Senior Embedded Flight Systems Engineer - Real-Time Lead

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

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.