<p>Assuming you do not get intimidated when reading theory papers due to your training in your master's degree, which I assume is in a theoretical aspect of CS since you are asking on this site, I think it would be a great idea to try being a <strong>research programmer</strong> (usually inside some research organization, like an industrial lab or under the umbrella of a larger grant). </p>

<p>Why? It's not easy to implement an algorithm correctly, even if the authors sincerely meant to spell it out completely, and yet sometimes the need to run an algorithm does arise! Additionally, if you enjoy programming and measurements, later on you may even be able to further your study into a PhD in the area of algorithmic engineering, which I think is a very exciting area and wish to see more of it happening. (Check out the ALENEX conference and the DIMACS implementation challenges.)</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-11-17T08:48:01.653Z
2010-11-17T08:48:01.653Z
Maverick Woo
<p>A Master's is often sufficient to get you a job as a lecturer at a four-year institution or a full professor at a two-year college. </p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-11-18T04:38:03.813Z
2010-11-18T04:38:03.813Z
Barry Brown
<p>Any &quot;cutting-edge&quot; technology field will look for theoreticians.</p>
<p>One recent example is high-frequency trading, as in this <a href="http://cufp.org/jobs/haskellerlangc-developers-high-frequency-trading" rel="nofollow noreferrer">recent job post</a> from <a href="http://www.allstontrading.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Allston Trading</a> (h.t. to <a href="http://twitter.com/donsbot/status/21329927415" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Don Stewart</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Are you familiar with the teachings
and lore of SICP, PAIP, TAOCP? Do you
know why monads really are like
burritos (or have an even better
analogy)? Do you have a love/hate (or
just love?) relationship with
Hindley-Milner inference? And can you
make code run so fast your CPU begs
for mercy? Then we want to talk to
you.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It goes on to guarantee a phone interview to anyone who has solved P != NP (amongst other things).</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-11-12T12:49:28.893Z
I think that job posting was an April-Fools-type post. The link is broken now, but that's what I heard at the time.  Does anyone have hard evidence either way?
Aaron Sterling
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-08-16T20:42:15.647Z
2010-08-16T20:42:15.647Z
2020-06-17T09:38:08.363Z
Shane
<p>Take a look at <a href="http://ge.geglobalresearch.com/" rel="nofollow">General Electric Global Research</a>. In particular, see <a href="http://ge.geglobalresearch.com/careers/niskayuna-ny-usa/find-a-job/?keyword=computer%252C%2520software&amp;location=TG_SEARCH_ALL" rel="nofollow">here</a> for cool jobs in Computer Science (some of which have a non-empty intersection with theory).</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-11-12T13:08:28.323Z
2010-11-15T12:52:57.903Z
2010-11-15T12:52:57.903Z
Giorgio Camerani
<p>Other than going fully academic and getting a doctorate/post-doc, or going for a more or less 'standard' job in software development, what are some other career options in the full or semi theoretical C.S field?</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-08-16T20:32:48.990Z
I think that this is off-topic.  If not, it should probably be community wiki.  I voted to close.
Shane
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-08-16T20:34:12.170Z
I agree. Definitely should be made CW. @ripper234, please edit the post.
Suresh Venkat
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-08-17T06:10:17.580Z
I meant to make this CW, forgot.
ripper234
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-11-12T09:15:11.817Z
I think this is a reasonable soft question that lots of graduate student in theory have, I am voting to reopen it.
Kaveh
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-11-12T09:26:59.960Z
I agree with Kaveh. I am voting to reopen, too.
Giorgio Camerani
<soft-question><advice-request><career>
What are some career options for someone with a computer scientist master degree?
ripper234
# What are some career options for someone with a computer scientist master degree?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2010-08-16)

Other than going fully academic and getting a doctorate/post-doc, or going for a more or less 'standard' job in software development, what are some other career options in the full or semi theoretical C.S field?

**Tags:** soft-question, advice-request, career

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think that this is off-topic.  If not, it should probably be community wiki.  I voted to close.  
> **username_2**: I agree. Definitely should be made CW. @username_0, please edit the post.  
> **username_0**: I meant to make this CW, forgot.  
> **username_3**: I think this is a reasonable soft question that lots of graduate student in theory have, I am voting to reopen it.  
> **username_4**: I agree with username_3. I am voting to reopen, too.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2010-11-17. Score: 14

Assuming you do not get intimidated when reading theory papers due to your training in your master's degree, which I assume is in a theoretical aspect of CS since you are asking on this site, I think it would be a great idea to try being a **research programmer** (usually inside some research organization, like an industrial lab or under the umbrella of a larger grant).

Why? It's not easy to implement an algorithm correctly, even if the authors sincerely meant to spell it out completely, and yet sometimes the need to run an algorithm does arise! Additionally, if you enjoy programming and measurements, later on you may even be able to further your study into a PhD in the area of algorithmic engineering, which I think is a very exciting area and wish to see more of it happening. (Check out the ALENEX conference and the DIMACS implementation challenges.)


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2010-11-18. Score: 7

A Master's is often sufficient to get you a job as a lecturer at a four-year institution or a full professor at a two-year college.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2010-08-16. Score: 4

Any "cutting-edge" technology field will look for theoreticians.

One recent example is high-frequency trading, as in this [recent job post](http://cufp.org/jobs/haskellerlangc-developers-high-frequency-trading) from [Allston Trading](http://www.allstontrading.com/) (h.t. to [Don Stewart](http://twitter.com/donsbot/status/21329927415)):

> Are you familiar with the teachings
> and lore of SICP, PAIP, TAOCP? Do you
> know why monads really are like
> burritos (or have an even better
> analogy)? Do you have a love/hate (or
> just love?) relationship with
> Hindley-Milner inference? And can you
> make code run so fast your CPU begs
> for mercy? Then we want to talk to
> you.

It goes on to guarantee a phone interview to anyone who has solved P != NP (amongst other things).

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: I think that job posting was an April-Fools-type post. The link is broken now, but that's what I heard at the time.  Does anyone have hard evidence either way?  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2010-11-12. Score: 4

Take a look at [General Electric Global Research](http://ge.geglobalresearch.com/). In particular, see [here](http://ge.geglobalresearch.com/careers/niskayuna-ny-usa/find-a-job/?keyword=computer%252C%2520software&location=TG_SEARCH_ALL) for cool jobs in Computer Science (some of which have a non-empty intersection with theory).


---

