Research software engineers should be PIs themselves so they can choose what they want to work on, who to work with, and hire trainees to mentor the next genera

Research software engineers should be PIs themselves so they can choose what they want to work on, who to work with, and hire trainees to mentor the next generation of research software engineers. RSEs are a different breed from SEs from industry, the work is not about scaling to a billion people but being nimble and adaptive to new results and ideas. If one wants to see change, then hire senior PI positions who do research software engineering. This will help create a hub and prevent the feeling of being a “pet” in an experimental lab.