preferred.

Writing Sample/Coding Sample Required

• Applicants will be required to provide Code sample(s) -related work uploaded as a writing sample.