Demo

Software System Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN Full Time
POSTED ON 8/15/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 9/14/2026
Requisition Id 16879

Overview:

We are seeking a Software systems engineer to create state of the art software technologies for use in a wide variety of engineering disciplines, ranging from quantum computers used to advance the state of the art in scientific computing to unique modeling and simulation technologies for national security applications. Oak Ridge National Laboratory supports unique research needs for the Department of Energy and other Government agencies with goals ranging from the integration of quantum computing in high performance computing architectures, improving the resiliency of the national electric infrastructure, and bolstering national defense. The Software systems engineer will play an integral role in prototyping, demonstrating, and transitioning to production complex systems to meet these diverse objectives.

This position resides within the Quantum Computational Science Group in the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division (CSED) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). CSED performs transdisciplinary computational science and analytics at scale to produce advancements in physical sciences, engineering, and biomedicine and health. The Quantum Computational Science group addresses this mission through the development of quantum computational methods and software for diverse scientific applications.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:
  • Work with a team to move research concepts from exploratory prototype to delivered system.
  • Create, test, and maintain software elements of these systems.
  • Support modelling and simulation activities to exercise software elements.
  • Support field exercises to demonstrate system capabilities.
  • Provide technical leadership for software development teams

Basic Qualifications:
  • A BS degree in Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or other field relevant to the job duties.
  • Competency in Python and C programming.
  • A commitment to lifelong learning.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • 5 or more years of experience relevant to the job duties.
  • Competency in C, Rust or Julia.
  • Experience in software design/architecture
  • Experience with parallel programming middleware, including MPI, OpenMP and CUDA.
  • Knowledge of research software engineering principles and practice.
  • Experience with modelling and simulation of complex, interdisciplinary systems.
  • Knowledge of computer architecture, computer networking, and experience with the development of virtualization technologies and/or computer system simulations.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills for working within a highly diverse team, as well as strong oral and written communications skills, good organizational habits, and a high degree of personal motivation.

Special Requirements:
  • Visa Sponsorship:Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
  • Security, Credentialing and Eligibility Requirements: Export control, no clearance: This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

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