Principal Mission Engineer - Full Stack (Secret Clearance Required)

STR; Tacoma (WA); Hybrid; USD 240,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

STR’s Analytics and Command & Control (AC2) Division seeks a Principal Mission Engineer (Full Stack) to design, develop, and deploy software for DoD/IC missions in high‑security environments. You will lead engineering teams, manage customer relationships, and ensure quality, reliability, and performance of mission‑critical systems.

Ideal candidates have deep experience with modern frameworks, frontend and backend integration, and API deployment in secure environments, plus strong communication

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Active US Security Clearance.
• BS in Computer Science or related technical field with at least 8 years of work experience.
• Experience deploying software for DoD or IC missions.
• High sense of ownership and a track record of delivering high impact work.
• A passion for crafting user-centric interfaces and a keen eye for design details.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge of modern technologies such as React, TypeScript, and Python.
• Knowledge of performance-focused tools and techniques for rendering large datasets and building responsive, smooth interfaces.
• A demonstrated ability to adopt new languages, libraries, and technologies.
• Organized, detail-oriented, with ability to work independently and in teams.
• Demonstrated experience as an effective communicator to technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build Prototype Capabilities: break down use cases, build an MVP, and evolve a solution into a cohesive application.
• Rapidly Scale Applications: extend current apps, increase scalability, and address additional customer pain points.
• Develop and Enhance Features: create high-performance frontend solutions that are fast, smooth, and intuitive under heavy load.
• System Integration: lead cross-functional teams to design, build, and deploy a cohesive system.
• Customer Collaboration: work with end-users and customers to translate requirements into software features.
• Deployment and Field Testing: travel to integration sites to deploy and test software in secure environments (about one week per month).

Skills

React

TypeScript

Python

Full stack development

APIs

DevOps

Education

BS in Computer Science or related technical field

Job description

Principal Mission Engineer (Full Stack) (Secret Clearance Required)

The Team

Information processing and sense‑making systems are the lifeblood of national security efforts, facilitating an understanding of the global situation, strategic planning, and tactical execution. The reliability, accessibility, and sophistication of these systems can determine the outcomes of conflicts before they begin. STR’s Analytics and Command & Control (AC2) Division focuses on developing actionable, advanced technology solutions to provide asymmetric advantages within the information domain.

The Mission Applications (MA) Group within the AC2 Division specializes in ensuring the technology that STR creates produces outsized mission impact. Staff within the MA group have a deep understanding of missions and technology needs for national security with skills targeting transition of technology to operational use, including product management, UX Product implementation, software integration & mission engineering, platform engineering, DevOps, and program management. MA staff combine with other science and engineering staff from the various STR research and development groups to form dedicated product teams focused on accelerating the operational transition of cutting-edge software technologies.

The Role

As a Principal Mission Engineer (Full Stack) in the Mission Applications Group, you willdevelop and deploy software essential for a specific, real‑world objective or "mission" in partnership with our customers. We are looking for engineers who are high ownership and have a track record of delivering high impact work.

You have: 1) expertise in developing and deploying software solutions in complex and high‑security environments, 2) deep domain knowledge in the complex missions executed across the Department of Defense, and 3) expertise in modern frameworks, building full stack applications, and integrating APIs for deployment in high‑security environments.

You will work as a leader of software teams to design, develop, and maintain software systems deployed in operational use. You have experience managing customer relationships while simultaneously leading engineering teams to ensure the delivered product meets the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance. This role includes:

• Build Prototype Capabilities: Break down use cases and user‑defined problems, build an MVP, and rapidly evolve a solution into a cohesive application.
• Rapidly Scale Applications: Continue accelerated development trajectory on existing applications by building new workflows, increasing scalability and making high impact improvements, and addressing additional customer pain points in the context of existing applications and workflows.
• Develop and Enhance Features: Create high‑performance, visually appealing frontend solutions that handle complex use cases effectively. Ensure the product is fast, smooth, and intuitive to use, even under heavy load.
• System Integration: Leading cross functional engineering teams to design, build, and deploy a cohesive system. Integrate independent capabilities into existing solutions.
• Customer Collaboration: Working closely with end‑users and customers, who are typically military or Government operators, to understand their requirements and translate them into software features. You are experienced in product discovery best practices.
• Deployment and Field Testing: Traveling to integration sites to deploy, test, and triage software in secure operational environments. On average, travel to customer sites should not exceed one week per month.

This role will take advantage of STR’s flexible, hybrid environment – when the work does not require use of STR’s or the customer’s facilities, you are welcome to work remotely.

Who You Are

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Active US Security Clearance
• BS in Computer Science or related technical field with at least 8 years of work experience
• Experience deploying software for DoD or IC missions
• High sense of ownership and a track record of delivering high impact work
• A passion for crafting user‑centric interfacesand a keeneye for design details
• Demonstrated strong knowledge of modern technologies such asReact, TypeScript, and Python
• Knowledge of performance‑focused tools and techniques for rendering large datasets and building responsive, smooth interfaces
• A demonstrated ability to adopt new languages, libraries, and technologies
• Organized, detail‑oriented, and with an ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Demonstrated experience as an effective communicator to both technical and non‑technical audiences

Even Better

• Active Security Clearance at the Top Secret level with SCI Eligibility
• Advanced Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related technical field
• Prior US Military Service with experience in joint planning, large force battle monitoring, and fluidity with large force debrief best practices

Pay Information

Full‑Time Salary Range: $240,000 - $290,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can’t do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at [e-mail] and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.