Senior Mission-Critical Software Architect

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Professional development support

Flexible, employee-focused workplace

Job summary

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions (QDSS) is seeking a Chief Software Engineer to lead mission- and safety-critical software across multiple aerospace programs. You will guide architecture, certification strategies, and vendor/customer collaboration in a services-based delivery model.

This role requires DO-178C expertise, strong embedded C/C++, and direct customer interaction. Remote work with up to 25% travel is supported, with preference for candidates in Scottsdale, Minneapolis, or Cincinnati.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Significant experience architecting DO-178C compliant software (DAL A experience preferred).
• Background in engineering services or supplier delivery environment.
• Proven ability to lead software architecture across multiple teams and programs.
• Solid embedded software foundation (C/C++ in avionics-type environments).
• Experience working directly with customers on regulated aerospace programs.

Responsibilities

• Customer-Facing Architecture Leadership: act as the primary technical contact between engineering teams and customer leadership.
• Mission & Safety-Critical Architecture Ownership: define and lead software architecture for embedded, real-time, high-assurance systems.
• Engineering Services Delivery Model Integration: operate in a services-based delivery environment with executable architecture for multiple Scrum teams.
• Team Technical Leadership & Oversight: provide hands-on architectural guidance across engineers and Scrum teams; mentor on safety-critical practices.
• Certification & Compliance Strategy: lead planning for certification artifacts and traceability.
• Technical Risk & Program Health Management: identify architectural risks early and tie mitigation to milestones.

Skills

DO-178C architecture

Customer-facing leadership

Multi-team leadership

Embedded C/C++

Engineering services experience

Aerospace program experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering/Computer Engineering

Tools

ARINC 653

Partitioned RTOS

Job description

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions (QDSS) is seeking a Chief Software Engineer to lead mission- and safety-critical software across multiple aerospace programs. You will guide architecture, certification strategies, and vendor/customer collaboration in a services-based delivery model.

This role requires DO-178C expertise, strong embedded C/C++, and direct customer interaction. Remote work with up to 25% travel is supported, with preference for candidates in Scottsdale, Minneapolis, or Cincinnati.