How to hire computer and information research scientists
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software. • Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses. • Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals. • Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers. • Design computers and the software that runs them. • Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues. • Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems. • Participate in multidisciplinary projects in areas such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction, or robotics. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Master's degree] • Strong critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, active learning, speaking and mathematics skills • Working knowledge of computers and electronics, mathematics, engineering and technology and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $67.45 an hour ($140,300 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for computer and information research scientists
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What computer and information research scientists do
- Analyze problems to develop solutions involving computer hardware and software.
- Apply theoretical expertise and innovation to create or apply new technology, such as adapting principles for applying computers to new uses.
- Assign or schedule tasks to meet work priorities and goals.
- Conduct logical analyses of business, scientific, engineering, and other technical problems, formulating mathematical models of problems for solution by computers.
- Design computers and the software that runs them.
- Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.
- Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- Participate in multidisciplinary projects in areas such as virtual reality, human-computer interaction, or robotics.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for computer and information research scientists
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +21.8% over ten years, much faster than average · about 2,900 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay computer and information research scientists
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $206,220 |
| Washington | $202,400 |
| New York | $181,990 |
| Massachusetts | $170,510 |
| California | $159,100 |
| Georgia | $92,250 |
| Indiana | $85,460 |
| Michigan | $82,590 |
See computer and information research scientists pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Computer Network Architects
- Database Administrators
- Database Architects
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Software Developers
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.