Principal Software Engineer – Systems & Delivery (Mission Ground Systems)

Chantilly, United StatesOn-site

Responsibilities

- Execution & Delivery Leadership: - Convert high-level or ambiguous initiatives into clear, actionable engineering plans - Break down large system efforts into sequenced, achievable units of work - Define what “done” means for features and systems, and ensure work meets that standard - Identify dependencies, constraints, and risks early, and adjust plans accordingly - Drive work through to completion, with a focus on delivering usable, reliable capabilities - System Ownership &

experience (typically 8+ years) with demonstrated ownership of complex systems - Proficiency in one or more of the following: Rust, Python, or C/C++ -
Experience designing and building backend systems and APIs -
Experience working with cloud-based infrastructure and managed services (AWS or similar) - Demonstrated ability to break down complex problems into executable work -
Experience improving system reliability, maintainability, and operational readiness - Demonstrated use of AI-assisted tools to accelerate development or debugging Preferred Qualifications: -
Experience with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform), configuration management (Ansible), or CI/CD systems - Familiarity with distributed systems, real-time systems, or mission-critical environments -
Experience working in or supporting operational environments (e.g., 24/7 systems, hardware-integrated systems) - Exposure to frontend technologies (React, Typescript) -
Experience using AI-assisted development tools to improve engineering efficiency Technical Environment: - Languages: Rust, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Bash, C/C++ - Frontend: React - Infrastructure & Deployment: AWS (cloud-native systems), Proxmox / on-prem environments, Terraform (Infrastructure as Code), Ansible, Packer, and GitLab CI/CD pipelines - Development Practices: - AI-augmented development workflows (Claude Code, Codex, or equivalent) - Log-based diagnostics and operational debugging -

Learn about ITAR here. https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987 Location: Chantilly. VA