Software Systems Engineer

At Areté, we are on the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation’s most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.

Discover your future with us.

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Software Systems Engineer to join our team and lead critical aspects of system design, integration, and validation. This role requires a strong technical foundation, exceptional problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage complex requirements while interfacing with customers and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be a proactive leader who thrives in dynamic environments and demonstrates flexibility, curiosity, and technical depth.

This position will be based at our Northridge, CA office and is a non-supervisory, exempt, full-time position. We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:

Health & Wellness:

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Life and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Vision Reimbursement Fitness Reimbursement Financial:

Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan Company-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership Plan Continuing Education Assistance Work-Life Balance:

Flexible Scheduling Paid Time Off (PTO)
Paid Parental and Bereavement Leave What We Value:

Creativity and innovation in solving challenges

Integrity and responsibility in all actions

Collaboration across teams and specialties

Responsiveness in fast-paced environments

Passion for national security and excellence

Experiences and Background We Look For (Required Skills):

Eligible to obtain and hold a Top Secret clearance.

Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, take ownership of tasks, and drive solutions with minimal oversight.

Expertise in testing complex algorithms and graphical user interfaces (GUIs), including formal requirements validation, usability testing, and defect identification.

Strong understanding of system-level architecture and interfaces, capable of troubleshooting across subsystems and ensuring seamless integration.

Hands-on experience with Agile development methodologies and continuous integration/continuous delivery pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, Git).Skilled in documenting defects, creating clear and actionable reports, and maintaining traceability of issues through resolution.

Ability to clearly communicate errors, risks, and recommendations to engineering teams and stakeholders.

Ability to interpret formal and informal requirements, write detailed specifications, and manage change requests.

Capable of guiding engineering teams and ensuring alignment with program objectives.

Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.

Nice to Have (Preferred Skills):

Experience with classified systems or secure environments.

Familiarity with Agile development and Dev Sec Ops  practices.

Knowledge of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and methodologies.

Familiarity with Squish/Jenkins/GIT (or a willingness to learn)
Basic knowledge and experience with C++/Python Involvement with systems integration, test, and performance verification

The salary range for this role depends on the candidate’s level of experience:

Engineer 1: $95,000 - $115,000 [required BS degree or higher]Engineer 2: $115,000 - $140,000 [experience of BS+2 years, OR MS+0 years]Staff Engineer: $135,000 - $165,000 [experience of BS+5 years, MS+3 years, or PhD+0 years]Senior Engineer: $155,000 - $185,000 [experience of BS+7 years, MS+5 years, or PhD+3…