Job Title: Principal Software Engineer

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide on-site support in support of a Department of Defense (DoD) customer. The candidate will design, develop, and maintain infrastructure to conduct software requirement analysis, support embedded-system software and board-level software design, programming, and provide test expertise to the client. This position will work closely with advanced analytics professionals, as well as IT infrastructure, network, and security engineers. Candidate will work intimately with teams supporting research and analysis in microelectronics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, energy and power, software engineering, networking, communication, cyber, electronic warfare, aerial/ground/naval platforms, biotechnology, and space systems. Will be expected to be fully versed in DevOps/Agile, and be able to work closely with other engineers.

The successful candidate:
Provides performance and subsystem definition reviews, preliminary and detailed design reviews, design implementation plans, and subsystem and system reviews.Interprets client's software needs and make recommendations in accordance with DoD systems engineering guidance.Participates in software requirements review, preliminary and critical design, integration readiness review, and software acceptance review. Interacts with senior customer personnel on significant technical matters, often requiring coordinated activity across organizational lines.Provide principal level software engineering support to government customer.Research and validate candidate software solutions proposed by contractors.Develop study proposals, contractor direction, contract documents, as necessary.Works directly with clients to ensure they manage their data through governance tools. This entails building software integrations with customer applications and databases, assisting customers with data analysis, and rapidly developing product add-ons to meet customer needs.Evaluates, tests hardware/software solutions in accordance with Client guidance, and best practices.Works both on and off-site with clients and will be responsible for the integration, implementation, and improvement of product deployment and monitoring processes.Reviews proposals, reports, briefing, test plans, and test reports.Oversees performance testing and verification and validation monitoring.Oversees information assurance compliance.Understand customer/operational requirements and work with contractors to develop solutions to meet themDocument and communicate highly technical concepts effectively to technical and non-technical audiences in a clear and effective manner.Provides expertise and direction in the development or modification of complex software programs to enhance an operating system.Provides guidance to other contractors and the client as it pertains to cyber security, configuration control, CCRI integration.Provides functional and empirical analysis related to the design, development, and implementation of hardware and software operating systems for the organization's products.Reviews documents and procedures, requirements flowdown, verification methodologies, calibration plans. Concept of Operations (CONOPS), Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and test plans to ensure program success.Reviews program for high risk areas and recommends mitigation approaches.Conducts modeling and simulation exercises as needed.Collaborates with team members, development contractors, and customer forums.Investigates innovative and emerging technologies to incorporate into analysis.Refines and develop measures of effectiveness, improvements to system environments, and creation of new procedures to support all facets of testing and operations.Conducts user outreach and research new concept designs to solve hard problems.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in in computer science, math, software engineering or information technology or related field and 12+ years of engineering experience in systems, software, applied mathematics, electrical, information systems engineering.Experience conducting software requirements review, preliminary and critical design, integration readiness review, and software acceptanceKnowledge of network security, including cross-domain solutions and encryption; DoD and industry architecture frameworks; continuous integration, continuous development (CI/CD) solutions, including GitLab CI and Jenkins.Exceptional analytical skills and problem-solving skills.Experience integrating with various infrastructure technologies, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Storage (GCS), bare-metal environments, VMWareVersed in R&D efforts such as quantum computing, field programmable gate arrays, advances in semi-conductor research, and nano-technologyExcellent oral and written communication skills.Working proficiency using MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), MS Outlook, MS ProjectAbility to accommodate change through new tasking, and new tools.US citizen with a minimum DoD Top Secret clearance and the ability to obtain SCI access
Desired Qualifications:
Current DoD TS/SCI security clearance.Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or closely related field.Related software engineering expertise in one or more of the DoD technology modernization areas to include Hypersonics (offensive and counter); Directed Energy; Microelectronics; Space (offensive and defensive); Autonomy; Fully Networked Command, Control, & Communications (FNC3); Quantum (including encryption and computing); Cyber (offensive and defensive); Machine Learning (including Artificial Intelligence); Bio-technology; Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT); Additive/Advanced Manufacturing Technology; Advanced Computing/Data Analytics; Aviation Technology: Compact Mission Power/Thermal Management Systems; Logistics Technology; Materials Technology; and Signature Management TechnologyAbility to provide technical advice and services pertaining to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).DoDD 8570/8140 IAT or IAM Level III certification.Programming experience using Node.js, Java, Javascript, C/C++, Python, REST, SQL, JSON, and XML.Experience developing infrastructure architectures for delivering scalable analytics capabilities; designing and implementing secure distributed systems; and developing systems that interact with external web services and other application programming interfaces (APIs), including Open Database Connectivity (ODBC).Experience with databases, including relational and NoSQL; Big Data Frameworks, including HDFS and Spark; and containerization leveraging Docker, Kubernetes, Mesos, etc.Automated systems management expertise, including Puppet, Chef, and SaltSoftware packaging proficiency, including RPM, Debian, Python package managers, and Docker.Network stack and firewall knowledge.Demonstrated superb organization, decision making, and verbal and written communication skills.High level of self-initiative and self-motivation with the ability to work under minimal supervision.Ability to work effectively in small team settings to solve complex problems.Experience developing and deploying global communications networks.Previous experience authoring system level requirements and coordinated proper decomposition to lower level requirements.Thorough understanding of requirements flowdown, verification methodologies, calibration plans, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and test plans to ensure program success.Supported modeling and simulation exercises as needed.Demonstrated experience collaborating with team members, development contractors, and customer forums.
This position is contingent upon award of a contract expected in Spring 2020 supporting the Department of Defense.

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 1200 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company's success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.

Please apply at www.careers.ara.com for the Principal Software Engineer position.