Senior Software Engineer

Software Engineering Institute | Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to support U.S. Department of War customers in acquiring and sustaining a mission-critical, software-based mission planning and readiness applications essential to national security operations. In this role, you will provide software development support across the full software acquisition lifecycle, including architecture analysis, development oversight, risk reduction, integration, and long-term sustainment planning. You will work closely with Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Program Management Offices (PMOs), sustainment organizations, contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure delivered capabilities meet operational, maintainability, and long-term supportability requirements. The ideal candidate combines deep, hands-on expertise in C++ and browser supported languages. Additionally, development experience supporting Army, Air Force, Navy and Space Force acquisition programs, legacy-dependent systems, and operational environments is key. You will integrate with technical teams, evaluate architectural tradeoffs, develop prototypes, analyze existing source code, and support customer engagements that inform acquisition and sustainment decisions. Join us in advancing the engineering of mission-critical systems that protect and support those who serve.

Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain an active Department of War (DoW) security clearance; an existing SECRET or higher clearance is preferred
• Experience leading, architecting, or developing large-scale acquisition programs
• Experience with developing mission and safety critical embedded software applications
• Experience supporting major DoW acquisition organizations
• Proven experience designing and implementing complex software architectures for mission-critical or sustainment-focused systems based on new and existing system and software requirements with varying levels of uncertainty
• Proven experience in developing new and maintaining existing software documentation artifacts with emphasis on views and models across the full Software Development Lifecycle through modern tools and approaches
• Proven experience in structured verification and validation activities in planning and execution of system and software level test activities
• Demonstrated ability to identify and balance architectural drivers, tradeoffs, extensibility, and long-term maintainability
• Experience across the full software development lifecycle, including use of static analysis tools and associated coding standards to improve quality and security
• Demonstrated success leading technical teams and engaging credibly with government and contractor stakeholders
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to senior government decision-makers
• Willingness to work directly with U.S. military and government customers in mission-focused environments
• Ability to travel up to 25% to SEI offices, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings
• BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related disciple with ten (10) years of experience; OR MS in the same fields with eight (8) years of experience; OR a PhD in the same fields with five (5) years of experience

Nice To Haves

• Deep, hands-on expertise in C++ and browser supported languages
• Development experience supporting Army, Air Force, Navy and Space Force acquisition programs, legacy-dependent systems, and operational environments

Responsibilities

• Support DoW software acquisition and sustainment efforts in alignment with DoD 5000-series guidance, including architecture analysis, engineering, integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment planning
• Provide software development expertise for a DoW planning and readiness application supporting mission readiness
• Analyze lifecycle artifacts associated with two or more planning applications and propose methods to combine them into a common baseline
• Advise and develop prototype capability for government stakeholders on software design decisions, technical risks, modernization strategies, and tradeoffs associated with large, legacy-dependent systems
• Lead software development efforts from concept through deployment, with an emphasis on C++ and browser supported languages like C#, Java, and Angular.
• Demonstrate software architecture expertise by developing and maintaining design artifacts such as data-flow diagrams, sequence diagrams, interface control definitions, and quality attribute specifications to support scalable, maintainable, and resilient solutions
• Analyze existing source code, interfaces, and data flows to identify technical debt, sustainment risks, and modernization opportunities
• Build prototypes and technical demonstrations to reduce risk, inform acquisition decisions, and mature emerging capabilities
• Lead and mentor development teams, promoting disciplined engineering practices, continuous improvement, and mission focus
• Support customer engagements such as technical interchange meetings (TIMs), design reviews, and acquisition milestone activities, providing clear, defensible technical input
• Stay current on emerging technologies, software engineering best practices, and digital modernization initiatives relevant to sustainment and maintenance systems

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance
• Tuition benefits
• Generous time off
• Robust retirement savings policy
• 8% monthly contribution to retirement plan with no personal contribution required
• Access to tuition benefits for yourself and your dependent children
• Paid parental and military leave
• Relocation assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior