Senior Software Engineer

Sonatech • Santa Barbara, CA

10d • $155,000 - $200,000 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to take technical lead of software development for advanced undersea acoustics projects. This hands-on role includes leading project planning, architecture, detailed design, technical, and delivering robust, production-ready software. In addition to core software development, the engineer will help integrate our products into larger, complex systems. The engineer will help develop secure interfaces, support containerized deployments, contribute to cybersecurity compliance, and enable interoperability with external systems developed by other integrators.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely‑related technical discipline.
• 10 + years of professional software development.
• Expert‑level proficiency in C and C++ (C++11 or newer) and solid Python abilities for scripting, tooling, or test automation.
• Proven expertise in Redhat and Embedded Linux (required) plus at least one of the following: Real‑time systems (RTOS design, deterministic scheduling, latency analysis) or Bare‑metal firmware (no‑OS, low‑level driver development, hardware bring‑up).
• Experience collaborating with hardware, FPGA, and software teams to embed subsystems into larger networked or software‑defined platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting technical concepts to both engineering and non‑technical audiences.
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a DoD Secret clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Hands‑on implementation of modern DevOps pipelines (GitLab CI, Jenkins, GitHub Actions) and container orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker) for embedded‑software builds and tests.
• Knowledge of secure coding practices, software‑quality assurance processes, and system‑level integration testing.
• Experience with system‑on‑chip architectures, especially designs that involve shared memory or tight CPU‑FPGA interaction.
• Familiarity with CMMC or NIST 800-218 frameworks and experience contributing to compliance efforts in a regulated software environment.
• Experience developing for DoD Projects.
• Prior experience in undersea acoustics, sonar, or similar signal-processing domains is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Technical Lead of small software team overseeing architecture, project planning, implementation strategy, detailed development, test and deployment.
• Collaborate closely with hardware, FPGA, and test teams to ensure effective system-level integration.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager to plan sprints, define milestones, track execution, and collaborate in cross-functional teams.
• Design and implement secure software interfaces for integration with external systems and third-party platforms.
• Apply CMMC and NIST 800-218 cybersecurity principles, NetBoot approach, performance monitoring and fault location techniques.
• Participate in and lead code reviews, design discussions, and troubleshooting.

Benefits

• 3% 401(k) company contribution (no match required).
• Additional bonus contribution to 401(k): Discretionary employer contribution – historically averaging approximately 7% of eligible compensation, with actual contributions varying annually.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Supportive, inclusive work environment with active investment in employee growth.

What This Job Offers

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