diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1648c2b4..904e522b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [3.8.0] - 2023-05-04
+### Added
+- [#149](https://github.com/unity-sds/unity-data-services/pull/149) feat: writing output content to a file if ENV is provided
+
 ## [3.7.1] - 2023-05-04
 ### Changed
 - [#148](https://github.com/unity-sds/unity-data-services/pull/148) fix: use cas structure to generate metadata for stac
diff --git a/cumulus_lambda_functions/docker_entrypoint/__main__.py b/cumulus_lambda_functions/docker_entrypoint/__main__.py
index 8510cf31..ac683075 100644
--- a/cumulus_lambda_functions/docker_entrypoint/__main__.py
+++ b/cumulus_lambda_functions/docker_entrypoint/__main__.py
@@ -4,24 +4,32 @@
 
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.catalog_granules_factory import CatalogGranulesFactory
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.download_granules_factory import DownloadGranulesFactory
-from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.download_granules_s3 import DownloadGranulesS3
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.search_granules_factory import SearchGranulesFactory
+from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.stage_in_out_utils import StageInOutUtils
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.upoad_granules_factory import UploadGranulesFactory
 
 
 def choose_process():
     if argv[1].strip().upper() == 'SEARCH':
         logging.info('starting SEARCH script')
-        return SearchGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_SEARCH_DOMAIN', 'MISSING_GRANULES_SEARCH_DOMAIN')).search()
+        result_str = SearchGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_SEARCH_DOMAIN', 'MISSING_GRANULES_SEARCH_DOMAIN')).search()
+        StageInOutUtils.write_output_to_file(result_str)
+        return result_str
     if argv[1].strip().upper() == 'DOWNLOAD':
         logging.info('starting DOWNLOAD script')
-        return DownloadGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_DOWNLOAD_TYPE', 'MISSING_GRANULES_DOWNLOAD_TYPE')).download()
+        result_str = DownloadGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_DOWNLOAD_TYPE', 'MISSING_GRANULES_DOWNLOAD_TYPE')).download()
+        StageInOutUtils.write_output_to_file(result_str)
+        return result_str
     if argv[1].strip().upper() == 'UPLOAD':
         logging.info('starting UPLOAD script')
-        return UploadGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_UPLOAD_TYPE', 'MISSING_GRANULES_UPLOAD_TYPE')).upload()
+        result_str = UploadGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_UPLOAD_TYPE', 'MISSING_GRANULES_UPLOAD_TYPE')).upload()
+        StageInOutUtils.write_output_to_file(result_str)
+        return result_str
     if argv[1].strip().upper() == 'CATALOG':
         logging.info('starting CATALOG script')
-        return CatalogGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_CATALOG_TYPE', 'MISSING_GRANULES_CATALOG_TYPE')).catalog()
+        result_str = CatalogGranulesFactory().get_class(os.getenv('GRANULES_CATALOG_TYPE', 'MISSING_GRANULES_CATALOG_TYPE')).catalog()
+        StageInOutUtils.write_output_to_file(result_str)
+        return result_str
     raise ValueError(f'invalid argument: {argv}')
 
 
diff --git a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/catalog_granules_unity.py b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/catalog_granules_unity.py
index 9fdf9c20..936244d3 100644
--- a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/catalog_granules_unity.py
+++ b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/catalog_granules_unity.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 
+
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
diff --git a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/download_granules_daac.py b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/download_granules_daac.py
index 7732bed5..02cac62f 100644
--- a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/download_granules_daac.py
+++ b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/download_granules_daac.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 
+
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
diff --git a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_cmr.py b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_cmr.py
index f0c6914d..089576f0 100644
--- a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_cmr.py
+++ b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_cmr.py
@@ -100,4 +100,5 @@ def search(self, **kwargs) -> str:
             if len(temp_results) < page_size:
                 break
         results = self.__get_correct_result_count(results)
-        return json.dumps(StacUtils.reduce_stac_list_to_data_links(results)) if self.__filter_results else json.dumps(results)
+        results = StacUtils.reduce_stac_list_to_data_links(results) if self.__filter_results else results
+        return json.dumps(results)
diff --git a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_unity.py b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_unity.py
index 459ee846..9532a829 100644
--- a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_unity.py
+++ b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/search_granules_unity.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.cumulus_dapa_client.dapa_client import DapaClient
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.cumulus_stac.stac_utils import StacUtils
-from cumulus_lambda_functions.lib.utils.file_utils import FileUtils
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.search_granules_abstract import SearchGranulesAbstract
 
