Principal Software Engineer

Job Description:

Competitive Range partners with the government to plan and deploy complex, IT-enabled, and mission-essential capabilities. Our goal is to help you develop and expand your professional capabilities while working on challenging, exciting projects in a collaborative, congenial environment.

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to design, modify, develop, and implement highly secure and scalable software solutions supporting critical DoD operations. This senior-level role involves leading project teams, providing technical guidance, and delivering expert consultation on complex defense applications. The ideal candidate will bring extensive software engineering experience and a strong understanding of mission-critical systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of software programming applications and operating systems for defense projects.
• Modify and enhance existing software solutions to optimize security, functionality, and performance.
• Provide technical leadership to project teams, mentoring engineers and ensuring best practices in software development.
• Write, review, and maintain efficient, high-quality, and well-documented code following DoD cybersecurity and compliance standards.
• Offer expert consultation on complex projects, guiding strategic software engineering decisions.
• Oversee software testing, debugging, validation, and integration in defense environments.
• Ensure adherence to DoD security protocols, NIST standards, and Risk Management Framework (RMF) guidelines.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including cybersecurity specialists, system engineers, and DoD stakeholders, to drive mission success.

Required Qualifications:

• Active Secret Clearance: TS preferred

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree with 15 years of software engineering experience OR
  • Master’s Degree or higher with 12 years of experience.
• Experience:
  • 15 years of relevant software development experience with a Bachelor’s Degree OR
  • 12 years of experience with a Master’s Degree or higher.
• Extensive proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Java, Python, or embedded systems development.
• Strong expertise in software architecture, secure coding practices, and large-scale system engineering.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.
• Deep understanding of DoD systems, defense applications, and cybersecurity best practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading development efforts for classified defense systems and DoD contracts.
• Knowledge of cloud computing solutions for DoD applications (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government).
• Familiarity with DevSecOps methodologies, CI/CD pipelines, and secure software engineering principles.
• Certifications such as Security+, CISSP, or DoD-approved software development credentials.