Research Software Developer

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

22h

About The Position

The Research Software Developer will contribute to the design, development, and operation of cloud-native computing environments that support research and data-driven projects at the Renaissance Computing Institute ( RENCI ). This role focuses on building foundational software components and workflows while developing skills in modern research software engineering practices. Responsibilities include: 1. Implementing data structures, algorithms, and research workflows 2. Assisting with DevOps and automation practices, including continuous integration pipelines and deployment workflows 3. Supporting improvements to security, reliability, and observability, such as automated testing, vulnerability scanning, and performance monitoring The Research Software Developer will work closely with senior engineers, RENCI management, and research partners to understand requirements, implement features, demonstrate functionality, and incorporate user feedback. This position provides strong opportunities for mentorship, skill development, and professional growth within a collaborative research environment.

Requirements

• Foundational experience in software development, demonstrated through coursework, academic projects, internships, or early-career professional experience
• Experience with at least one major programming language such as Python or Java.
• Familiarity with software engineering fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, version control, and debugging
• Basic experience working in Linux or command-line environments
• Introductory understanding of one or more of the following: - Object-oriented or functional programming concepts - Databases or data storage systems - Cloud or container-based environments - Authentication and authorization concepts
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based, iterative development environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, curiosity, and a willingness to learn new technologies

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Exposure through coursework or projects to: - Docker containers - Kubernetes or cloud platforms - CI/CD tools and workflows
• Interest in research computing, data science platforms, or cyberinfrastructure
• Experience working on collaborative software projects (academic, open-source, or internship-based)

Responsibilities

• Implementing data structures, algorithms, and research workflows
• Assisting with DevOps and automation practices, including continuous integration pipelines and deployment workflows
• Supporting improvements to security, reliability, and observability, such as automated testing, vulnerability scanning, and performance monitoring
• Work closely with senior engineers, RENCI management, and research partners to understand requirements, implement features, demonstrate functionality, and incorporate user feedback.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level