Manufacturing Software Research Engineer

CCAM • Disputanta, VA

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Manufacturing Software Research Engineer plays a key role in designing, developing, and integrating software systems for advanced manufacturing research, with a strong focus on machine learning, data science, and sensor integration. The engineer will work on internal research and cooperative development projects, supporting both CCAM teams and member organizations in expanding digital manufacturing capabilities. The role combines hands-on software development with applied analytics to derive actionable insights from complex manufacturing datasets. This is a collaborative, on-site role working in a dynamic R&D setting. The Research Engineer will work closely with other Researchers and Industry Partners and must be comfortable engaging in cross-functional projects that blend software, hardware, and analytical thinking.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of professional experience in software development, data analysis, and machine learning.
• Strong programming experience in Python and at least one of C++ or C#.
• JavaScript Development, TypeScript and REACT.
• Demonstrated experience in: Network-based data communication (TCP, APIs)
• Data visualization and analysis
• Image processing (especially with OpenCV)
• Working with 2D/3D data and time-series datasets
• Experience integrating systems using middleware (Zenoh, MQTT, DDS, or similar).
• Experience in developing software for use in production environments.
• Familiarity with Docker, databases (SQL, Influx), and data storage tools (MinIO or similar).
• Strong communication and technical presentation skills.
• Prior work in research-oriented or collaborative development environments.
• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, and lift up to 25lbs as needed.
• This position requires access to technology or intellectual property that is subject to export control requirements. Candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with manufacturing data or hardware, particularly metal 3D printing (LPBF or DED).
• Understanding of the physical principles of additive manufacturing, including build design and part inspection.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 or other robotic platforms.
• Experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Experience in full stack web development, including proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, and Node.js.
• Understanding of modern front-end frameworks such as React.js, Vue, Angular, or Svelte.
• Familiarity with HTML5 custom elements, WebAssembly (WASM), and responsive design.
• Experience with authentication and authorization (e.g., OAuth2, SSO, JWT), RESTful and GraphQL APIs, server-side rendering, and deploying applications to cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.

Responsibilities

• Develop software tools in Python, C++, or C# to support cooperative and member-driven research projects.
• Integrate systems using network protocols (TCP/IP) and middleware such as Zenoh, MQTT, DDS, OPC-UA.
• Create user interfaces for interacting with sensor systems, ML models, and 3D data.
• Utilize Docker for containerization and deployment of applications.
• Support cooperative processing projects by visualizing real-time networked data and performing 3D coordinate transformations.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of sensor and process data from additive manufacturing systems such as Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED).
• Use Python data libraries (NumPy, Pandas, OpenCV, Matplotlib) to identify features and anomalies in time-series and spatial datasets.
• Perform data parsing from custom formats and interact with databases using custom queries.
• Develop high-impact data visualizations to share findings with internal teams and external partners.
• Apply critical thinking to test hypotheses about manufacturing processes and part performance.
• Design and train models for segmentation, classification, and regression using Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Apply machine learning to both numeric and image-based datasets.
• Conduct model tuning and evaluation, including hyperparameter optimization and data augmentation.
• Analyze and interpret results from experiments and integrate ML into real-time systems where applicable.
• Collaborate with CCAM partners to understand software needs in advanced manufacturing.
• Research, evaluate, and test third-party process intelligence tools for suitability.
• Develop and execute evaluation plans and present findings to internal stakeholders and member companies.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision insurance plan options; eligible on first of month following date of hire.
• HRA – Health Reimbursement Account (employer funded, covers a portion of the medical deductible).
• FSA – Flexible spending Account (employee funded, pre-tax).
• 401k Retirement Plan – Employer contributes 3% of base salary monthly; additional discretionary match up to 7.5% determined annually.
• Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Short Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability insurance (employer funded).
• 3 weeks paid vacation.
• 2 weeks paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave.
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5250.00 per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level