Senior Embedded Software Engineer (clearance required)

Ultra Electronics Group; United States; On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Bonus

401K with company match

Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits

PTO + holidays

Job summary

Ultra I&C in Austin, Texas is seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to architect, implement, and certify high-assurance cryptographic systems for DoD, NATO, and allies. You will work on security‑critical software, pursue NSA HA certification readiness, and contribute to cryptographic information assurance architectures and fielded systems.

The role focuses on secure embedded design, Rust adoption in constrained environments, and rigorous certification processes within a multi‑domain defense

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance (U.S. citizenship required).
• 5+ years of embedded software development experience in C and/or Rust.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software in C and Rust for cryptographic/security‑critical platforms.
• Architect cryptographic information assurance software and systems with defined security boundaries.
• Perform memory-safe design, and C‑to‑Rust transitions; support NSA High Assurance certification processes.

Skills

Embedded C

Rust

NSA HA

ARM debugging

Security software

Education

B.S. in CS/CE

Tools

openOCD

GDB

JTAG/SWD

Job description

Company: Ultra Intelligence & Communications Mission Solutions Powering Decision Join the team redefining defense technology. From engineering systems that save lives to leading programs that change the battlefield—find your place in the future of defense. Mission Solutions By joining our Mission Solutions business, you will be a member of a team dedicated to providing innovative solutions that streamline the preparation and execution of intricate, mission-critical operations. We focus on enhancing situational awareness, tactical command and control, and seamless video data exchange capabilities within a dynamic, multi-domain environment.

Job Description

Ultra ProLogic is expanding its encryption business and seeking an Embedded Software Engineer to help architect, implement, and certify high-assurance cryptographic systems used by the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO, and allied partners. This role goes beyond traditional embedded development. You will work on security‑critical software and firmware that must meet NSA High Assurance (HA) certification requirements, contributing directly to cryptographic information assurance architectures, certification artifacts, and fielded systems protecting real‑world tactical and strategic networks. If you are motivated by deep technical challenges—secure embedded design, Rust adoption in constrained environments, and building systems that withstand formal certification scrutiny—this role offers rare and meaningful work.

What You’ll Work On

• High-assurance cryptographic and key management systems supporting secure communications, remote rekey, and lifecycle management
• Embedded software and firmware operating within defined crypto, INFOSEC, and High Assurance boundaries
• Architecture and implementation of cryptographic information assurance (IA) software and systems
• Modernization of legacy C baselines and architecting Rust-based embedded solutions for security- and safety-critical environments
• Systems that undergo formal NSA High Assurance certification, from requirements through fielding and sustainment

Role Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software primarily in C and Rust for cryptographic and security‑critical platforms
• Architect cryptographic information assurance software and systems, including definition of security boundaries, trusted services, and separation of crypto and non‑crypto functions
• Perform trade studies and embedded architecture design, with emphasis on memory‑safe designs and C‑to‑Rust transitions
• Actively support the NSA High Assurance certification process, including:
• Requirements decomposition and traceability
• Security architecture definition and documentation
• Development of certification artifacts and evidence
• Participation in technical reviews and certification milestones
• Develop and maintain formal engineering documentation: Software & Hardware Requirements (SHRS, IRS) Interface Control Documents (ICDs) Software/Hardware Design Descriptions (SHDD)
• Develop and execute unit testing, integration, and acceptance testing, including hardware-in-the-loop and security‑relevant test cases
• Manage configuration control for software development items in certified baselines
• Collaborate closely with systems, hardware, security, and test engineers in a high‑performance, mission‑driven team
• Identify and implement process, tooling, and automation improvements to support secure development and certification efficiency
• Periodic travel (~5%) for customer interaction, test events, or off‑site integration activities

Required Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance (U.S. citizenship required)
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of embedded software development experience in C and/or Rust
• Experience with: Low-level embedded development and debugging ARM-based processors and SoC platforms
• Firmware and hardware/software integration
• Strong understanding of memory management, concurrency, and deterministic embedded behavior

Preferred / Differentiating Experience

• 8+ years of embedded or firmware development experience
• Experience with Rust in constrained embedded environments (no-std, heapless, hardware abstraction layer (HAL))
• Direct experience with NSA High Assurance certification, RMF, or similar DoD security frameworks
• Familiarity with cryptographic system design, key management, and secure boot/trust architectures
• Experience with: openOCD, gdb, JTAG/SWD debugging
• AMD Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC (e.g., Xilinx ZCU102/104 Evaluation Kit or similar)
• Experience working in waterfall or agile development methodology-based projects
• Strong systems‑thinking mindset with the ability to assess technical risk and security impact
• Clear communicator who thrives in collaborative, technically rigorous teams

Our Benefits

Every employee is critical to our success, and as such, we offer a range of flexible employee benefits, including:

• Annual Bonus
• Annual Bonus – Performance Related
• Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) package plus 11 company holidays
• Early finish on Friday
• 401K w/ company match
• Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits
• Student Loan Assistance Program
• Array of voluntary benefit offerings

Ultra I&C is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected state or federal classes. We provide affirmative action in employment for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

If you need an accommodation in any part of the application process, email [e-mail].

Ultra I&C is powering decision speed across the multidomain battlespace with resilient tactical communications, mission optimization and encryption technologies. We secure, move and make sense of data across all domains—delivering real‑time, mission‑ready intelligence that gives operators at the edge the clarity to act and the speed to win. For decades, global defense forces and allied partners have relied on Ultra I&C to outpace threats and cut through complexity on the battlefield. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, we deliver battle‑proven technology purpose‑built for decision advantage in contested, high‑threat environments.