Scientific Software Engineer

The Johns Hopkins Data Science and AI Institute (DSAI) is focused on revolutionizing discovery by advancing artificial intelligence that evolves collaboratively with human intelligence, combining the strengths of each for the betterment of society and the world in which we live. DSAI will bring together the mathematical, computational, and ethical foundations of AI with the domains of Health & Medicine, Safety & Assurance, and Discovery & Inquiry. DSAI seeks a
Scientific Software Engineer
with a strong academic backgrounds and relevant experience in industry. The successful candidates will work at the cutting edge of modern science within the new Scientific Software Engineering Center (SSEC) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The Center is part of the Virtual Institute for Scientific Software (VISS), launched by Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt. VISS will address the growing demand for high-quality professional software engineers who can build dynamic, scalable, open software to facilitate accelerated scientific discovery across fields. (See for more information on the VISS.) The SSEC will be hosted by the Institute of Data Intensive Engineering and Science (IDIES) at JHU within DSAI, a new pan-institutional initiative at Johns Hopkins to advance artificial intelligence and its applications, in part through investments in the software engineering, data science, and machine learning space. The SSEC engineers will be at the forefront of modern data intensive science, where high-level software is rapidly becoming the key ingredient for success. The DSAI initiative includes the build-out of a substantive and professional-scale software engineering capability, and a dramatic increase in infrastructure, both in hardware and in personnel. JHU has long been a world leader in the broader domains of medicine and public health as well as a wide range of science and engineering fields. This combined with our ethos of building out capabilities to have demonstrable global impact (e.g., JHUs Coronavirus Resource Center the award-winning global resource for real-time data and analysis for COVID-19) and other unique large scientific data sets, like the archives for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and several simulations, will be key leverage points that will make the Center successful.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• The successful candidates will be given a choice of ground-breaking research projects that need advanced software solutions requiring expertise in software engineering not commonly found in scientific collaborations.
• The projects may require the creation of AI/ML solutions using the latest DNN libraries trained on state-of-the-art hardware.
• Projects may also involve analysis of massive data sets either in the cloud or on premises.
• They may require creation of software pipelines for processing of real-time high-frequency data processing workflows and may need the design of complex database models for storing and disseminating scientific data sets.
• Some projects may require deep engagement, possibly leading to co-authorship on scientific publications, while others may involve a more casual consulting engagement.
• They may require software solutions developed from scratch or refactoring existing solutions to make them conform to industry standards (quality, reusability, robustness, portability, documentation, etc.).
• It is a high-level goal of the SSEC to translate the efforts for the individual projects into frameworks and template patterns for sustainable scientific infrastructure benefiting future projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters in a Quantitative Discipline, e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Astrophysics, Bioinformatics with strong scientific computing and/or mathematics background.
• Three (3) years or more experience working in software development and/or data science in large projects in industry.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in a quantitative discipline.
• Five years or more experience working in software development and/or data science in industry.
• Experience with articulating and translating business/application questions and translating these into software and statistical techniques to arrive at an answer using available data.
• Demonstrated leadership and self-direction.
• Willingness to both teach others and learn new techniques.
• Demonstrated skills in selecting the right tools given a data analysis problem.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Classified Title: Scientific Software Engineer

Role/Level/Range: APPTSTAF/01/ST

Starting Salary Range: Commensurate w/exp.)

Employee group: Full Time

Schedule: 37.5 hrs/wk, M-F

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus

Department name: DSAI Institute

Personnel area: Whiting School of Engineering

Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University's salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here:

Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEO is the Law

Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit

Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.