R&D Software Developer, Spec

• 503475
• Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
• Staff
• Staff Full-time
• Closing at: May 8 2026 - 23:55 MDT
  
  

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Department Contact: Samantha Lish, 575-646-1726, slish@nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: Internal - Open to Regular NMSU employees only (temporary/Term employees not eligible)

Advertising Summary: The Jornada Experimental range is looking for a R&D Software Developer, Spec position with a focus on projects aimed at advancing beef production and improving rangeland resilience across the Western United States.

Position Details

Position Title: R&D Software Developer, Spec

College/Division: Agricultural Experiment Station

Department: 317250-JORNADA EXPER RANGE HEADQUARTERS

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with education and experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon external funding

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule

Job Duties and Responsibilities: ***THIS POSITION IS A ONE YEAR APPOINTMENT, CONTINGENT UPON FUNDING***

The Jornada Experimental Range seeks applicants for an R&D Software Developer with strong expertise in software engineering and data science. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience developing AI-driven data pipelines using advanced machine learning, deep learning, and Large Language Model (LLM) applications in agriculture. The candidate must demonstrate proficiency in Python and Java programming for backend applications, React for frontend development, and possess a foundational understanding of livestock production systems in arid U.S. rangelands. The successful applicant will contribute scientifically and technically to state and federally funded projects aimed at advancing beef production and improving rangeland resilience across the Western United States. This position involves close collaboration with interdisciplinary teams spanning animal and range science, electrical engineering, and computer science.

Lead development of a web-based platform to collect, curate, analyze, and visualize livestock, climate, and remote sensing data acquired through distributed IoT sensor networks in near real-time.

• Design and implement advanced computational intelligence and machine learning pipelines to analyze livestock behavior and vegetation dynamics using multimodal sensor data, including proximal and satellite remote sensing.
  
  

Develop and maintain scalable data server architectures and data services infrastructure.

• Interpret, organize, and coordinate scientific research addressing complex systems.
• Prepare analyses and documentation for peer-reviewed scientific publications and present findings at professional meetings.
• Develop competitive grant proposals to secure funding for research activities.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

Associate's Degree 11 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree 9 years of relevant experience. Master's degree or higher preferred.

Equivalent Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Biosystems Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals related to computer science, data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and agricultural informatics.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience in software development and data science.
• Experience designing data architecture using relational and NoSQL databases.
• Experience developing web applications and mobile applications.
• Experience with cloud and edge computing infrastructures.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research.
• Experience with machine and deep learning frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, Keras, or PyTorch.
• Experience with LoRaWAN and IoT applications in precision agriculture.
• Knowledge of current issues and emerging directions in AI and machine learning.
• Proficiency in Java, JavaScript, and Python.
• Experience with Google Earth Engine (GEE) pipelines.
• Familiarity with web frameworks such as Flask, Django, Spring, and Bootstrap.
• Experience with web servers (e.g., Nginx, Apache) and application servers (e.g., Gunicorn, Unicorn, Express.js).
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS EC2, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
  
  

Successful applicants should be highly motivated and creative. They should be willing to work independently and as a part of a diverse and multi-disciplinary team.

Special Certification/Licensure

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Recruitment Summary

We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.

NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.

NMSU Global Campus

Since 1888, NMSU has proudly embodied this tradition, building relationships that last a lifetime while serving students who want to earn their degree and grow in their field. Today, NMSU Global Campus provides flexible, career-focused online education that helps our students transform their lives – and the lives of the people they love – through over 70 degree and certificate programs, skill-building microlearning courses, and career and talent development.

NMSU Main Campus

Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University's 900-acre main campus is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-25 in the Southwestern United States. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the regional tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state.

Doña Ana Community College

Founded in 1973 in collaboration with local school districts to support occupational education, DACC is now a leading community college that provides transformative educational opportunities that meet the workforce needs of Doña Ana County. With a focus on access, innovation and excellence, DACC offers over ninety degrees and certificates, adult education, specialized workforce training, and small business assistance. 

Alamogordo Campus

Established in 1958 to serve the needs of the airmen and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base located only 10 miles west of Alamogordo, NMSUA is a community college with a long history of excellence that is supported by a caring community of hard-working students and dedicated faculty and staff. The campus is situated “on the hill” above Alamogordo and provides inspiring views of the city and the Tularosa Basin, offering the perfect venue for creative and motivated learning.

Grants Campus

NMSU Grants was established as a branch of New Mexico State University in 1968 through the cooperative efforts of New Mexico State University and Grants Municipal Schools. As a two-year branch community college, NMSU Grants serves the local communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, including the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, as well as Tohajiilee, San Mateo, San Rafael, Cubero, the City of Grants, and the Village of Milan.

Special Instructions to Applicants

The electronic application is the *official* document that will be used to qualify applicants. Paper/email documents will not be accepted. Required documents must be attached to this application.

EEO Statement

New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.