Lead Software Engineer

Akima, LLC•Huntsville, AL

11h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer to support a diverse portfolio of software development and simulation projects. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who enjoys both hands-on software development and technical leadership. The immediate need is primarily focused on the development of modern web applications, but our engineering team supports a broad range of technologies and project types, including web-based systems, Unity and Unreal Engine applications, C++ development, simulation environments, and hardware/software integration. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between projects and technologies as program needs evolve. This individual will also help lead technical efforts, mentor other engineers, coordinate development activities, make architectural and implementation decisions, and take ownership of efforts that would otherwise require direct involvement from engineering leadership. This is not intended to be a purely managerial role. The Lead Software Engineer will remain an active contributor and should be comfortable designing solutions, troubleshooting difficult technical problems, and writing production code alongside the development team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
8+ years of professional software development experience, including senior or technical leadership responsibilities.
Strong software engineering fundamentals, including architecture, object-oriented design, debugging, testing, source control, and maintainable software design.
Experience designing and developing modern web applications, including front-end, back-end, APIs, databases, and networked systems.
Proficiency in one or more languages such as C#, C++, Java, or similar.
Demonstrated ability to lead technical efforts, mentor developers, and independently drive software solutions from concept through implementation.
Ability to quickly understand unfamiliar codebases, troubleshoot complex technical issues, and adapt to new languages, frameworks, and technologies.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
US Citizenship required.

Nice To Haves

Modern web technologies such as React, Angular, Vue, Node.js, .NET, TypeScript, and relational databases such as PostgreSQL.
C#/.NET and C++ development.
Unity, Unreal Engine, real-time simulation, or 3D application development.
Linux, Docker, and containerized application environments.
Network programming and integration technologies, including REST APIs, WebSockets, TCP/UDP, and hardware/software integration.
CI/CD pipelines, automated builds, testing, and software quality tools.
Agile/Scrum development environments and modern collaborative development practices.
Systems engineering, requirements traceability, DoD/government programs, simulation, training, or other regulated development environments.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, test, and maintain software across a variety of applications and platforms, with an immediate emphasis on modern web development.
Lead technical efforts from requirements and design through implementation, integration, testing, and delivery.
Take ownership of projects and technical workstreams, driving them forward with limited oversight.
Translate system and program requirements into practical software architectures, designs, and development tasks.
Provide technical leadership through mentoring, code reviews, development standards, planning, estimation, and prioritization.
Work with engineers, artists, testers, customers, and other stakeholders to resolve technical and integration challenges.
Support integration with external systems, hardware, simulations, network services, and third-party applications.
Troubleshoot complex software, operating system, networking, and integration issues.
Adapt across projects, programming languages, engines, and technology stacks as priorities change.
Evaluate and improve development tools, processes, automation, and overall engineering efficiency.