Research Engineer

Who is Sonar? Sonar is driving the future of agent-centric software development. As the leader in AI code verification and governance, we solve a critical problem: ensuring that software generated by AI-assisted developers or autonomous agents is reliable, secure, and maintainable. Integrating seamlessly with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, and Devin, we help over 75% of the Fortune 100 build trusted, reliable, compliant software. Customers who use Sonar are 44% less likely to report an outage due to AI-generated code. We believe code verification is the critical missing link in the Agent-Centric Development Cycle (AC/DC). Industry giants like Nvidia, ServiceNow,Booking.com, Goldman Sachs, AstraZeneca, and Ford Motor Company count on us to provide independent, explainable, consistent review and governance of their AI-generated code via products like: SonarQube: The world’s leading AI code review and verification platform. SonarQube Foundation Agent: Currently topping the leaderboards for agentic software repair. SonarSweep & Sonar Context Augmentation: Providing the enterprise-grade context and constraints agents need to be truly effective. Our team operates across global hubs in Austin, Bochum, Dubai, Geneva, London, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington D.C. We move with a mindset we call CODE: Committed to our customers and community. Obsessed with quality. Deliberate in our decisions. Effective as one team. With over $400M in revenue and profitable, fast-paced growth, we are building the backbone of the AI software revolution. If you’re hungry to have an impact, want to build at a fast pace, and ready to work at the forefront of AI, we want to hear from you.

Position description You will work on pioneering projects that advance the application of AI within the realm of software engineering. This role offers the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research, develop novel algorithms and contribute to the development of software tools that enhance system performance, reliability, and flexibility. Your work will directly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of our AI products, enabling developers to spend less time fixing issues and more time innovating. You will contribute to the creation of accessible, user-friendly, and performant solutions that integrate seamlessly with our existing infrastructure.

Conduct applied research in integrating AI/ML techniques with software engineering practices to improve code quality, testing, and software maintenance. Design and implement experimental prototypes to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of new methodologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including AI researchers, software engineers, and product managers, to translate research findings into practical applications. Stay informed about the latest advancements in AI/ML and software engineering to identify emerging trends and opportunities for innovation. Publish research findings in leading academic conferences and journals, and present innovative work to the broader research community. Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback to other developers/researchers. Implement best practices from DevOps to maintain a readable codebase, testable infrastructure and documented research artifacts.

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. At least 2 years of experience as a Research Engineer, ideally in Software Engineering. Strong research background in AI, ML, and SE Experience working with Agentic technologies (e.g. Astra, Opus, Vertex) Experience in developing and prototyping in Python which utilize AI/ML Understanding of software development processes and terminology. Familiarity with techniques for automated code generation, program synthesis, or software testing using AI/ML Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively Excellent communication skills for conveying complex technical concepts