Technical Lead

About the role

We are seeking a Software Development Technical Leader to support U.S. Navy customers in the acquisition of a software-based maintenance and readiness application critical to fleet operations and national security. This position provides technical leadership across the software acquisition lifecycle, including architecture analysis, software development oversight, risk reduction, and sustainment planning.

Responsibilities

• Support Naval software acquisition and sustainment activities in accordance with DoD 5000-series acquisition guidance, including architecture analysis, software engineering, integration, testing, deployment, and long-term sustainment planning
• Provide technical leadership for a fleet-facing maintenance and readiness application supporting operational availability across afloat and ashore environments
• Advises Navy Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Program Management Offices (PMOs), and government stakeholders on software design decisions, technical risks, modernization strategies, and tradeoffs associated with large, legacy-dependent systems
• Guide software development efforts from concept through deployment, with an emphasis on C and C++-based implementations supporting high-performance and mission-critical use cases
• Develop and maintain design artifacts such as data-flow diagrams, sequence diagrams, interface control definitions, and quality attribute specifications to support scalable, maintainable, and resilient solutions
• Analyze existing source code, system interfaces, and data flows to identify technical debt, sustainment risks, and modernization opportunities
• Develop prototypes and technical demonstrations to support risk reduction, acquisition decision-making, and capability maturation
• Collaborate with senior U.S. Navy and government stakeholders, contractors, integrators, SEI staff, and leadership to assess needs and deliver technically sound recommendations
• Lead and mentor a team of developers, fostering disciplined engineering practices, continuous improvement, and mission focus
• Support customer engagements such as technical interchange meetings (TIMs), design reviews, and acquisition milestone activities, providing clear, defensible technical input
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, software development best practices, and Naval digital modernization initiatives relevant to sustainment and maintenance systems

Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain an active Department of War (DoW) security clearance; an existing SECRET or higher clearance is preferred
• Previous experience leading, architecting, or developing large scale Navy acquisition programs including Aegis Combat System, SM-series interceptors, Sea Sparrow Missile System and/or Surface Electronic Warfare programs
• Previous experience working with large scale Naval Command elements such as NAVSEA, NAVAIR, NAVWAR, NAVFAC, NIWC or their predecessors such as SPAWAR
• Proven experience designing and implementing complex software architectures for mission-critical or sustainment-focused systems
• Demonstrated ability to identify, analyze, and balance architecture drivers, tradeoffs, extensibility, and long-term maintainability
• Deep understanding of C and C++ software development, including analysis of existing codebases
• Working knowledge of C#, Java, and Python
• Experience across the full software development lifecycle, including the use of static analysis tools and techniques to improve software quality and security
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and engage credibly with government and contractor stakeholders
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to government decision-makers
• Willingness to work directly with U.S. military and government stakeholders in support of mission success
• Able to travel up to 25% to SEI offices, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline with ten (10) years of relevant experience; OR Master’s degree in the same fields with eight (8) years of experience; OR PhD in the same fields with five (5) years of experience

Skills

• Software architecture expertise
• Technical leadership
• Software development
• System integration
• Testing and deployment
• Sustainment planning
• Technical writing and documentation
• Collaboration and stakeholder engagement

Benefits

• The opportunity to join a world-class organization with a significant impact on government software systems
• Work alongside leading experts to solve high-consequence national security challenges
• Comprehensive benefits package, including:
• 8% employer retirement contribution with no employee contribution requirement
• Tuition benefits for you and your dependent children
• Access to university resources, including wellness programs, transit benefits, and onsite fitness facilities at select locations
• Paid parental leave and military leave
• Relocation assistance and additional benefits

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Regular Full Time/Part time Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information

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Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.