Senior Software Engineer - JobID-0200

Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), a leading defense technology company, is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Warfare Systems team in Arlington, VA or Mount Laurel, NJ. This role focuses on architecting and refactoring mission-critical legacy weapons system software into a modern technology stack, enabling a microservices-based tactical platform for both cloud-native and tactical-edge deployment models.

About the Role

The Senior Software Engineer will be part of a multi-discipline team supporting the Department of Defense’s initiatives for tactical capability development on Navy surface and unmanned (UxVs) platforms. Project domains include real-time automated test and analysis, virtual computing environments, AI/ML-based data analytics, cybersecurity, and tactical solutions. The role requires fierce accountability for delivering well-architected, production-ready solutions that exceed Fleet requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and test complex software in C, C++, Python, JavaScript, and Java within various development environments.
• Analyze legacy monolithic software programs, recompile them, and incrementally refactor using “brownfield” and “greenfield” methodologies.
• Perform technical assessment and deconstruction of Navy tactical system code for Surface Navy Combat systems.
• Explore and prototype next-generation solutions using AI/ML, distributed processing, and modeling.
• Interact with customers to elicit requirements and document agreements.
• Present project cost, schedule, and technical progress to organization leadership.
• Develop software architecture, including hardware and software interfaces between components.
• Assist in developing user, functional, and technical requirements for tactical systems.
• Participate in and provide feedback for design and code/peer reviews.
• Integrate individual software components into complex software environments.
• Support test and integration activities at IDT labs and government Land Based Test Sites (LBTS).
• Ensure adherence to industry standards for security, programming paradigms, and performance.
• Work with complex DoD software systems and small cross-site teams of software/systems engineers.
• Collaborate with team members to peer-review architecture, system requirements, and implemented code.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent full-time professional experience.
• 5-10+ years of full-time professional experience in software development.
• Experience developing Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) software.
• Familiarity with combat system design and tactical systems software on DoD programs.
• Proficiency in C, C++, Python, and/or Java, with adeptness in Linux OS environments, including shell scripting.
• Ability to decompose and document requirements and specifications.
• Understanding of distributed systems, algorithms, data structures, and software design patterns (e.g., Strangler Pattern).
• Experience with Agile software development processes and Git CM environments.
• Comfort with DevSecOps best practices.
• Ability to convert vague customer requirements into a refined vision and identify algorithmic complexity.
• Familiarity with software development processes (requirements through deployment).
• Ability to design, develop, and analyze software systems, including modeling/testing algorithms in C++, Python, or Java.
• Proficiency in at least one modern language (e.g., Python, Java, C++, C#) and/or one modern frontend language (e.g., TypeScript, JavaScript).
• Understanding of Windows/Linux file systems, version control (Git), APIs (REST/gRPC), and modular code design.
• Ability to review, critique, and harden AI-generated code.
• Familiarity with SQL, relational databases (e.g., Postgres), and computer networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP, CORBA, DDS).
• Strong sense of ownership, urgency, and initiative to translate complex requirements into technical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build cross-functional relationships across engineering, security, compliance, and stakeholder groups.
• Ability to work on-site with potential hybrid flexibility (at least 3 days in office).
• Up to 10% travel may be required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Familiarity with Agentic AI methodologies and Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Proven leadership experience with Navy systems and government program offices.
• Familiarity with AEGIS Weapon System Common Source Library (CSL) or Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) Single Source Library (SSL).
• Experience with AEGIS or SSDS tactical systems.
• Experience with Make, Maven, Ant scripting, and X-Windows.
• Familiarity with Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) methodologies.
• Experience with Jenkins, Jira, and the Atlassian tool suite.
• Familiarity with networking concepts (routing, switching, identity services, intrusion detection, firewalls).
• Experience deploying virtual machines in VMWare vSphere, including networking configuration.
• Familiarity designing complex software development environments (submodules, remote dependencies, mixed-code deployments).
• Experience deploying virtual machines/containers in Azure cloud environments, including networking configuration.
• Experience with cloud computing, virtualization, or containerization technologies (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Familiarity with big data solutions (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, Cassandra).
• Demonstrated experience using AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Codeium) for code generation, refactoring, optimization, debugging, and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to write effective prompts and iterate with AI to improve code quality and performance.
• Understanding of AI limitations, hallucinations, and validation techniques.
• Experience with testing frameworks, including unit and interface testing.
• Experience building user interfaces with modern component frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue).
• Experience using Storybook or other mock testing tools.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and generous benefits package.
• Competitive PTO and paid holidays.
• 401(k) with immediate vesting and matching.
• 9/80 optional schedule (2nd and 4th Friday off every month).
• Tuition Assistance Reimbursement Program.
• Professional development resources.
• Pre-tax commuter benefits.
• Organization-wide monthly Tech Connect events.
• Annual employee recognition awards.
• Regular social events and catered lunches.

Pay

$114,000 - $273,000 per year. This range may not reflect actual compensation, as pay depends on experience, skills, and education. The range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. Multiple pay ranges may apply based on experience level.

Schedule

This is an on-site position requiring at least 3 days per week in the office (Arlington, VA or Mount Laurel, NJ). A 9/80 optional schedule is available, providing every 2nd and 4th Friday off.