Principal Software Engineer

The MITRE Corporation•McLean, VA

6d•$173,200 - $259,800•Hybrid

About The Position

MITRE’s Transportation Automation and Infrastructure Evolution department is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the technical transformation of the FAA’s air traffic management systems. This is a high-impact, senior engineering role focused on shaping the future of aviation automation by designing and delivering next-generation software architectures for the National Airspace System (NAS). You will drive the modernization of safety-critical and decision support systems, leading the transition from legacy monoliths to modular, cloud-native platforms. This is an opportunity to architect change at national scale—working alongside technical experts, sponsor leadership, and strategic partners to deliver resilient, high-performance automation capabilities.

Requirements

Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Experience with software engineering and architecture of complex, high-assurance systems
Strong experience in technical leadership roles, with hands-on responsibility for system design and software delivery
Experience with FAA automation systems (e.g., ERAM, STARS, TFMS, TBFM, TFDM, SWIM) or other safety-critical domains
Deep experience with cloud-native architectures, containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), and microservices
Proficient in developing applications for hybrid-cloud and mission-critical environments
Proficiency in modern DevSecOps tools, digital engineering/model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and Agile frameworks (e.g., SAFe)
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to interface with senior leadership and technical stakeholders
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a FAA - Suitability. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for FAA - Suitability
This position has a minimum requirement of 50% hybrid on-site

Nice To Haves

Active FAA suitability
Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field
Familiarity with air traffic control operations, safety assurance processes, and FAA acquisition lifecycle
Proven experience supporting government or national infrastructure systems where performance, security, and reliability are paramount

Responsibilities

Lead Systems Modernization: Architect and engineer the evolution of FAA automation platforms using cloud-native, microservices-based architectures.
Hands-On Development & Leadership: Provide technical execution and leadership in the design, prototyping, and integration of software services using modern DevSecOps toolchains and CI/CD pipelines.
Cloud Engineering: Lead application migration and refactoring for cloud environments (public, private, and hybrid), ensuring scalability, reliability, and compliance.
Enterprise Integration: Guide the modernization of FAA’s enterprise systems by designing modular solutions that unify disparate data, user interfaces, and workflows across domains.
Legacy Transition Strategy: Translate FAA's Automation Evolution Strategy into actionable engineering roadmaps for legacy system transformation.
Collaboration & Influence: Work directly with FAA engineers, program managers, and MITRE project teams to align technical solutions with mission needs.