Principal Software Architect – Level 6

We are Lockheed Martin and we are seeking a highly experienced Software Engineering technical leader to design, develop, and implement a modern software framework for the F‑35 Ground Systems Mission Planning Environment (MPE) project. The MPE is a critical component of the F‑35 program, enabling all ground‑based operations and playing a vital role in the successful execution of missions and overall operation of the aircraft.

The successful candidate will assume a technical software leadership role, responsible for defining the approach for software development of a microservices container‑orchestrated (Kubernetes) architecture in a Dev Ops environment. As a Senior Staff Software Engineer, they will lead the Mission Planning Environment team through the full development lifecycle, ensuring continuity and effective communication of software strategy, design, and implementation. Responsibilities include managing architecture, design, implementation, configuration management, and troubleshooting of services;

executing troubleshooting skills to meet stability objectives; creating Infrastructure as Code (IaC) processes and solutions for deploying and maintaining Linux and Kubernetes hosts; implementing and maintaining automation technologies; and designing, engineering, deploying, and maintaining high‑availability and secure Linux and Kubernetes systems. Additionally, the candidate will establish and enforce strong software architectural principles, including modularity, flexibility, and extensibility, develop next‑generation software, participate in end‑to‑end integration activities, analyze user requirements, and implement algorithms to meet system performance and functional standards.

Must be a US Citizen. This position requires special access and a Secret clearance to start.

• Must be a US Citizen. This position is located at a facility that requires special access and an interim Secret clearance to start.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline.
• This is a hands‑on role that requires 12+ years of overall Software development experience.
• Proficient in full‑stack development and testing, with experience in microservices, web applications, and containerized applications using Kubernetes and Docker.
• Object‑oriented design and development experience, including C# and .NET.
• Web‑based design using React
  
  JS.
• Experience leading software architecture and design efforts for complex software systems and applications.
• Experience establishing and enforcing strong software architectural principles, including modularity, flexibility, and extensibility.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex problem statements and collaborate with stakeholders to develop simple and effective solutions.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively with teammates and leadership.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, with experience working in Agile environments.
• Desire for continuous learning and self‑improvement.

• 5+ years in an architecture leadership position.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college in a related discipline.
• Experience with Mission Planning Environment (MPE).
• Proficient in scripting and automation tools (Ansible, Python, Puppet, or Terraform).
• Experience in test automation using Robot and Cypress frameworks.
• Knowledge and developmental experience of authentication, communication, and security in Kubernetes architecture using solutions such as OAuth2, Keycloak, and Service Mesh.
• Working experience of cloud environments such as AWS or Azure.
• Experience working with different engineering disciplines to decompose requirements.
• Experience in Dev Sec Ops , including CI/CD, with a strong understanding of security and compliance principles.
• Experience implementing and maintaining automation technologies and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) services, with a strong understanding of Linux and Kubernetes systems.

Fort Worth, TX

Lockheed Martin is an equal‑opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.

The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5–30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.

Work Schedule:

4×10 hour day, 3 days off per week. The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.