Senior Software Developer (TAK)

Overview:

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary:

The Software Engineer (SMTS) works on mission-oriented projects that span from self-driving cars and unmanned vehicles to medical applications and fielded systems for battlefield situational awareness. Software Engineers work on multiple projects in an Agile environment, converting customer requirements into functional, scalable software solutions. As a part of the Software Engineering Team, developers will build out software solutions and see a project through from the design and requirements stage all the way to testing and deployment in the field.
We are seeking a skilled TAK Software Developer with a strong background in server-side and mobile application development, networking, and cloud technologies. The ideal candidate will contribute to building and maintaining robust, scalable systems using modern frameworks and tools, while adhering to best practices in security and containerized deployment.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
• Independently execute task assignments.
• Designs algorithms using modern theory and proven techniques, adheres to software best practices.
• Analyzes designs to demonstrate performance and functionality.
• Develops and executes software tests to check compliance with requirements.
• Prepares technical data, procedures, reports, drawings, manuals, and other required documentation.
• Communicates with customers and stakeholders to establish requirements and describe the design and deliverables.
• Drives solutions to complex problems, actively participate in requirements development, propose ways forward, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements.
• Contributes to system architecture decisions and leads the architecture of sub-systems.
• Provides insight and suggest adaptations or modifications to processes and/or applications based on quantitative data or results.
• Identifies project technical risks and develops and executes mitigation strategies.
• Actively mentors less experienced staff and provides thoughtful, constructive feedback.
• Lead a small team of software developers on projects.

Skills/Abilities
• Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrate an ability to learn new programming languages and technologies quickly.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel.
• A team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.

Education
Requires a bachelor's in Computer Science or other related field. Master's degree is preferred.

Experience
5-10 years experience in Software Engineering or related field.

Additional Job Description:

• Design, develop, and maintain server-side applications using the Ktor HTTP server/client framework (Kotlin).
• Develop and enhance Android applications using Kotlin and Java, with a focus on integrating with TAK (Tactical Assault Kit) software.
• Implement and manage TLS/SSL certificates for secure communication, ensuring best practices in certificate handling and lifecycle management.
• Develop and deploy containerized applications using Docker and manage container orchestration systems as needed.
• Work with Linux-based environments, configuring servers and ensuring high performance and security.
• Leverage AWS cloud services for hosting, scaling, and monitoring applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement networking solutions, ensuring secure and reliable communication.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex networking issues, with a focus on TLS and SSL protocols.
• Stay updated on industry trends and technologies, particularly around cloud infrastructure, Kotlin development, and TAK (Tactical Assault Kit) technologies.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Ktor, Java and the Kotl