Principal Software Engineer

BigBear.ai; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

BigBear.ai is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to support the Advanced Analytics Team. You will analyze requirements, design innovative solutions, develop high-performance software, and ensure compliance with security and mission needs.

You will mentor engineers, lead technical decisions, and collaborate with product, cyber, and DevSecOps teams. This role requires TS/SCI w/ Poly clearance and hands-on coding contributions where needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering.
• Clearance TS/SCI with Poly is required.
• Significant professional software engineering experience.
• Experience designing and delivering complex production software.
• Ability to make architecture and technology decisions across components or teams.
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language.
• Experience with automated testing, code review, source control, and CI/CD.
• Ability to communicate technical decisions to engineers, customers, and executives.

Responsibilities

• Own or influence the technical architecture for complex software systems.
• Lead design reviews, planning, and tradeoff decisions.
• Establish coding, testing, performance, security, and maintainability standards.
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers and provide guidance across teams.
• Collaborate with product, systems engineering, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and leadership.
• Drive modernization, automation, and reduction of technical debt.
• Review implementation plans and assess technical risks.
• Support proposals, customer briefings, and technical demonstrations.

Skills

Software engineering

Architectural decisions

CI/CD

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Software Eng

Tools

Source control

Job description

Overview

BigBear.ai is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to support the exciting Advanced Analytics Team mission. Engineer will work closely with mission stakeholders to analyze software requirements, design innovative technical solutions, develop software applications, and implement high-performance capabilities supporting advanced mission objectives.

What you will do

• Own or influence the technical architecture for complex software systems.


• Lead design reviews, technical planning, and engineering tradeoff decisions.


• Establish coding, testing, performance, security, and maintainability standards.


• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers and provide technical guidance across teams.


• Collaborate with product, systems engineering, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and program leadership.


• Drive modernization, automation, and reduction of technical debt.


• Review implementation plans and assess technical risks.


• Support proposal development, customer briefings, and technical demonstrations when applicable.


• Ensure software practices align with required regulatory, security, and mission needs.


• Contribute hands-on code or prototypes where necessary.

What you need to have

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, plus 11 years of relevant or equivalent experience.


• Clearance: TS/SCI w/Poly


• Significant professional software engineering experience


• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering complex production software.


• Experience making architecture and technology decisions across multiple components or teams.


• Strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language.


• Experience with automated testing, code review, source control, and continuous integration.


• Ability to communicate technical decisions to engineers, customers, and executive stakeholders.

What we'd like you to have

• Experience in cloud-native architecture, distributed systems, or large-scale modernization.


• Experience with containerized deployments and infrastructure as code.


• Experience leading Agile or DevSecOps delivery teams.


• Experience in highly regulated, safety-critical, or security-sensitive environments.


• Experience supporting proposals, estimates, technical road maps, or customer engagements.

About BigBear.ai

BigBear.ai is a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence solutions for national security, supply chain management, and digital identity. Customers and partners rely on Bigbear.ai’s predictive analytics capabilities in highly complex, distributed, mission-based operating environments. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, BigBear.ai is a public company traded on the NYSE under the symbol BBAI. For more information, visit https://bigbear.ai/ and follow BigBear.ai on LinkedIn: @BigBear.ai and X: @BigBearai.

BigBear.ai is an Equal opportunity employer all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.