Junior Software Engineer

Colorado State University is seeking a Junior Software Engineer to help build and improve software for a national-scale artificial intelligence testbed. The role supports a distributed computing environment, with work spanning system integration, edge-based AI-enabled data analysis, and autonomous control.

This position is based in Chicago, IL and is onsite. The salary range is USD 62,400 - 83,200 per year, with full consideration for applicants who submit by Monday, October 26, 2026, 11:59pm (MT) (open until filled).

What You’ll Do

• Develop software to manage a distributed network of computing nodes.
• Build new features for AI-enabled data analysis and autonomous control at the edge.
• Develop and maintain software infrastructure using patches, bundles, releases, and maintenance packs.
• Code applications aligned with established designs and internal requirements, while supporting external users; create and maintain code documentation.
• Detect database and software performance issues, apply adjustments, and support debugging and troubleshooting.
• Support the correct operation of the distributed infrastructure.
• Prioritize tasks within a project and meet with business analysts and stakeholders to determine requirements.
• Open and manage support tickets with vendors, grant access to new users, respond to user inquiries, and collaborate with users to develop goals, strategies, workflow, and best practices.

Decision Making

• Evaluate feature, upgrade, and change requests and recommend appropriate next steps.
• Prioritize work within assigned projects to meet requirements and deadlines.
• Identify software performance issues and determine adjustments to resolve them.
• Work with users to design features and recommend workflow and best-practice improvements.
• Escalate issues to senior staff when needed or open tickets with external vendors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related field.
• One year of experience developing and maintaining code or services in production.
• Fluency in programming languages such as Python, C, and shell scripts.
• Fluency with developer tools including Git and Docker.
• Linux.

Preferred Qualifications

• Kubernetes.
• Monitoring tooling such as Prometheus.
• CI/CD tooling such as GitHub Actions.

Technologies

• Python, C, shell scripts
• Git, Docker
• Linux, Kubernetes
• Prometheus, GitHub Actions

Conditions of Employment

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for all new hires).
• Valid driver’s license by the employment start date.
• Authorization to work in the United States by the employment start date.
• Ability to travel between Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory.

Application Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV