Principal Software Engineer

Talentify; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BigBear.ai is hiring a Principal Software Engineer to lead architectural decisions and deliver high-performance software for mission-focused analytics. You will mentor teams, set coding and quality standards, and collaborate with cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and program leadership.

The role emphasizes modernizing and automating systems, reducing technical debt, and contributing code as needed, with TS/SCI w/ Poly clearance as a key requirement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering plus 11 years of experience.
• Clearance: TS/SCI w/ Poly.
• Experience designing and delivering complex production software.
• Ability to make architecture decisions across multiple components or teams.
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language.
• Experience with automated testing, code review, source control, and CI.

Responsibilities

• Own or influence the technical architecture for complex software systems.
• Lead design reviews, planning, and engineering tradeoffs.
• Establish coding, testing, performance, security, and maintainability standards.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance across teams.
• Collaborate with product, systems engineering, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and program leadership.
• Drive modernization, automation, and reduce technical debt.
• Review implementation plans and assess technical risks.
• Support proposals, customer briefings, and technical demonstrations when applicable.
• Ensure software practices meet regulatory, security, and mission needs.
• Contribute hands-on code or prototypes where necessary.

Skills

Architecture decisions

Design reviews

Mentoring

Communication

DevSecOps collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in CS/Software Eng

Tools

Containers

Infrastructure as Code

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Residency

All applicants must currently reside in the United States

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.

Pay transparency

Please note the targeted compensation range is provided as an estimate, and any actual compensation offer may vary depending on the needs of the company, or an applicant's skillset, competencies, experience, education, certifications, location, or other factors. The estimated range does not include the value of any benefits offered.

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.

• 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.
• 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.