Lead Software Engineer

Join to apply for the Lead Software Engineer role at STR
.

A mission-focused Lead Software Engineer develops and deploys software essential for specific, real-world objectives or "missions" in partnership with our customers. This role emphasizes the end‑user’s operational needs and the overall mission success, rather than just technical performance. Ensuring alignment to the mission and customer through an agile response to dynamic priorities can significantly improve the impact of STR software.

Our Systems Development Division (SDD) executes the entire lifecycle of solutions from conceptualization and architecture refinement through implementation and deployment, leveraging novel technologies to deliver first‑of‑a‑kind systems. Current efforts include programs for airborne and space sensors and advanced operations enabled by multi‑function, multi‑modal capabilities. In this role you will be exposed to key operations, users, and technology that have strategic impact on AF operations.

As a Lead Software Engineer in STR’s Systems Development Division (SDD), you will design and develop systems and deploy advanced technology solutions for our customers. You will work as part of tightly knit Agile software teams to develop, integrate, and maintain software systems deployed to meet unique mission needs in customer‑directed environments. You ensure that our software solutions meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance as well as user needs.

This position requires an active Top Secret (TS) clearance. The role can be based at any of these three STR sites:
Dayton, OH;
Arlington, VA;
Woburn, MA. Applicants should expect to travel and work on site at customer facilities at roughly 1 week per month on average.

• Develop new software components for a key operational capability
• Conduct software integration and test activities in support of a small integrated development team
• Perform integration testing to ensure seamless interaction between different system components
• Deployment and Field Testing: travel to integration sites to build, test, and deploy software in real‑world, operational environments (CONUS)
• Triage and Debugging: identify and resolve software and system failures during integration
• Participate in test planning, test events, requirements reviews, code reviews, and architecture/software implementation reviews to improve code quality and maintainability
• Develop and maintain automated test scripts and test frameworks for Java applications

• Active Top Secret Security clearance required; U.S. citizenship required by U.S. Government
• Motivated collaborator looking to work with a team of high‑end researchers and engineers to develop and deploy software capabilities with mission impact
• BS in Computer Science or related technical field with at least 7 years of work experience (MS + 5 years, PhD + 2 years, or equivalent experience will be considered)
• Experience designing, building, testing, debugging, and maintaining a large codebase
• Experience with:
  Object‑oriented programming principles;
  Service oriented or micro‑service architectures;
  Containerization/orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes;
  Agile software lifecycle methodologies and tools such as JIRA and Sonar Qube;
  Dev Ops or CI/CD tools such as Git Lab;
  Test‑driven development methodologies; A demonstrated ability to adopt new languages, libraries, and technologies;
  Organized, detail‑oriented, and ability to work both independently and collaboratively;
  Integration and test experience, with a focus on Java applications;
  Experience in leading and directing development initiatives from inception to functional prototypes to production‑level systems

• SCI Eligible
• Experience with automated testing tools and frameworks (e.g., JUnit, TestNG, Selenium)
• Experience with message queuing systems like Active
  
  MQ, as well as access control and auditing

Full‑Time Salary Range: $157,000 – $224,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors such as but not limited to the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security…