Early-Career Software Engineer - AI Applications

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach-one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

We are seeking an Early-Career Software Engineer who is excited about building the next generation of AI-powered applications and research solutions.

This role is ideal for someone with strong software engineering fundamentals who wants to grow into an AI-native engineer. You will work alongside experienced engineers to design, build, and deploy production systems that leverage large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI agents, cloud services, and modern software engineering practices.

Success in this role requires curiosity, sound engineering judgment, and a desire to continuously learn as AI technologies evolve.

This position may be based remotely within the United States. Candidates located near RTI's headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, are preferred due to opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Working with senior engineers and research data scientists, you will:

• Develop production software using Python and modern development frameworks.
• Build AI-powered applications using large language models and AI APIs.
• Help develop retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines and agent-based workflows.
• Build and consume REST APIs and cloud-native services.
• Write clean, maintainable, well-tested code using AI coding assistance like Claude Code and GitHub Copilot CLI.
• Participate in code reviews and architectural discussions.
• Assist with deployment, monitoring, and troubleshooting production applications.
• Learn how to evaluate AI systems for quality, accuracy, reliability, and cost.
• Work with researchers and technical staff to understand requirements and translate ideas into software solutions.
• Contribute to improving development standards, documentation, and engineering practices.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Academic or professional software development experience.
• Strong programming skills in Python or another modern programming language.
• Understanding of object-oriented programming, algorithms, and data structures.
• Experience using Git and collaborative software development workflows.
• Familiarity with REST APIs.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies quickly.
• To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status(e.g., H-1B visa status, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience or coursework involving any of the following is a plus:

• Large Language Models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, etc.)
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Vector databases
• LangChain or LangGraph
• FastAPI
• Docker
• AWS cloud services
• SQL and NoSQL databases
• Automated testing
• CI/CD pipelines
• Machine learning fundamentals
• Prompt engineering
• Open-source software contributions
• Personal AI projects or hackathons

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is availablehere.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.