Scientific Computing Software Developer at ARA in Alexandria, VA
- Company: ARA
- Location: Alexandria, VA
- Posted: Sep 24, 2026
- Type: Full-time
- Salary: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
- Experience: 5+ years
Overview
The Missions, Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Scientific Computing Software Developer for our Alexandria, VA location. The ideal candidate has interests in developing scientific computing software for a wide range of users.
Job description
- The Missions, Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Scientific Computing Software Developer for our Alexandria, VA location. The ideal candidate has interests in developing scientific computing software for a wide range of users.
- The candidate should have significant experience in developing scientific computing code with Rust, as well as running computational models to perform analysis and predictions of weapons effects. As such, a proficiency in physics, mathematics, or engineering is highly desirable.
- The initial focus of this position will be to assist with refactoring legacy Fortran codebases to modern Rust, as well as developing tools to assist users with simulation setup and analysis.
- Future projects will include software development for high performance computing platforms, using machine learning techniques to create faster running tools and reduced order models, among others.
- This position will place you in a team of engineers and scientists developing modeling, simulation, and analysis tools to address weapons effects environments for the Department of War.
Responsibilities
- Our culture encourages personal and professional growth by pushing the limits of technology while creating opportunities for cross-training and mentoring within the team. The Computational Scientist may be required to:
- Refactor existing code bases with a focus on verification and validation of model predictions
- Implement new material models or numerical techniques in physics-based codes
- Updating legacy codes to meet modern software cybersecurity requirements
- Utilize high performance computing resources to run sophisticated, high-fidelity simulations
- Perform modeling analysis and provide technical guidance in support of customer objectives
- Work with customers to determine potential areas of interest and provide solutions with new or existing computational approaches
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in computational science, computer science, physics, or engineering.
- Education or experience with computational methods for fluid dynamics or structural mechanics
- Minimum 5 years experience (3 with Masters, 0 with PhD)
- Strong Programming skills to include experience with Rust and at least one of Fortran, C, or C++
- Experience developing finite element or finite volume codes
- Software development in both Windows and Linux Environments
- Must be a US citizen
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Behaviors
- Required
- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
- Innovative: Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
- Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest
- Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
- Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity
- Motivations
- Required
- Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
- Education
- Required
- Bachelors or better in Computational Science or related field.
- Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in computational science, computer science, geophysics, or geotechnical engineering.
- Proficiency in mathematics, physics, and / or engineering.
- Experience applying machine learning to physics based models
- Experience with Linux based high performance computers
- Experience with meshing software such as CUBIT
- Experience with scientific computing visualization tools such as ParaView or VisIt
Skills
Required
- Rust
- Fortran
- C
- C++
- High performance computing
- Machine learning
- Finite element codes
- Finite volume codes
- Windows and Linux environments
- Meshing software (CUBIT)
Benefits
- Compensation & Benefits: Pay Ranges: From $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position. We mostly reserve the upper half of our compensation bands for internal growth. During all call with one of our recruiters or hiring managers, they can further clarify the salary range and total compensation. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/
About ARA
Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 1700 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics. At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. We build a positive and collaborative work environment grounded in trust and professional respect that enables each member to effectively contribute to our development efforts, create new concepts and ideas, enable lifelong learning, and pursue work that ignites each owner’s professional passions. Ultimately, we want each team member to assert that this is the best job they have ever had, whether it is the first professional experience out of college or the last job before retirement. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.