Senior Principal Software Engineer – High Energy Laser Systems

KBR, Inc; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 124,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan with company match

Medical, dental, vision, life保险

Flexible work schedule

Paid time off

Job summary

KBR, Inc. in Huntsville, AL is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer for High Energy Laser systems. You will lead software teams across design, integration, and deployment of real-time HEL software, defining architectures and ensuring system-level compliance with customer requirements.

You will drive software processes, collaborate with systems/hardware groups, and mentor engineers while navigating DoD security and program milestones. Strong leadership and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline required.
• 8+ years of software engineering experience on defense/embedded systems.
• 3+ years of technical leadership leading software teams.
• Experience designing, developing, integrating, testing complex software systems.
• Proficiency in C++, C#, Python, Java or similar languages.
• Experience with software architecture and distributed systems.
• Experience integrating software with hardware devices and interfaces.
• Familiarity with SDLC, Agile, and DevSecOps practices.
• Experience with Git and version control.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain DoD clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead software team for HEL system software development, integration, and sustainment.
• Define architectures and approaches for weapon system operation and interfaces.
• Establish software processes, standards, baselines; oversee design and testing.
• Coordinate requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment.
• Collaborate with systems engineering to align with system and customer needs.
• Guide HWIL/SWIL testing, safety and cybersecurity considerations.
• Mentor engineers and manage schedules, plans, and staffing.
• Support customer briefings, reviews, and business development activities.

Skills

C++

C#

Python

Java

Real-time systems

Software architecture

Team leadership

DoD security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Git

RTOS

HWIL/SWIL testing

MBSE

Job description

Title: Senior Principal Software Engineer – High Energy Laser Systems

Program Summary Kord, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBR, is a leader in advanced defense solutions with a strong focus on Directed Energy and High Energy Laser (HEL) technologies. Our programs support the U.S. Department of Defense in the development, integration, testing, production, deployment, and sustainment of advanced laser weapon systems that provide critical warfighter capabilities. These complex systems require highly reliable, secure, and real-time software solutions to integrate weapon subsystems, command and control interfaces, safety functions, sensor processing, power management, and platform-level operations.

Job Summary The Senior Principal Software Engineer will provide technical leadership for the design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of software solutions supporting High Energy Laser weapon systems. This role will lead software engineers across multiple development efforts while serving as the principal technical authority for software architecture, implementation, integration, and software lifecycle execution. The position will work closely with systems engineering, hardware engineering, controls engineering, test teams, cybersecurity personnel, program leadership, and customers to deliver high-performance software solutions that meet mission requirements. The successful candidate will possess a strong technical background in software development, software architecture, real-time systems, system integration, and leadership of multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead the software engineering team responsible for development, integration, and sustainment of HEL system software.
• Define software architectures and technical approaches supporting weapon system operation, subsystem control, command and control interfaces, diagnostics, health monitoring, data management, and user interfaces.
• Establish software development processes, coding standards, design practices, and technical baselines.
• Oversee software requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment activities.
• Collaborate with systems engineering teams to ensure software solutions satisfy system-level and customer requirements.
• Lead software integration efforts involving sensors, laser subsystems, beam control systems, power systems, thermal management systems, safety systems, and external interfaces.
• Guide development of embedded software, application software, middleware, and interface software as required by program needs.
• Support system architecture development, interface definition, and software allocation activities.
• Conduct software design reviews, code reviews, technical assessments, and architecture evaluations.
• Identify and resolve technical risks associated with software performance, reliability, cybersecurity, maintainability, and scalability.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL), software-in-the-loop (SWIL), laboratory integration, and field testing activities.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of system and software integration issues.
• Coordinate software releases, configuration management, and software baseline control activities.
• Develop technical plans, schedules, work estimates, and staffing plans supporting software execution.
• Mentor and develop software engineers while promoting a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support customer briefings, technical reviews, proposal efforts, and business development activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of software engineering experience with complex defense, aerospace, embedded, or mission-critical systems.
• Minimum 3 years of technical leadership experience leading software development teams.
• Experience designing, developing, integrating, and testing complex software systems.
• Proficiency in C++, C#, Python, Java, or other modern programming languages.
• Experience with software architecture, object-oriented design, and distributed software systems.
• Experience integrating software with hardware devices, sensors, control systems, and external interfaces.
• Familiarity with software development lifecycle processes, Agile methodologies, and DevSecOps practices.
• Experience with software configuration management and version control tools such as Git.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced technical environment.
• U.S. Citizenship required and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field.
• Experience supporting High Energy Laser, Directed Energy, weapon systems, air defense systems, missile systems, or other advanced defense platforms.
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded software development.
• Knowledge of command and control systems, tactical communications, and distributed mission systems.
• Experience integrating software with electro-optical, infrared, radar, tracking, or targeting systems.
• Familiarity with beam control systems, laser safety systems, power management systems, and thermal management subsystems.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), digital engineering, or software architecture frameworks.
• Understanding of DoD cybersecurity requirements, RMF, NIST standards, and secure software development practices.
• Experience supporting system integration laboratories, field demonstrations, qualification testing, and operational evaluations.
• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop and simulation-based software testing environments.
• Experience leading software teams through production, deployment, and sustainment phases of defense programs.
• Active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary software development efforts.

Salary Range

Salary Range: $124,400.00 - $186,500.00 The salary range posted is based on Huntsville, AL. The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s location, knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience, contract affordability, and in consideration of internal parity.

KBR Benefits

• KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule.
• We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together. KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. KBR — Delivering Solutions, Changing the World.

KBR brings together the best and brightest to deliver science, technology and engineering solutions that help governments and companies around the world accomplish their most critical missions and objectives.

In everything we do, we are guided by our ONE KBR Values:

• We Value Our People – We create diverse, inclusive environments in which each person can feel safe, respected and valued, and where everyone has opportunities to grow and reach their full potential.
• We Deliver – We are uncompromising in our commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality, technology-led solutions for our customers and exceptional, sustainable value for all our stakeholders.
• We Are People of Integrity – We value honesty, trust, courage, fairness, prudence and tenacity. We believe doing what’s right for the planet, the communities where we work, and our people is good for business.
• We Empower – We empower our people with a shared purpose, the right tools and the supportive culture they need to be proactive decision-makers, to be adaptive to change, and to succeed.
• We Are a Team of Teams – We have a will to succeed, but we value the achievements of our team of teams over individual accomplishments. Our collective focus makes us a better, stronger, more effective company.
• We have also embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in every business operation and corporate function.
• Not only are we committed to operating safely, sustainably and equitably, but we are also committed to using our capabilities and expertise to help our customers accomplish their sustainability goals.

Worldwide, KBR employs a diverse workforce approximately 29,000 people strong, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. At KBR, We Deliver.