Software Engineer - JobID-0198

Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), a leading defense technology company, is seeking a 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 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 both backfit and forward-fit tactical solutions. The role requires 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 to modernize 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 small cross-site teams of software and systems engineers.
• Collaborate with team members to peer-review architecture, requirements, and code.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent full-time professional experience.
• 0-5 years of professional experience.
• Familiarity with combat system design and software.
• Experience developing tactical systems software on DoD programs.
• Proficiency in C, C++, Python, and/or Java.
• Adept with 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.
• Proficiency with Git version control.
• Comfort with DevSecOps best practices.
• Ability to convert vague customer requirements into a refined vision.
• Familiarity with software development processes (requirements through deployment).
• Ability to design, develop, and analyze software systems.
• 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 and 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 and relational databases (e.g., Postgres).
• Familiarity with computer networking and protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP, CORBA, DDS).
• Ability to perform concurrent assignments and adjust priorities as needed.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
• On-site position requiring at least 4 days in office (Arlington, VA or Mount Laurel, NJ).
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Skills

• Experience 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 build system, Maven, and Ant scripting.
• Familiarity with X-Windows.
• Experience with Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) methodologies.
• Experience with Jenkins, Jira, and the Atlassian tool suite.
• Familiarity with foundational networking concepts (routing, switching, identity services, intrusion detection, firewall).
• Experience deploying virtual machines in VMWare vSphere environments, including networking configuration.
• Familiarity designing complex software development environments (submodules, remote dependencies, mixed-code deployments).
• Experience deploying virtual machines/containers into Azure cloud environments, including networking configuration.
• Solid analytical abilities, ownership, urgency, and drive.
• Problem-solving skills in ambiguous situations.
• Excellence in oral, written, and technical communication with peers and non-technical cohorts.
• Initiative, creativity, reliability, and teamwork.
• Strong organization and planning skills.
• Attention to detail with ability to see the big picture.
• Experience with cloud computing, virtualization, or containerization technologies.
• Familiarity with Cloud infrastructure (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Experience 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 (unit testing, interface testing).
• Experience building user interfaces with modern component frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue).
• Experience using Storybook or other mock testing tools.

Pay

$74,000 - $184,000 per year. This range reflects base pay and does not include bonuses, commissions, or other benefits. Actual compensation depends on experience, skills, and education.

Benefits

• 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.