Principal Software Systems Engineer (Embedded Flight Systems)

Trident; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k)

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Annual discretionary bonus

Job summary

Trident Systems is seeking a Principal Software Systems Engineer (Embedded Flight Systems) in Fairfax, VA. The role bridges systems and software engineering to translate mission requirements into embedded software architectures and verification plans.

The ideal candidate has real-time embedded software, hardware/software integration, and flight- or safety-critical experience, with leadership in agile development and rigorous traceability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, software engineering, computer/ electrical/ aerospace engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 9 years in software systems engineering, embedded software, avionics, flight systems, or related aerospace/defense work.
• Experience with real-time embedded software, requirements development, decomposition, traceability, and verification.
• Experience with hardware/software integration and debug.
• Familiarity with the systems engineering lifecycle, formal technical reviews, and agile development environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Decompose system requirements into software functional, performance, interface, and verification requirements.
• Maintain traceability across stakeholder needs, requirements, architecture, implementation, and test artifacts.
• Define software-related interfaces for avionics, sensors, payloads, actuators, buses, and ground systems.
• Support architecture development with attention to timing, fault handling, determinism, and operational constraints.
• Participate in major technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and develop verification strategies, test methods, and acceptance criteria.
• Collaborate with software, firmware, electronics, and test teams to develop integrated flight solutions.
• Lead or support agile software development for embedded mission-critical software teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Real-time embedded software

Requirements development

Decomposition

Traceability

Verification

Hardware/software integration

Agile development

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

Position Title: PrincipalSoftware Systems Engineer (Embedded Flight Systems)

Requisition ID

Position Location: Fairfax, VA

Position Reports To: Director, Software Engineering

Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division, we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement, leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative, high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers' evolving needs.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

The Principal Software Systems Engineer (Embedded Flight Systems) defines, develops, integrates, and verifies software-intensive aerospace systems for flight and flight-like environments. This role bridges systems engineering and software engineering, translating mission and vehicle requirements into embedded software architectures, interfaces, verification approaches, and technical plans.

The ideal candidate has experience with real-time embedded software, hardware/software integration, and flight- or safety-critical systems. This position also provides leadership in agile software development while maintaining technical rigor, traceability, and mission assurance.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Systems Engineering for Embedded Flight Software
  • Decompose system requirements into software functional, performance, interface, and verification requirements.
  • Maintain traceability across stakeholder needs, requirements, architecture, implementation, and test artifacts.
  • Define software-related interfaces for avionics, sensors, payloads, actuators, buses, and ground systems.
  • Support architecture development with attention to timing, fault handling, determinism, and operational constraints.
  • Participate in major technical reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR.
  • Develop verification strategies, test methods, and acceptance criteria aligned with system requirements.
  • Assess technical risk, identify gaps early, and support mitigation planning.
• Embedded Flight Software Development and Integration
  • Collaborate with software, firmware, electronics, and test teams to develop integrated flight solutions.
  • Support embedded software development and hardware/software integration in labs, testbeds, and flight-like environments.
  • Troubleshoot issues across software, firmware, interfaces, and electronics to identify root cause and drive resolution.
• Agile Software Development Leadership
  • Provide leadership in agile software development for embedded and mission-critical software teams.
  • Help establish and maintain an agile execution model that supports disciplined engineering, predictable delivery, and strong technical quality.
  • Lead or support sprint planning, backlog refinement, reviews, retrospectives, and release planning.
  • Coordinate across systems, software, firmware, hardware, and test teams to manage dependencies, integration points, and delivery risks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 9 years of experience in software systems engineering, embedded software, avionics, flight systems, or related aerospace/defense development.
• Experience with real-time embedded software, requirements development, decomposition, traceability, and verification.
• Experience with hardware/software integration and debug.
• Familiarity with the systems engineering lifecycle, formal technical reviews, and agile development environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $120,000 - $222,000

Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)