Staff Software Engineer - Interagency Modeling & Simulation Prototype (Contingent)

Our group seeks a full-time Staff Software Engineer to help build an advanced modeling & simulation capability. The position supports a prototype that will be delivered as part of an interagency team to the U.S. Government. You will be working with others as part of an interdisciplinary team where you will develop and deploy machine learning algorithms on specialized datasets across Windows and Linux environments using a containerized workflow.

As a Software Engineer on a multi-disciplinary team, you will apply your knowledge of machine learning algorithms and modeling & simulation building a prototype analysis capability for an inter-agency product development team on high-performance computers. This is a contingent position based on future government funding. This is a hybrid position but candidate will need to live in the National Capitol Region due to meeting responsiveness.

What you’ll do as a Software Engineer:

• You will work with other software engineers, scientists, and subject matter experts developing a critical engineering module in a larger modular system. This specific system begins with pre-processed, sensor-based datasets and passes them to machine learning algorithms that export finished analysis to another module for further analysis and display.

Software Engineer Requirements:

• This contract requires applicant to be a U.S. Citizen.


• Bachelors in any STEM-related field (Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, etc.) with 5-7 years of relevant work experience.


• Must currently have at least a Secret clearance.


• Must have advanced expertise with C++/C and Python.


• Must have intermediate expertise with Bash, PowerShell, Git, Docker or Apptainer.


• Must have experience running numerical computations on workstations or HPCs in the past two (2) years.


• Must have experience running pytorch or tensorflow within the past two (2) years.


• Must have Linux terminal or Windows Power shell experience.


• Experience with memory safe programming languages (Rust/Java) and techniques.

Software Engineer Preferences:

• Masters in any STEM-related field (Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, etc.) with 3-5 years of relevant work experience.


• More than three (3) years’ experience with software projects supporting high performance computing (HPC), machine learning (ML), and graphical processing units (GPUs).


• Ability to set up and configure Windows Subsystem Linux (WSL).


• Set up Python or C++ projects and explain in detail how they work to non-experts.


• Ability to compile and build software including compiler flags and dependencies.


• Ability to compile MS Visual Studio (not Code) or CMake projects on Windows or Linux.


• Experience with software development projects associated with satellites and space.


• Previous history working with interagency teams and national laboratories.


• Experience with projects associated with the Intelligence Community.

Company & Division Information:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2,215 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging and innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please apply at careers.ara.com.