Principal RUST Software Engineer

Knowhirematch•Washington, DC

2d•$200,000 - $250,000•Onsite

About The Position

Seeking a Principal RUST Software Engineer to serve as a key technical leader in the strategic evolution of our mission-critical systems. This role is not just about writing code; it is about providing expert-level architectural direction and driving organizational change. The Principal Engineer will be instrumental in setting the direction and strategy for product and infrastructure development by leading the full-scale adoption and deployment of the RUST programming language across multiple embedded product lines. You will be responsible for defining the RUST engineering roadmap, ensuring code is secure and memory-safe, and mentoring senior and junior engineers on complex implementation patterns for our C5 and Cyber Solution Centers. The selected candidate will operate as a key team member on a Scrum team, shaping the future of secure, high-assurance software in the aerospace and defense sector.

Requirements

A minimum of 12 years of progressive, prior relevant experience , demonstrating increasing technical responsibility, with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field (or 10 years with a Graduate Degree, or 16 years without a degree).
RUST Expertise: 5+ years of hands-on experience developing production RUST software, including a demonstrated deep architectural understanding of the language, its concurrency models, and its application to high-assurance systems.
C/C++ Interoperability: Extensive experience with C/C++ development and object-oriented design, particularly in scenarios requiring integration or conversion to RUST.
Must be a U.S. Citizen with an Active Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Clearance

Nice To Haves

Experience developing RUST software for embedded systems.
Experience converting C\C++ code to RUST.
Object-oriented design and implementation experience, with exposure to software modeling and UML tools such as IBM Rhapsody or Magic Draw/Cameo.
Experience developing device drivers and Board Support Packages for real-time embedded systems.
Experience with Information Assurance and/or cryptography.
Experience with NSA Type 1 certification or other SW certification such as DO-178.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

RUST Strategic Leadership: Define, champion, and drive the comprehensive strategy and roadmap for RUST adoption, deployment, and integration across multiple mission-critical product lines, ensuring technical alignment with long-term business goals.
Architectural Guidance & Standards: Establish and enforce principal-level best practices, design patterns, and architectural standards for memory-safe and efficient usage of RUST, especially in resource-constrained embedded environments.
Technical Mentorship & Development: Serve as the primary technical mentor, subject matter expert, and ultimate reviewer for RUST code and complex design artifacts, significantly elevating the skill set of the broader engineering team.
Legacy Modernization: Guide and execute the complex integration or conversion of significant legacy C/C++ software components into production-ready RUST solutions, prioritizing security and performance parity.
High-Assurance Software Development: Apply expert-level computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis concepts to develop high-assurance, maintainable software (primarily in RUST , C/C++, and Python) for embedded real-time operating systems (e.g., VxWorks, Linux, Integrity).
Advanced Troubleshooting: Investigate, diagnose, and resolve the root causes of the most complex and systemic technical issues (e.g., race conditions, memory issues) at the system level, often requiring independent judgment and cross-functional team leadership.
SDLC Ownership: Drive and participate in all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle, including leading requirements decomposition, system-level design review , implementation, hardware-software integration, and formal test verification.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate closely with program managers, systems engineers, and external stakeholders to translate high-level mission requirements into prioritized, scoped, and actionable technical tasks. Develop software test plans, procedures, and relevant technical documentation, ensuring compliance with industry and customer standards (e.g., NSA Type 1, DO-178).