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -51,4 +50,5 @@ def search(self, **kwargs) -> str:
         self.__set_props_from_env()
         dapa_client = DapaClient().with_verify_ssl(self.__verify_ssl)
         granules_result = dapa_client.get_all_granules(self.__collection_id, self.__limit, self.__date_from, self.__date_to)
-        return json.dumps(StacUtils.reduce_stac_list_to_data_links(granules_result)) if self.__filter_results else json.dumps(granules_result)
+        granules_result = StacUtils.reduce_stac_list_to_data_links(granules_result) if self.__filter_results else granules_result
+        return json.dumps(granules_result)
diff --git a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/stage_in_out_utils.py b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/stage_in_out_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..acb83159
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/stage_in_out_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import json
+import logging
+import os
+from typing import Union
+
+from cumulus_lambda_functions.lib.utils.file_utils import FileUtils
+
+LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class StageInOutUtils:
+    OUTPUT_FILE = 'OUTPUT_FILE'
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def write_output_to_file(output_json: Union[dict, str, list]):
+        if StageInOutUtils.OUTPUT_FILE not in os.environ:
+            LOGGER.debug(f'Not writing output to file due to missing {StageInOutUtils.OUTPUT_FILE} in ENV')
+            return
+        output_filepath = os.environ.get(StageInOutUtils.OUTPUT_FILE)
+        FileUtils.mk_dir_p(os.path.dirname(output_filepath))
+        output_str = json.dumps(output_json) if not isinstance(output_json, str) else output_json
+        with open(output_filepath, 'w') as ff:
+            ff.write(output_str)
+        return
diff --git a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/upload_granules_s3.py b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/upload_granules_s3.py
index 8aba70c2..686e5b99 100644
--- a/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/upload_granules_s3.py
+++ b/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/upload_granules_s3.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import json
 
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.search_collections_factory import SearchCollectionsFactory
-from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.search_granules_factory import SearchGranulesFactory
 from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.upload_granules_abstract import UploadGranulesAbstract
 import logging
 import os
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 5735a9ad..64a33f72 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name="cumulus_lambda_functions",
-    version="3.7.1",
+    version="3.8.0",
     packages=find_packages(),
     install_requires=install_requires,
     tests_require=['mock', 'nose', 'sphinx', 'sphinx_rtd_theme', 'coverage', 'pystac', 'python-dotenv', 'jsonschema'],
diff --git a/tests/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/__init__.py b/tests/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/tests/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/test_stage_in_out_utils.py b/tests/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/test_stage_in_out_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..91ebfe71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cumulus_lambda_functions/stage_in_out/test_stage_in_out_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import os
+import tempfile
+from unittest import TestCase
+
+from cumulus_lambda_functions.lib.utils.file_utils import FileUtils
+from cumulus_lambda_functions.stage_in_out.stage_in_out_utils import StageInOutUtils
+
+
+class TestStageInOutUtils(TestCase):
+    def test_01(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ[StageInOutUtils.OUTPUT_FILE] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'SAMPLE', 'output.json')
+            StageInOutUtils.write_output_to_file({'test1': True})
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ.get(StageInOutUtils.OUTPUT_FILE)))
+        return
+
+    def test_02(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ[StageInOutUtils.OUTPUT_FILE] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'output.json')
+            StageInOutUtils.write_output_to_file({'test1': True})
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ.get(StageInOutUtils.OUTPUT_FILE)))
+        return
diff --git a/tests/integration_tests/test_docker_entry.py b/tests/integration_tests/test_docker_entry.py
index de1e5985..fa5bb6c9 100644
--- a/tests/integration_tests/test_docker_entry.py
+++ b/tests/integration_tests/test_docker_entry.py
@@ -35,12 +35,16 @@ def test_01_search_part_01(self):
         if len(argv) > 1:
             argv.pop(-1)
         argv.append('SEARCH')
-        search_result = choose_process()
-        search_result = json.loads(search_result)
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(search_result, list), f'search_result is not list: {search_result}')
-        self.assertEqual(len(search_result), 4000, f'wrong length')
-        search_result = set([k['id'] for k in search_result])
-        self.assertEqual(len(search_result),4000, f'wrong length. not unique')
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
+            search_result_str = choose_process()
+            search_result = json.loads(search_result_str)
+            self.assertTrue(isinstance(search_result, list), f'search_result is not list: {search_result}')
+            self.assertEqual(len(search_result), 4000, f'wrong length')
+            search_result = set([k['id'] for k in search_result])
+            self.assertEqual(len(search_result),4000, f'wrong length. not unique')
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
+            self.assertEqual(sorted(json.dumps(FileUtils.read_json(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']))), sorted(search_result_str), f'not identical result')
         return
 
     def test_01_search_part_02(self):
@@ -220,6 +224,7 @@ def test_02_download(self):
             argv.pop(-1)
         argv.append('DOWNLOAD')
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
             os.environ['DOWNLOAD_DIR'] = tmp_dir_name
             download_result = choose_process()
             self.assertTrue(isinstance(download_result, list), f'download_result is not list: {download_result}')
@@ -228,6 +233,7 @@ def test_02_download(self):
             for each_granule in zip(granule_json, download_result):
                 remote_filename = os.path.basename(each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href'])
                 self.assertEqual(each_granule[1]['assets']['data']['href'], os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, remote_filename), f"mismatched: {each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href']}")
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return
 
