Software Engineer Staff, Level 4 - Clearance Required

Standard Job Description

Space is a critical domain, connecting our technologies, our security and our humanity. While others view space as a destination, we see it as a realm of possibilities, where we can do more — we can innovate, invest, inspire and integrate our capabilities to transform the future.

At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision. We’re erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We’re advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation. And we’re reimagining how space can connect us, ensuring security and prosperity.

Join us in shaping a new era in space and find a career that's built for you.

Space Protection Programs (SPP) is seeking an experienced Staff Software Engineer to support the development, integration, and delivery of mission-critical spacecraft flight software and embedded systems. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives in complex, highly integrated environments and can lead technical execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, and integration/test activities.

The selected candidate will lead development efforts spanning the full software lifecycle including architecture, design, implementation, integration, verification, and system bring-up. This individual is expected to operate with a high degree of technical ownership and execution leadership, guiding teams through complex software and hardware integration challenges while supporting Agile program execution.

This position requires strong technical depth in embedded software development, system integration, and software architecture, as well as the ability to coordinate effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams and program stakeholders.

Experience with C/C++, Python, Linux-based development environments, and object-oriented design principles is required. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in dynamic mission environments, balancing technical execution, integration priorities, and evolving program needs while mentoring less experienced engineers and driving execution toward delivery milestones.

Plans, conducts, and coordinates software development activities. Designs, develops, documents, tests, and debugs software that contains logical and mathematical solutions to business/mission problems or questions in computer language for solutions by means of data processing equipment. Applies the appropriate standards, processes, procedures, and tools throughout the development life cycle. Applies knowledge of computer hardware and software, subject matter to be programmed in business/mission applications, information processing techniques used, and information gathered from system users to develop software. Corrects program errors, prepares operating instructions, compiles documentation of program development, and analyzes system capabilities to resolve questions of program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, programming techniques, and controls. Ensures software standards are met. Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice.

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to architect and design software solutions addressing complex embedded and distributed system problems
• Strong embedded programming experience in C/C++ and Python
• Experience working in Linux-based development environments
• Experience with software integration, debugging, and troubleshooting across hardware/software interfaces
• Comfortable operating within Agile Scrum development environments
• Active TS Security Clearance 

Desired Skills

• Knowledge of embedded systems architectures and experience testing and integrating embedded systems 
• Experience integrating complex software systems with real-time, high-performance, and/or timing-constrained requirements 
• Experience with MPSoC, FPGA-adjacent, and heterogeneous compute architectures 
• Experience developing or integrating software on AMD/Xilinx Versal or related heterogeneous compute architectures supporting embedded, real-time, or high-performance mission processing applications 
• Experience with hardware/software co-design and embedded platform bring-up activities 
• Demonstrated experience using Agile methodologies in the development, integration, and test of complex software systems 
• Experience leading integration efforts across software, systems engineering, hardware, and