Software Development Engineer I - Applied Research & Prototyping

Overview In this position, you will use your Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and modern software engineering experience to research, prototype, and implement emerging technologies that support geospatial, AI-enabled, real-time, and data-driven software systems. This team supports a range of products and innovation initiatives in the Professional Services R&D Center. As a software engineer, you will work with senior and principal engineers to evaluate promising technical approaches, build rapid prototypes, and help transition viable concepts into maintainable production software. You will be part of a collaborative team of dynamic and passionate engineers who develop capabilities that help users solve complex operational, spatial, and technology challenges. The Professional Services division is the consulting and implementation arm of Esri. We break ground in new markets, push the technology envelope, and ultimately deliver transformational solutions to high profile clients worldwide. The Professional Services organization is comprised of nearly 1,000 talented business and technical professionals who strive every day to help our users be successful. Responsibilities Use Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript to evaluate, prototype, and implement emerging software capabilities Design and develop proof-of-concept applications, services, APIs, integrations, and data-driven workflows Research and prototype approaches involving AI, computer vision, spatial intelligence, real-time systems, sensor integration, and automation Investigate technical areas such as imagery and video processing, indoor and built-environment intelligence, digital twins, operational monitoring, and AI-assisted workflows Collaborate with senior engineers, architects, and product teams to assess technical viability, tradeoffs, and production implementation paths Help evolve viable prototypes into scalable, maintainable, and testable production software Build software that follows industry-standard design patterns, development methodologies, testing practices, and deployment models Work effectively in an Agile Scrum team environment Requirements 1+ years of professional, internship, academic, or project experience supporting similar software development responsibilities Strong foundation in software engineering principles, algorithms, and data structures Experience with software development using Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript Experience building web services, APIs, integrations, or data-driven applications Ability to analyze software, algorithms, and technical approaches and identify improvements Understanding of databases, data modeling, and distributed systems concepts Ability to rapidly learn new technologies and evaluate technical tradeoffs Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or STEM related field Recommended Qualifications Experience working on an Agile software development team Experience with modern web frameworks such as React, Node.js, Next.js, NestJS, Express, Angular, or similar technologies Experience developing REST based webservices or GraphQL APIs Working knowledge of SQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or other relational and non-relational databases Familiarity with AI, machine learning, large language models, agentic systems, or computer vision technologies Experience working with imagery, video, sensors, IoT, telemetry, streaming data, or real-time systems Knowledge of cloud-native development, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, or DevOps practices Knowledge of the ArcGIS platform, spatial data, mapping technologies, or location-based systems Knowledge of source control and issue management systems Master's degree in computer science, mathematics, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or STEM related field Total Rewards Esri’s competitive total rewards strategy includes industry-leading health and welfare benefits: medical, dental, vi…