Principal Software Engineer
About the Team:
The Real-time Architectures, Integration, and Demonstration (RAID) Group focuses on transition of algorithms from concept to real-time software, providing open architecture expertise, and facilitating integration of capabilities for experimentation, test, and deployment.
The Role:
As a Principal Software Engineer you will provide technical leadership for the development, integration, and validation of real-time RF sensor software systems. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to architect, guide, and implement software components, integrate algorithms into open architecture frameworks, and develop test infrastructure to validate system performance. This role emphasizes hands-on software development, open system integration, integrating software components across distributed architectures and with hardware platforms, and rigorous testing of real-time applications. You will establish integration and test approaches, identify and mitigate technical risks, mentor engineers, and collaborate with program leadership and government customers to ensure successful delivery of mission-critical capabilities.
What you will do:
Lead the technical design, development, integration, and validation of real-time sensor systems in C/C++
Integrate signal processing algorithms into open architecture software frameworks
Define, develop, and execute integration tests and system-level validation tests
Debug software issues in real-time, multi-threaded, and distributed systems
Lead the transition of algorithm specifications and MATLAB/Python prototypes into optimized production C/C++ implementations
Document software designs, test procedures, results, and technical reports as well as integration plans, technical briefings, and customer-facing presentations
Support system demonstrations and field-testing activities
Establish and promote best practices for software quality, configuration management, test automation, documentation, and technical risk management
Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level engineers
Interface with government sponsors, customers, program managers, and technical stakeholders to define requirements, communicate technical status, and present results
Lead or substantially contribute to proposal development, including technical approach development, work-breakdown planning, technical writing, cost estimation, white papers, and customer presentations
Contribute to the design and implementation of user interfaces, dashboards, and visualization tools that support system observability, test execution, data analysis, and integration workflows
Support approximately 10% travel for integration events, field testing, and customer demonstrations
Who you are:
Active clearance at the Secret level with ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is a government requirement
BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with relevant experience depending on degree (BS + 12 years, MS + 10 years, or PhD + 5 years)
Ten or more years of professional software development experience, including demonstrated experience leading complex software development, integration, and test efforts
Expert-level proficiency in programming for high-performance, real-time applications
Experience with version control systems (Git)
Experience with Linux
Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills
Demonstrated experience developing or integrating real-time software for signal-processing, embedded, distributed, or hardware-connected systems
Demonstrated technical leadership and mentoring experience
Experience leading or substantially contributing to proposal efforts, including technical writing, technical-approach development, cost estimation, and customer presentations
Even Better:
Active Top Secret clearance (TS/SCI preferred)
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts to engineers, program leadership, and government customers
Proficiency in Python or MATLAB
Experience with hands-on hardware testing and lab equipment
Experience in signal processing and RF sensor-system architectures
Experience with real-time or embedded software development
Knowledge of multithreaded programming and synchronization
Understanding of open architecture principles and standards
Experience developing user interfaces, dashboards, or visualization tools for system integration, test execution, operational monitoring, or data analysis
Awareness of usability and human-machine-interface considerations for technical, engineering, or mission-system applications
Join us and be part of a team that's making an impact at the forefront of technology and innovation.
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $220,000 - $260,000
The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.