Senior Software Engineer; R&D​/Prototyping

Position: Senior Software Engineer (R&D/Prototyping)
Kforce has a client in Phoenix, AZ (Hybrid - 3+ days onsite) that is seeking a Senior R&D Software Engineer. We are working directly with the hiring manager on this search assignment.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to drive the design and development of prototypes, proofs of concept (PoCs), and pilot-ready solutions that validate technical feasibility and enable rapid innovation. We are working directly with the hiring manager on this search assignment. Company offers a competitive compensaton package including base salary and annual bonus. This role operates at the intersection of software, hardware, and cloud systems, making it ideal for engineers who excel in hands-on, R&D-driven environments.

You will work across lab and field settings, building solutions that may evolve into production systems.

Key Responsibilities:

* Design and build prototype applications using C#, .NET, SQL Server, and Microsoft Azure

* Develop APIs, integrations, and telemetry systems connecting software with devices and external platforms

* Build cloud-native solutions leveraging Azure, Docker, and Kubernetes

* Implement AI-assisted capabilities (automation, diagnostics, analytics, decision support)

* Rapidly develop PoCs to validate emerging technologies and workflows

* Integrate software with edge devices, sensors, and telemetry systems

* Support lab testing and field validation of integrated solutions

* Develop diagnostics, logging, and monitoring tools

* Troubleshoot across hardware, firmware, networking, cloud, and application layers.

* Define prototype objectives, success criteria, and evaluation metrics

* Document architecture decisions, trade-offs, and technical findings

* Evaluate emerging technologies such as IoT, edge computing, and AR/spatial computing
Leadership

* Contribute to architecture reviews, code reviews, and Agile workflows

* Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership
* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field

* 7-10+ years of software engineering experience

* Strong expertise in C# and .NET Technologies

* Experience with SQL Server or similar relational databases

* Background in prototyping, PoCs, or experimental systems

* Experience integrating software with hardware, or telemetry, or external systems

* Strong troubleshooting skills across distributed systems

* Experience with CI/CD, Dev Ops, Git, and automated testing

* Excellent communication and documentation skills

Nice to haves:

* Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure and cloud-based development

* Experience with IoT, edge computing, or connected devices

* Background in robotics, industrial automation, transportation, aerospace, or defense

* Familiarity with device communication protocols and diagnostics

* Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architectures

* Experience supporting lab and field testing environments

* Knowledge of event-driven systems and observability tools

Ideal Candidate Background:

* IoT/Edge Computing

* Robotics/Autonomous Systems

* Medical Device

* Industrial Automation

* Transportation/Connected Vehicle Platforms

* Aerospace/Defense

* Applied R&D/Prototyping Teams

* Or other similar industries

This role does not require embedded firmware or electrical engineering experience, but candidates must be comfortable working with hardware-integrated systems and solving cross-domain technical challenges.