GSE Software Architect for Automated Test Systems

Trident Systems; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Holidays

Annual discretionary bonus

Job summary

Trident Systems in Sterling, VA, seeks a Principal GSE Software Engineer to lead design, development, and evolution of the software platforms controlling automated test and support systems.

You will own the technical direction, build reusable Python frameworks, and ensure robust, scalable GSE software across programs and production environments, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet mission-critical needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline.
• 9+ years of related experience with a bachelor's degree OR 7+ years with a graduate degree.
• Extensive professional experience developing software in Python.
• Expert-level proficiency with asyncio and concurrent/asynchronous programming paradigms.
• Significant experience communicating with hardware devices (e.g., instruments, controllers, embedded systems).
• Strong background in software architecture and object-oriented design for complex or distributed systems.
• Demonstrated ability to debug, stabilize, and optimize complex software systems that interact with physical hardware.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines including software, test, systems, electrical, and manufacturing engineering.
• Experience providing technical leadership or architectural direction for a software platform or framework.

Responsibilities

• Define the overarching GSE software platform architecture, including standards, design principles, and best practices.
• Design scalable asynchronous software architectures for concurrent control of instruments and support equipment.
• Lead the development of reusable Python frameworks that underpin automated GSE and test systems.
• Establish clear abstractions, interfaces, and patterns for instruments, communication buses, and test procedures.
• Evaluate and select tools, libraries, and technologies for the GSE software stack, providing well-reasoned recommendations and tradeoff analyses.
• Develop reusable instruments and communication abstractions that can be applied consistently across diverse projects and test systems.
• Architect and implement execution frameworks for sequencing, scheduling, concurrency, error handling, logging, and health monitoring.
• Design and build measurement acquisition, data processing, and results management software integrated with enterprise engineering tools and data systems.
• Implement robust configuration, deployment, and monitoring mechanisms for GSE software in both laboratory and production environments.
• Partner with the Lead Test Systems Engineer to co-develop the framework architecture that underpins all automated test systems.
• Work with Integration & Test engineers to translate I&T requirements into reliable automated test procedures on the GSE platform.
• Collaborate with the Engineering Systems Integration Engineer to integrate GSE software with enterprise systems (e.g., engineering databases, PLM, configuration management, data repositories).
• Provide expert support to production test operations, including diagnosing complex system issues, improving performance, and enhancing reliability.
• Champion professional software engineering practices, including code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD, documentation, and configuration management.
• Mentor and coach software and test engineers in asynchronous programming, software architecture, and best practices for automated test and GSE systems.
• Drive continuous improvement in coding standards, design guidelines, and development workflows for the GSE software ecosystem.
• Lead root-cause analysis efforts for complex GSE software issues and implement durable corrective actions.

Skills

Python

Asyncio

Hardware control

Software architecture

OO design

Debugging

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree

Tools

SCPI

PyVISA

Serial interfaces

CAN

TCP/IP

Job description

Trident Systems in Sterling, VA, seeks a Principal GSE Software Engineer to lead design, development, and evolution of the software platforms controlling automated test and support systems.

You will own the technical direction, build reusable Python frameworks, and ensure robust, scalable GSE software across programs and production environments, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet mission-critical needs.