Principal Project Engineer

Leonardo DRS, Inc.•Madison, WI

190d

About The Position

DRS Daylight Solutions business provides industry-changing photonic engine technology for government and commercial markets, including defense and security, quantum information sciences, life sciences, and industrial process control. As a laser technology pioneer, Daylight Solutions has delivered more mid-IR systems to more applications world-wide than any other company. Daylight laser solutions span the full spectrum from UV to visible to NIR to mid-IR. At DRS Daylight Solutions, you will be eligible for competitive pay, great benefits, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k match, 9/80 work schedule, and Tuition Assistance. Our Daylight family-oriented culture allows you to receive hands-on training, professional development, career advancement and exposure to the latest and greatest technology, where our motto is "To protect with Light". Come join the family!Job SummaryThe Senior Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the stability, performance, and ongoing improvement of production software systems that support critical business and manufacturing operations. This role combines hands-on technical expertise, ensuring that software applications remain reliable, well-supported, and aligned with operational needs. The position places a strong emphasis on troubleshooting, maintaining, and enhancing existing systems rather than greenfield development.

Requirements

Master’s degree in engineering or related technical field with a minimum of 8 years of experience
Mastery of technologies and domain knowledge
Expected to have knowledge and significant experience in multiple engineering disciplines
U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a DOD security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with IIS and ASP, LabVIEW, Visual Basic, SQL Server databases and queries.
Experience with troubleshooting complex software and data issues in live environments.
Experience with machine control systems, industrial automation, or manufacturing environments.
Knowledge of software deployment, version control, and change management best practices.
Strong communication skills with the ability to bridge technical and non-technical teams.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day support for mission-critical production software systems, ensuring high availability.
Diagnose and resolve software, data, and system issues impacting manufacturing.
Work closely with operations, engineering, and production teams to understand user requirements.
Implement bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor enhancements.
Establish and follow best practices for change management, version control, and deployments.
Design, develop, and maintain applications using C#, .Net/.NET Framework and related technologies.
Support or integrate with machine control systems and industrial automation software as needed.
Review code and technical designs to ensure quality, maintainability, and compliance with standards.
Experience designing/maintaining software architecture.
Working data acquisition and electrical knowledge.
Lead and mentor software developers and technical staff, setting priorities and providing technical guidance.
Coordinate work efforts across IT, engineering, and production teams to align software support with business goals.
Assist with project planning, task estimation, and resource allocation.
Document systems, processes, and procedures to ensure continuity and knowledge sharing.
Software project management experience.