Software Engineer/Developer

The USC Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) is an Army-affiliated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) that conducts groundbreaking work at the intersection of computer science, engineering, and human interaction. ICT brings together experts in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, simulation, immersive media, and human performance to advance the state of the art in training, education, health, and national security. Researchers and engineers at ICT collaborate across disciplines to design, develop, and evaluate cutting-edge technologies with real-world impact, often in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies.

About the Role

The Software Engineer / Developer will design, build, and maintain advanced software systems in support of DoD-related research and development efforts. This role requires strong technical execution, collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, and the ability to translate research concepts into scalable, real-world applications.

You will work closely with researchers, engineers, and government stakeholders to deliver impactful solutions across areas such as simulation, immersive technologies, and interactive systems.

This position may involve work on projects that require access to classified information.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain software systems and applications supporting research and development initiatives.
• Write clean, maintainable, and production-ready code; participate in code reviews to ensure quality and integrity.
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers, and external partners to implement technical solutions for complex problems.
• Contribute to system architecture, integration, and full software development lifecycle (SDLC) activities.
• Develop and execute unit, integration, and performance tests; troubleshoot and debug issues across systems.
• Analyze system performance and optimize software for scalability, reliability, and security.
• Evaluate system flows, data usage, and workflows to identify improvements and resolve problem areas.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, tools, and best practices and apply them to ongoing projects.
• Support documentation, technical reporting, and presentations to stakeholders.
• Up to 20% travel may be required to support collaboration with government sponsors and project stakeholders.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Strong knowledge of current game engines and architectures, including Unity, Unreal, and full stack related architectures.
• Basic understanding of geospatial technologies, concepts, data, and applications (e.g., ESRI, QGIS, Cesium).
• Experience with one or more programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, C/C++, Java, or similar.
• Experience with web-based application development (e.g., frameworks such as Django, React, or similar).
• Familiarity with Unix/Linux environments.
• Experience with software testing practices, including unit, integration, and performance testing.
• Understanding of secure coding practices and scalable system design.
• Demonstrated ability to stay current with rapidly evolving technologies.
• Proven experience building and leading teams, fostering collaboration, and mentoring researchers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 2-4+ years of experience in software development, programming, or related technical roles.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with diverse teams and sponsors.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Must have a current or be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. For additional details, please refer to: https://www.state.gov/security-clearance-faqs/
• Preferred Locations: Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Orlando, FL.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $110,000 to $135,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Why Work at ICT

• Work on impactful projects supporting real-world applications in defense and training.
• Collaborative, small-team environment with end-to-end ownership.
• Strong work-life balance.