About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Research Services.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Overview

This is an entry-level Software Engineer role (Applications Development 1 / Professional Technical level 1). You will work closely with senior engineers to design, develop, test, and maintain software applications used in mission-focused projects. This position is ideal for recent graduates or early-career engineers who want hands-on experience, mentorship, and the chance to grow technical skills in a collaborative research environment.

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What You’ll Do

• Assist in design and development of software applications and components.
• Write clean, efficient, maintainable code following team standards.
• Participate in code reviews and give/receive constructive feedback.
• Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve basic software issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members to understand requirements and deliver solutions.
• Learn and apply software development methodologies and best practices.

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Competencies

• Analytic ability — gather and work with data to solve problems and identify patterns.
• Decision making — weigh options and recommend appropriate actions.
• Innovation — apply original thinking to create improvements and new ideas.
• Learning agility — acquire new knowledge and adapt to change quickly.
• Ownership & commitment — take responsibility, act proactively, and support team goals.

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Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (examples: Java, Python, C++).
• Basic knowledge of relational databases and SQL (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle).
• Fundamental understanding of software development methodologies (Agile, version control, testing).
• Strong problem-solving skills and a demonstrated eagerness to learn.

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Required Eligibility & Background

• Must be able to provide proof of U.S. citizenship as required to comply with federal regulations and contractual obligations.
• Offers are contingent upon a background check; certain positions may require government access authorization. Failure to obtain or maintain required authorization may affect employment.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Expected hiring range: $57,764 — $93,600 per year. The actual pay offered will be determined by candidate qualifications, job responsibilities, internal equity, and market data.
• Comprehensive benefits package is included as part of total rewards.

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Location & Employment Type

• Location: Lemont, IL (onsite).
• Employment Type: Full-time, regular.

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Keywords & Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for a motivated, early-career software engineer who is comfortable learning on the job and contributing to production systems. Ideal candidates will have:

• Strong fundamentals in programming and data structures
• Experience or coursework in Java, Python, or C++
• Basic SQL and database familiarity
• Good communication and teamwork skills
• A proactive, growth-oriented mindset

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.