Research Software Engineer, Formal Methods (Hybrid)

Date Posted:

2026-04-01

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-MA-CAMBRIDGE-BBN06 ~ 10 & 50 Moulton St ~ MOULTON B6

Position Role Type:

Hybrid

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type:

DoD Clearance: Top Secret

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

RTX BBN Networking and Cyber Technologies group is looking for a Research Software Engineer, Formal Methods with strong software development skills and an interest in security and resilience of large-scale dynamic systems. In this position, you will contribute strong software development skills and apply reasoning and formal methods techniques to significantly enhance security and resilience of large dynamic systems.

This position offers the opportunity to shine as a lead developer of an exceptional team while building core technologies for improving processes, networks, protocols, and systems. You will develop software to support models that analyze networks and complex processes, improve the collective understanding of such systems, and increase their performance. You will contribute to and work alongside extraordinarily talented individuals.

What You Will Do

• Program and test software and systems in Python, C, C++, or Java, as well as using logic programming languages.
• Design and develop formal (using mathematical logic) or informal models and specifications of protocols and systems.
• Develop algorithms for analyzing systems to understand how and when they work or break, and how to make them more secure and resilient. Working knowledge applying formal methods techniques such as model checking and theorem proving are highly desirable.
• Apply critical analyses to results to validate technical hypotheses and inform next steps.
• Advance network security research at BBN.
• Own projects or large components of projects.
• Distinguish BBN and yourself to customers by leading and performing cutting edge research.
• Travel up to 10%; candidates should expect that they may be required to travel to a BBN, RTX, teammate, or customer site for meetings or other business-related activities.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires: A University Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics or equivalent experience and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years experience.​
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with multiple software development tools and languages, including Python and either C/C++ or Java.
• Prior experience with Formal Methods, preferably with the application and scaling of formal methods techniques (e.g. model checking, model measuring, and theorem proving).
• Prior experience with mathematical logic and logic programming.
• Prior experience with networking fundamentals.
• Prior experience in systems security.
• Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret Clearance within a year.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with Formal Methods, specifically with the application and scaling of formal methods techniques such as model checking, model measuring, and theorem proving.
• PhD degree.
• Experience writing logic for SAT, SMT solvers.
• Experience with Python and/or shell scripting.
• Experience writing proposals, capture.
• Experience in Networking and protocols (TCP/IP stacks, wire-level protocols, RF communications, BGP, etc.).

Location

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

• Hybrid: Employees who are working in Hybrid roles will work regularly both onsite and offsite. Ratio of time working onsite will be determined in partnership with your leader.
• Hybrid from one of the following locations: Columbia, MD - Arlington, VA - Cambridge, MA
• Reloca