Staff Software Engineer, Research & Development

Department: Research & Development

Reports to : Assistant Director of Development, Research & Development

Classification: Full-Time/Exempt

Location: Houston, TX


Summary/Objective:

The Houston Astros are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join our Software Development team within the Research and Development department. This role is ideal for a technically distinguished engineer who drives architectural vision, elevates engineering standards across teams, and is interested in delivering systems that have lasting impact on baseball decision-making.

You'll work across the full stack—from ingesting and transforming data to building intuitive front-end applications and compelling data visualizations. You'll help shape frontend architecture decisions, modernize legacy systems, and champion engineering excellence across the department.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Design, build, and maintain full-stack applications that support Baseball Operations, with an emphasis on responsive and intuitive frontend experiences.
  
  • Define, govern, and evolve the frontend architecture strategy, including patterns, component libraries, and standards that support long-term maintainability.
  • Design and develop interactive data visualizations and dashboards that translate complex baseball data into clear, actionable insights for decision-makers.
  • Build scalable, automated systems with longevity and maintainability in mind.
• Modernize legacy codebases and frontend interfaces while ensuring continuity of critical systems.
• Establish and continuously improve best practices in software development, including code reviews, testing, continuous integration, and documentation.
  
  • Act as a force multiplier by mentoring senior engineers, conducting design reviews, and developing engineering talent across the team.
  • Serve as a technical leader and mentor in frontend and data visualization best practices, while remaining hands-on as an individual contributor.
• Partner with R&D leadership to translate long-term organizational needs into durable technical strategy.
  
  • Collaborate closely with analysts, data scientists, and baseball operations staff to understand data needs and deliver effective visualization solutions.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule to address any urgent issues with our software systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience owning architecture decisions for multi-system or department-wide platforms.
• Track record of influencing technical direction beyond your immediate team through design docs, mentorship, or cross-functional leadership.
• Ability to evaluate build vs. buy tradeoffs and communicate recommendations to both technical and non-technical leadership.
• Expert-level proficiency in one or more modern frontend framework (e.g. React, Vue, Svelte).
• Experience building data visualizations using libraries such as js, Layer Cake, or Plotly.
• Deep expertise in frontend architecture patterns, with proven experience designing systems used by multiple teams or over multi-year horizons.
• Experience with relational databases and writing complex SQL queries.
• Proven experience maintaining, refactoring, and modernizing legacy codebases.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (Git).
• Exceptional communication and influence skills including the ability to build consensus among engineers, present technical strategy to leadership, and drive alignment across stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Experience working with sports data is a plus.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an office and stadium environment. The noise level is generally moderate but can increase significantly during events, ranging from low to very loud depending on crowd size and stadium activity. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit (for long periods of time); use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. The employee may occasionally lift or move equipment, up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and focused vision.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

Ability to work a flexible schedule, including; extended hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Travel

Some travel may be expected in this role.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability

Equal Opportunity Employer


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