Principal Software Engineer I - Autonomy Software

The Principal Software Engineer I – Autonomy Software will support the company’s core AI-enabled Autonomy Software development team in an assigned small-team leadership role. Primary responsibilities include day-to-day, agile software engineering for initial development, DevSecOps and CI/CD integration, and ongoing software test and evaluation using advanced modeling and simulation platforms. Additional responsibilities include providing autonomy software integration and test support to multiple autonomy programs aligned with specific customer autonomy objectives.  

Essential Functions: 

• Support a software team to develop software applications based on defined and derived requirements and create software designs at the object/class and application level.  

• Lead migrations of SSCI software applications to the SSCI Digital Engineering Environment, as directed, in support of current and future USG and DoD software acquisition requirements. 

• Write and review software documentation.  

• Lead or support development sprints and code reviews. 

• Manage a small software team tasked to achieve program milestones as directed, in accordance with modern software engineering Agile Software Development methodologies.  

• Lead or support Prime and customer-facing interactions.  

• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in software engineering and other areas relevant to SSCI (Navigation, Mission Planning, Autonomy, etc.). 

• Assist with non-technical programmatic priorities as needed, including staff planning, budget estimation and tracking, and customer-facing interactions. 

• This role may require the ability to sit or stand at a desk and work on a computer for prolonged periods of time. 

• May require the ability to push/pull/lift up to 15 pounds.  

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a US DOD Security Clearance.

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor of Science degree in Math, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Physical Science, Operations Research, or Data Science, or equivalent experience and 10+ years progressive software engineering experience including team leadership in a related industry and relevant experience with software development/R&D of AI for Robotics, Machine Learning, Robot Planning/Optimization Techniques, and/or Autonomous Uncrewed Systems Software 

• Significant experience as part of an autonomy integration team, including leading autonomy software to achieve operationally relevant software capabilities. 

• Extensive experience using modern software development tool chains and processes including build, test, and documentation methodologies as well as experience performing configuration (user accounts, project settings) for tools such as git/Gitlab/Github, Confluence/Jira, CI/CD, build automation tools, automated test methodologies, Model-Based System Engineering tools and techniques, etc. 

• Experience using C/C++, Python, and/or project-specific required languages (e.g. Java, Rust, etc.). 

• Experience designing object-oriented class structures with well-designed API within the languages of interest. 

• Experience with DoD or other common robotics and datalink architecture standards. (especially OMS, ROS, and AFSIM, as well as FACE, DDS, STANAG 4586, J-Series, etc) 

• Experience designing software architecture for complex software systems and integrate with DoD-standard architectures and interfaces. 

• Experience identifying and clarifying customer technical requirements and aligning technical efforts with requirements. 

 Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s of Science degree or PhD 

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail 

• Significant experience in AI/Autonomy/Robotics advanced technologies and software as demonstrated in successfully field-tested unmanned systems 

• Experience in Linux-based development environments 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills including technical writing skills used to write clear documentation for developed code. 

• Ability to identify and creatively solve complex problems. 

• Ability to execute logical reasoning and decision-making skills.   

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. 

• Salary: $169,000 - $212,000 (Depends on Experience)
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Hybrid work schedule
• Summer 9/80 Work Schedule
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Work From Home
• Free Food & Snacks
• Wellness Resources
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan