Sr Principal Software Engineer

Sierra Space•Louisville, KY

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.
The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
Extensive experience with kernel-level programming and system optimization.
Mastery in programming languages (Python, C++) and their ecosystems.
Expertise in scripting languages (Bash, PowerShell, Perl) and automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef, Terraform).
Proven experience with Agile or Scrum methodologies and tools (JIRA, Confluence, Jenkins).
Exceptional analytical skills, performance profiling, memory management, and debugging.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with proficiency in collaborative tools (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).
Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale software projects from inception to completion.
Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
Advanced knowledge of database management systems (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB).
Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and cloud-native development.
Proficiency with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
In-depth understanding of network protocols, security principles, and secure coding practices.
Ability to write and maintain comprehensive technical documentation.
Extensive experience with CI/CD pipelines and advanced automated testing frameworks.
Proven track record of mentoring and guiding junior engineers, providing technical leadership.
Experience with continuous integration and automated test.
Knowledge of and experience implementing Software Design Patterns.
Familiarity with SysML/UML to create software designs.
Experience utilizing and setting up static analysis tools.

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.
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.
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.