     def test_02_download__daac(self):
@@ -242,6 +248,7 @@ def test_02_download__daac(self):
             argv.pop(-1)
         argv.append('DOWNLOAD')
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
             os.environ['DOWNLOAD_DIR'] = tmp_dir_name
             download_result = choose_process()
             self.assertTrue(isinstance(download_result, list), f'download_result is not list: {download_result}')
@@ -254,6 +261,7 @@ def test_02_download__daac(self):
                 remote_filename = os.path.basename(each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href'])
                 self.assertEqual(each_granule[1]['assets']['data']['href'], os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, remote_filename),
                                  f"mismatched: {each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href']}")
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return
 
     def test_02_download__daac__from_file(self):
@@ -268,6 +276,7 @@ def test_02_download__daac__from_file(self):
             argv.pop(-1)
         argv.append('DOWNLOAD')
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
             granule_json_file = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'input_file.json')
             downloading_dir = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'downloading_dir')
             FileUtils.mk_dir_p(downloading_dir)
@@ -285,6 +294,7 @@ def test_02_download__daac__from_file(self):
                 remote_filename = os.path.basename(each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href'])
                 self.assertEqual(each_granule[1]['assets']['data']['href'], os.path.join(downloading_dir, remote_filename),
                                  f"mismatched: {each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href']}")
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return
 
     def test_02_download__daac_error(self):
@@ -299,6 +309,7 @@ def test_02_download__daac_error(self):
             argv.pop(-1)
         argv.append('DOWNLOAD')
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
             # TODO this is downloading a login page HTML
             os.environ['DOWNLOAD_DIR'] = tmp_dir_name
             download_result = choose_process()
@@ -307,6 +318,7 @@ def test_02_download__daac_error(self):
             error_file = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'error.log')
             if FileUtils.file_exist(error_file):
                 self.assertTrue(False, f'some downloads failed. error.log exists. {FileUtils.read_json(error_file)}')
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return
 
     def test_02_download__from_file(self):
@@ -316,6 +328,7 @@ def test_02_download__from_file(self):
         argv.append('DOWNLOAD')
         os.environ['GRANULES_DOWNLOAD_TYPE'] = 'S3'
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
             granule_json_file = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'input_file.json')
             downloading_dir = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'downloading_dir')
             FileUtils.mk_dir_p(downloading_dir)
@@ -333,6 +346,7 @@ def test_02_download__from_file(self):
                 remote_filename = os.path.basename(each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href'])
                 self.assertEqual(each_granule[1]['assets']['data']['href'], os.path.join(downloading_dir, remote_filename),
                                  f"mismatched: {each_granule[0]['assets']['data']['href']}")
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return
 
     def test_03_upload(self):
@@ -354,6 +368,7 @@ def test_03_upload(self):
         argv.append('UPLOAD')
 
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
             os.environ['UPLOAD_DIR'] = tmp_dir_name
             with open(os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'test_file01.nc'), 'w') as ff:
                 ff.write('sample_file')
@@ -465,6 +480,7 @@ def test_03_upload(self):
             self.assertTrue('data' in upload_result['assets'], 'missing assets#data')
             self.assertTrue('href' in upload_result['assets']['data'], 'missing assets#data#href')
             self.assertTrue(upload_result['assets']['data']['href'].startswith(f's3://{os.environ["STAGING_BUCKET"]}/'))
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return
 
     def test_03_upload_catalog(self):
@@ -487,6 +503,7 @@ def test_03_upload_catalog(self):
         argv.append('UPLOAD')
 
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
             os.environ['UPLOAD_DIR'] = ''  # not needed
             os.environ['CATALOG_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'catalog.json')
             with open(os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'test_file01.nc'), 'w') as ff:
@@ -629,6 +646,7 @@ def test_03_upload_catalog(self):
             self.assertTrue('data' in upload_result['assets'], 'missing assets#data')
             self.assertTrue('href' in upload_result['assets']['data'], 'missing assets#data#href')
             self.assertTrue(upload_result['assets']['data']['href'].startswith(f's3://{os.environ["STAGING_BUCKET"]}/'))
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return
 
     def test_04_catalog(self):
@@ -646,6 +664,9 @@ def test_04_catalog(self):
         if len(argv) > 1:
             argv.pop(-1)
         argv.append('CATALOG')
-        catalog_result = choose_process()
-        self.assertEqual('registered', catalog_result, 'wrong status')
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir_name:
+            os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE'] = os.path.join(tmp_dir_name, 'some_output', 'output.json')
+            catalog_result = choose_process()
+            self.assertEqual('registered', catalog_result, 'wrong status')
+            self.assertTrue(FileUtils.file_exist(os.environ['OUTPUT_FILE']), f'missing output file')
         return