Lead Principal Software Engineer

Talent Stack; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Stack is representing a confidential defense and aerospace client seeking a Principal Software Engineer IV / Technical Lead to support mission-critical software systems in Aurora, Colorado. This hands-on leadership role guides a 2–3 person software team responsible for enhancing existing systems and integrating new capabilities.

The ideal candidate will wield strong Java and/or C++ development experience with proven leadership across the full software lifecycle, and will coordinate across

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in STEM is required.
• 8+ years professional software engineering experience.
• 2+ years of proven technical leadership experience.
• Experience with Java and/or C++ and full SDLC.
• Onsite in Aurora, Colorado required.
• Occasional after-hours support for 24x7 mission operations

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical leadership for a 2–3 person software team.
• Lead full software development lifecycle across projects.
• Design and maintain mission-critical software in Java/C++.
• Integrate complex software and hardware subsystems.
• Troubleshoot system-level problems across software, hardware, networking.
• Collaborate with systems, software, networking, CM, and hardware teams.
• Lead design reviews and customer meetings.
• Plan staffing with program leadership.
• Ensure compliance with government software lifecycle requirements
• Provide after-hours support when required

Skills

Java

C++

Technical leadership

Full SDLC

Systems integration

Mentoring

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Job description

Clearance: Active Top Secret/SCI Required | CI Polygraph Preferred

Talent Stack is representing a confidential defense and aerospace client seeking a Principal Software Engineer IV / Technical Lead to support mission-critical software systems in Aurora, Colorado.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role supporting a small 2–3 person software engineering team responsible for enhancing existing systems and integrating new mission capabilities. The ideal candidate combines strong Java and/or C++ development experience with proven technical leadership, complex systems integration, and the ability to work effectively across engineering disciplines.

The position is onsite at the contractor’s facility and primarily supports standard daytime core hours. Occasional after-hours support is required for mission-critical issues within a 24x7 operational environment.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide hands‑on technical leadership and oversight for a 2–3 person software engineering team, including mentoring engineers and supporting knowledge transfer and professional development.
• Lead and contribute across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, design, development, debugging, testing, integration, installation, maintenance, and sustainment.
• Design, develop, enhance, and maintain mission-critical software using Java and/or C++.
• Modify and extend existing codebases while developing and integrating new mission capabilities.
• Integrate complex software and hardware subsystems, identify technical conflicts, and drive issues through resolution.
• Troubleshoot system‑level problems across software, hardware, networking, configuration management, and system interfaces.
• Collaborate closely with systems, software, networking, configuration management, and hardware engineering teams.
• Provide technical direction as systems evolve, including evaluating proposed engineering changes and balancing performance, cost, schedule, and mission requirements.
• Lead design reviews, technical discussions, team meetings, program reviews, and customer meetings.
• Communicate complex engineering concepts clearly to engineers, customers, program leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Work with program and functional leadership to plan staffing, manage engineering resources, and align assignments with program priorities.
• Follow established engineering processes and applicable government‑mandated software development and lifecycle requirements.
• Provide occasional after‑hours technical support for 24x7 mission‑critical operations when required.

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance is required.
• U.S. Citizenship is required due to security clearance requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) is required.
• Minimum 8+ years of professional‑level software engineering experience. Internships, co‑ops, research assistantships, academic projects, and graduate research do not count toward the required professional experience.
• Minimum 2+ years of proven technical leadership experience, including leading engineering teams, providing technical oversight, mentoring engineers, leading design reviews, and/or driving technical execution.
• Professional software development experience using Java and/or C++.
• Demonstrated experience across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, development, debugging, testing, integration, installation, and maintenance.
• Experience developing new software functionality as well as modifying, enhancing, and maintaining existing codebases.
• Experience integrating and troubleshooting complex software and hardware systems.
• Ability to investigate complex technical problems independently and work across multiple engineering disciplines to drive issues to resolution.
• Experience working with systems engineering, networking, configuration management, hardware engineering, and software engineering teams.
• Experience leading technical/design reviews and communicating engineering decisions to technical teams, program leadership, and customers.
• Ability to evaluate technical performance, cost, staffing, and schedule tradeoffs associated with engineering changes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical topics to diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities in an evolving, mission‑critical environment.
• Ability to work onsite in Aurora, Colorado at the contractor facility.
• Ability to provide occasional after‑hours support based on mission criticality and operational needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active CI Polygraph preferred.
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, Intelligence Community, or other U.S. Government mission systems.
• Experience supporting high‑availability or 24x7 operational systems.
• Experience leading a small software development or engineering team.
• Experience supporting evolving or legacy systems requiring existing software to be modified, enhanced, and integrated with new capabilities.
• Experience participating in customer‑facing technical reviews, presentations, or briefings.
• Demonstrated success mentoring engineers and facilitating technical knowledge transfer.

Why Join This Opportunity:

• Lead engineering work on complex, mission‑critical national security systems while remaining hands‑on technically.
• Influence software architecture, design, integration, and the development of new mission capabilities.
• Lead and mentor a small technical team while collaborating across software, systems, networking, configuration management, and hardware engineering.
• Solve complex software/hardware integration challenges in a high‑impact operational environment.
• Support a long‑term defense and aerospace program with meaningful technical challenges and mission impact.

Eligible employees may receive a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Short‑Term & Long‑Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Referral Program
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and/or Health Savings Account (HSA), where applicable