Strategic Systems Software Engineer

About the Role

The Software Engineering and Data Transformation Group (KBE), within the Strategic Deterrence Mission Area of the Force Projection Sector, supports the data architecture, collection, processing, and distribution required to evaluate Strategic Weapon Systems. Our team works across the full software engineering lifecycle in complex security and operational environments, partnering with a variety of sponsors. We value collaboration, accountability, and the thoughtful adoption of emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities to streamline engineering workflows and improve software quality through automation, analytics, and emerging software development technologies.
• Promote DevSecOps practices through integration of security, testing, and compliance practices throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Prepare and execute software deployments, both at APL and with customers at installation sites, ensuring successful and high-quality results.
• Work closely with other developers, system engineers, technical leads, end users (data processors and analysts), and our government sponsors to understand the system needs and develop solutions to meet them.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or another technical field; or equivalent years of relevant professional experience.
• 5+ years of relevant experience developing in programming languages such as C#, Python, JavaScript, C++, and/or Java.
• Experience in using modern software development and project management tools (e.g. GitLab, Jira, VS Code).
• Experience with design and integration of software with relational databases and/or NoSQL databases.
• Thrive in a collaborative team environment while taking ownership of your work and contributing your unique expertise to achieve mission success.
• Possess strong debugging, investigative, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Interested in leading software development efforts and providing technical mentorship.
• Stay current with emerging software engineering technologies, tools, and methodologies, and identify opportunities to apply them to improve mission outcomes, software quality, and development efficiency.
• Experience implementing DevSecOps practices, including automated security scanning, vulnerability management, and software supply chain security.
• Experience with containerization (e.g., Docker, Podman) and orchestration technologies (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Hands-on experience leveraging AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, or similar technologies) to improve development efficiency, code quality, testing, or documentation generation.
• Willing and able to travel within the US (not likely to exceed a few trips per year with no more than five days in duration for each).
• Able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Final Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or higher degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or another field with relevant professional experience.
• Led software development teams and provided mentorship to technical staff.
• Front-end and back-end web development experience.
• Experience with infrastructure as code, e.g., Ansible or Terraform.
• Experience developing software using Microsoft technologies (e.g., ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework Core, SQL Server).
• Developed multi-tier software architectures capable of operating at different scales and security classification levels.
• Hold an active Secret security clearance, or higher.

Pay

Minimum Rate $100,000 Annually | Maximum Rate $245,000 Annually