Research Software Engineer (Temporary)

Requisition Id 16073 

 

Overview:  

We are seeking a Research Software Engineer who will focus on developing software to help create the digital factory of the future, assist industry in optimizing their organizations, and supporting the energy needs of the public. The successful candidate must be a highly motivated, self-starter who is comfortable working as part of a team. We’re looking for a proactive, collaborative engineer who thrives both independently and on a team, with excellent written and verbal communication skills. You’re strong in modern front‑end development with Vue and TypeScript and in building, documenting, and consuming APIs. On the back end, you have hands‑on experience with Python, Django, and Django REST Framework to design reliable, secure RESTful services. You write effective unit tests and test cases across the stack and are comfortable with end‑to‑end testing. You actively participate in GitLab workflows—creating and reviewing Merge Requests, providing thoughtful code reviews, and working with CI pipelines. Database experience is preferred, with PostgreSQL and/or MySQL. Bonus points for OpenAPI/Swagger, authentication and authorization patterns, Docker and containerized dev, performance tuning, and modern CSS. This position resides in the Research Application Development in the Secure and Digital Manufacturing Section, Manufacturing Science Division, Energy Science and Technology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Develop software as a part of a team of research application software engineers, computer scientists, and engineers.
• Work with researchers and project sponsors as needed to gather requirements, present your work, demonstrate your software, and elicit feedback.
• Support R&D staff in disseminating results in peer reviewed journals, articles, technical reports, whitepapers, presentations, and seminars.
• General support of research and development needs within the MDF.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• A BS degree in computer science or related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience in software engineering

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Able to develop and optimize CI/CD pipelines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

 

Special Requirements:

• This is a temporary 12-month position.  The appointment length will be up to 12 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

 

For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.  Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

 

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation.  This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year.  This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

 

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment.  Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to