Principal Software Engineer
About The Position
KBR is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to support the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) development team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The role provides technical leadership for software development supporting high-velocity data stream processing systems and mission-critical national security and space missions. The position is 100% onsite, with minimal travel and standard working hours. The engineer will set software architecture, technical strategy, and long-term roadmaps; translate customer requirements and mission objectives into scalable system and software solutions; and lead architecture and design reviews, technology evaluations, integration, testing, and deployment. The role also establishes engineering standards and technical governance, evaluates technologies, leads technical investigations and root-cause analyses, mentors engineers, coordinates software engineering execution, and advises program leaders, customers, and mission partners. The position requires an active U.S. Government Top Secret/SCI clearance and U.S. citizenship, a bachelor's degree in a relevant technical field, and at least 10 years of progressive software engineering experience. Desired qualifications include a relevant master's degree, knowledge of specified military standards, experience as an architect or technical lead, and expertise in modern engineering practices.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of progressive software engineering experience.
- Extensive experience designing and developing distributed, high-availability, mission-critical software systems.
- Advanced expertise with Java, Python, or other object-oriented programming languages.
- Demonstrated experience leading software architecture and technical strategy efforts.
- Experience guiding engineering teams through the full software development lifecycle.
- Experience developing complex data processing, integration, or real-time streaming systems.
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional engineering teams and large technical initiatives.
- Strong communication skills and ability to engage engineers, leadership, and customers.
- Active U.S. Government Top Secret/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field.
- Deep knowledge of MIL-STD-6016 and MIL-STD-3011.
- Experience serving as a software architect, chief engineer, or technical lead across multiple projects.
- Experience modernizing legacy systems and implementing technology roadmaps.
- Expertise in TDD, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and Agile methodologies.
- Security+ or higher DoD 8570/8140 certification.
- Demonstrated ability to influence organizational technical direction and mentor engineering talent across multiple teams.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical leader for software development efforts supporting high-velocity data stream processing systems.
- Define software architecture, technical strategy, and long-term roadmaps for mission-critical applications.
- Analyze customer requirements and translate mission objectives into scalable system and software solutions.
- Lead architecture reviews, design reviews, and technology evaluations.
- Drive development of highly available, resilient, and high-performance software systems.
- Establish software engineering standards, best practices, and technical governance across teams.
- Lead complex integration, test, and deployment activities across multiple programs and stakeholders.
- Evaluate vendor technologies, open-source solutions, and emerging technologies for program adoption.
- Lead technical investigations, trade studies, and root-cause analyses for mission-critical issues.
- Mentor engineers across all levels and provide technical leadership for multiple teams.
- Coordinate planning, staffing, scheduling, and execution of software engineering activities.
- Serve as a trusted technical advisor to program leadership, customers, and mission partners.
Benefits
- Potential additional compensation may include a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
