Geospatial Software Engineer II

Requisition Id16690

Overview:

The Geospatial Science and Human Security Division (GSHSD) is currently seeking world-class research and development professionals for the National Security Sciences Directorate within Oak Ridge National Lab. In this role, you will support the development of next-generation software and data strategies that enable operational situational awareness products for sponsors across the Federal Government. We are looking for engineers who bring strong software engineering fundamentals and fresh ideas from areas such as distributed computing, information retrieval, scalable storage, and data processing workflows. Our staff are expected to be flexible and enthusiastic about tackling problems as we address complex, global-scale challenges in spatial computing. .

The GeospatialSoftware Engineer will focus on designing, implementing, and maintaining user-facing geospatial applications that power focused research and operational solutions across domains such as energy, transportation, and other cross-disciplinary applications. Depending on your strengths, you will focus primarily on frontend engineering (interactive web applications and geospatial visualization) or backend (API, data services, distributed processing, and scalable storage) or both (full stack developer). You will work closely with research scientists, product stakeholders, and other engineers to deliver robust, secure, and maintainable software leveraging ORNL's world class resources.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Software Engineering (R&D): design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software for geospatial applications and operational products.
• Frontend, Backend, or Full Stack Focus (based on fit):
  • Frontend: Build responsive web UIs and geospatial visualization experiences; integrate with APIs; improve usability, accessibility, and performance.
  • Backend: Build and operate APIs, services, and data pipelines; optimize performance and reliability; integrate with storage and compute platforms.
  • Full-Stack: Own features end-to-end from UI through services and data layers; ensure cohesive design and smooth delivery.

• Requirements Decomposition: work with researchers to capture requirements and translate them into software designs and implementations.
• Quality, Security, and Reliability: Write automated tests, participate in code reviews, and contribute to CI/CD following secure-by-design practices.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: collaborate with multidisciplinary teams through development, integration, testing, and deployment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires an B.S. or M.S. in the field of Geography, Data Science, Computer Science, or related fields with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience
• Proficiency in one or more languages such as TypeScript/JavaScript, Python, Java, C++, or Go
• Experience with modern software engineering practices: git-based workflows, documentation, testing, and code reviews
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to changing needs
• Demonstrated ability to present technical results to technical communities
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a strong commitment to a team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with at least one of the following categories:

• • Frontend:TypeScript/JavaScript and a modern framework such as React, Angular, or Vue; experience integrating UIs with APIs and building responsive, accessible interfaces (geospatial visualization tools such as Mapbox GL, Cesium, OpenLayers, or Leaflet are a plus).
  • Backend:Designing and building RESTful APIs and/or gRPC services; experience with databases and storage technologies (e.g., PostgreSQL/PostGIS, SQL/NoSQL, object storage such as S3) and data processing workflows/formats (e.g., ETL/ELT, Parquet; DuckDB/Zarr a plus)

• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or similar container platforms/concepts
• Familiarity with software engineering best practices (e.g., Agile development, Git/GitFlow, CI/CD) and project tracking tools such as JIRA or Asana
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative and frequently interacting teams of researchers
• Experience utilizing open-source and commercial tools and approaches to solve complex problems (e.g., information retrieval/extraction, machine learning/deep learning, networking)
• Experience working with geospatial data and processing workflows and assessing data sources for fit-for-purpose

Special 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.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements :

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.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

Relocation:

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the "About" tab atjobs.ornl.gov.

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 ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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.