Sr Principal Software Engineer (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space•Centennial, CO

1d•$206,107 - $283,398

About The Position

The Sr. Principal Software Engineer role involves designing, developing, and testing software applications for space systems and technologies. This advanced position requires extensive expertise in multiple programming languages, an advanced understanding of software development principles, and the ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems. The role includes writing clean, maintainable code, collaborating with team members to understand project requirements, and contributing to the development of innovative software solutions. Additionally, this position involves leading a team of engineers, making high-level design decisions, and driving the strategic direction of the software engineering team. The role also requires project leadership, strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication with non-technical stakeholders. In this role, you will design, develop, and test software applications for space systems and technologies while writing clean, maintainable code that adheres to best practices and coding standards. You will architect and implement complex software systems to meet project requirements and collaborate with team members to understand project needs, contributing to the development of effective software solutions. Utilizing version control systems such as Git, you will manage code changes and work collaboratively with team members. You will participate in code reviews to ensure code quality and adherence to development standards, troubleshoot and resolve software-related issues in a timely manner, and document software configurations, processes, and procedures for future reference. Staying current with industry trends and advancements in software development and space technologies will be essential. Additionally, you will lead a team of engineers, providing technical leadership, mentorship, and support to foster collaboration and growth within the team. You will make high-level design decisions that significantly impact program cost, schedule, and technical performance, drive the strategic direction of the software engineering team, and demonstrate project leadership, strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication with non-technical stakeholders. Furthermore, you will architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale projects, innovate, and make strategic decisions regarding the adoption of new technologies and methodologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master's +13 yrs experience)
Typically, 15+ years of related experience
Extensive expertise in multiple programming languages and software development principles
Ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems
Strong leadership skills to lead a team of engineers
Ability to make high-level design decisions
Ability to drive the strategic direction of the software engineering team
Demonstrated project leadership, strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication with non-technical stakeholders
Ability to architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale projects, innovate, and make decisions on the adoption of new technologies and methodologies
Experience with different software development methodologies such as Agile and Scrum/Kanban
An active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required
U.S. Citizenship status is required

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
Extensive experience with real-time/performance-critical software and system-level optimization, including where ground systems interface with vehicle or hardware timing constraints
Mastery in programming languages (Python, C++) and their ecosystems, including Python FastAPI, at an architectural level across multiple programs
Expertise in scripting languages (Bash, PowerShell, Perl) and automation tools (Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef) at an enterprise infrastructure scale
Proven, organization-wide experience with Agile or Scrum methodologies and tools (JIRA, Confluence, Jenkins), including guiding multiple teams through sprints
Exceptional analytical skills, performance profiling, memory management, and debugging of complex distributed ground systems
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with proficiency in collaborative tools (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) and facilitating development ceremonies across teams
Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale ground software projects from inception to completion
Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills at a program or organizational level
Expert-level knowledge of database management systems (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB), including optimization and scaling strategies for large operational/telemetry data stores
Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS, including GovCloud) and cloud-native development; familiarity with Azure or Google Cloud a plus
Advanced proficiency with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes, Helm, ArgoCD) at enterprise scale
In-depth understanding of network protocols, security principles, and secure coding practices for systems handling command/telemetry links in classified or controlled environments
Ability to write, maintain, and set standards for comprehensive technical documentation, including interface control documents (ICDs)
Extensive experience with CI/CD pipelines and advanced automated testing frameworks, including test and checkout systems used for vehicle validation
Proven track record of mentoring and guiding engineers at all levels, providing technical leadership across teams
Experience with continuous integration and automated testing at an organizational scale
Knowledge of and experience implementing Software Design Patterns across complex, enterprise-scale applications
Familiarity with SysML/UML to create and maintain software designs, particularly against flight/vehicle segment interfaces
Experience utilizing and setting up static analysis tools as part of a broader code quality and mission-assurance strategy

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and test software applications for space systems and technologies
Write clean, maintainable code that adheres to best practices and coding standards
Architect and implement complex software systems to meet project requirements
Collaborate with team members to understand project needs, contributing to the development of effective software solutions
Utilize version control systems such as Git to manage code changes and work collaboratively with team members
Participate in code reviews to ensure code quality and adherence to development standards
Troubleshoot and resolve software-related issues in a timely manner
Document software configurations, processes, and procedures for future reference
Stay current with industry trends and advancements in software development and space technologies
Lead a team of engineers, providing technical leadership, mentorship, and support to foster collaboration and growth within the team
Make high-level design decisions that significantly impact program cost, schedule, and technical performance
Drive the strategic direction of the software engineering team
Demonstrate project leadership, strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication with non-technical stakeholders
Architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale projects
Innovate and make strategic decisions regarding the adoption of new technologies and methodologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness