Principal Software Engineer

Cubic Corporation; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cubic Corporation in Ashburn, VA, seeks a lead developer for embedded software within DTECH. The role centers on designing microcontroller firmware and maintaining device software in C/C++. Opportunity for future management as the team grows, with scope across hardware–software integration and real‑time constraints.

Responsibilities include leading projects, ensuring quality, mentoring engineers, and advancing development practices in a lab setting with target hardware.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in computer engineering or related discipline with a minimum of eight years of experience, or a master’s degree with at least six years of experience.
• Eligibility for a DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead software projects, ensuring delivery of high‑quality, reliable software.
• Collaborate with the wider business to determine requirements for new projects and features, and communicate resources and risks.
• Drive the use of software development best practices, ensuring code is well structured, unit tested, and maintainable.
• Integrate and troubleshoot firmware on target platforms in the lab using hardware analysis tools.
• Provide guidance on design and implementation to adjacent software teams.
• Identify new ideas and tools for continuous improvement of development practices.
• Mentor junior engineers, offering training and development suggestions.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

HW-SW interaction

Real-time constraints

Low-level programming

Debugging embedded

Unix/Linux

Unit testing

Testing frameworks

Education

Four-year degree in computer engineering or related field with 8+ years experience

Master’s degree with 6+ years experience

Tools

Yocto

JIRA

Confluence

Git

Job description

Job Overview

The successful candidate will be the lead developer for embedded software within DTECH, supporting other projects. The role initially focuses on technical responsibilities but offers potential growth into a future management position as the team expands. The role involves designing embedded software for new products (e.g., microcontroller firmware) and maintaining existing device software, primarily in C and C++.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead software projects, ensuring delivery of high‑quality, reliable software.
• Collaborate with the wider business to determine requirements for new projects and features, and communicate resources and risks.
• Drive the use of software development best practices, ensuring code is well structured, unit tested, and maintainable.
• Integrate and troubleshoot firmware on target platforms in the lab using hardware analysis tools.
• Provide guidance on design and implementation to adjacent software teams.
• Identify new ideas and tools for continuous improvement of development practices.
• Mentor junior engineers, offering training and development suggestions.

Education & Qualifications

• Four‑year degree in computer engineering or related discipline with a minimum of eight years of experience, or a master’s degree with at least six years of experience.
• Eligibility for a DoD security clearance.

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong experience in C/C++.
• Comprehensive understanding of embedded systems, hardware‑software interaction, real‑time constraints, and low‑level programming concepts.
• Experience debugging in an embedded environment.
• Proficiency with Unix commands and Linux‑based operating systems.
• Ability to analyze and solve complex software engineering problems.
• Experience writing unit tests and using testing frameworks.
• Desirable: Experience with Yocto, JIRA, Confluence, and Git.

Personal Qualities

• Driven, self‑starting individual with a passion for quality, effective software.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, able to convey complex ideas clearly.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic under applicable law.