Software Engineer (C++)

Actalent; Manassas (VA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a C++ Software Engineer to support a submarine acoustic system, focusing on builds, integration, and dependency management in a Linux environment. This contract role emphasizes build systems and scalable pipelines over feature development.

You will work with Git, Make, CMake, and GitLab, collaborating across teams in an Agile-inspired setting, driving reliability and modernization of build processes.

Qualifications

• Strong C/C++ software development experience.
• Solid understanding of dependencies, linking, compilation, and build behavior.
• Hands-on experience in Linux-based development environments.
• Proven ability to debug complex, non-trivial software issues including build and integration problems.
• Experience using Git in a collaborative environment.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and GitLab workflows.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and troubleshoot code dependencies, linking issues, and build behavior in a large C/C++ environment.
• Debug and resolve complex software defects, build failures, and integration issues with teammates.
• Work within Linux-based development environments to resolve build/execution problems.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to improve modularity, dependency management, and build efficiency.
• Shape future lifecycle processes around build automation and pipeline modernization.
• Leverage Git, Make, and CMake to support modern software development practices.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipeline improvements for reliability and scalability.

Skills

C/C++ development

Linux development

Debugging complex issues

Git

CI/CD (GitLab)

Independent worker

Build & integration

Tools

Make

CMake

Git

GitLab

Job description

Job Title: C++ Software Engineer

Job Description

This role supports a mission-critical submarine acoustic system by focusing on software build, integration, and dependency management across a large-scale C/C++ engineering environment. You will work primarily in Linux, solving complex technical problems related to builds and integration rather than traditional feature development. This position offers broad exposure to enterprise-scale software engineering challenges and can open doors to future opportunities across multiple high-impact programs.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and troubleshoot code dependencies, linking issues, and build behavior across a large C/C++ software environment.
• Debug and resolve complex software defects, build failures, and integration issues in collaboration with other engineers.
• Work within Linux-based development environments to investigate and solve software build and execution problems.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to improve software modularity, dependency management, and build efficiency.
• Evaluate and help shape future software development lifecycle processes related to build automation, dependency management, and pipeline modernization.
• Leverage tools such as Git, Make, and CMake while applying modern software development practices in a collaborative engineering environment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of CI/CD pipelines and software build workflows, with a focus on reliability and scalability.

Essential Skills

• Strong professional experience with C/C++ software development.
• Solid understanding of C/C++ dependencies, linking, compilation, and build behavior.
• Hands-on experience working in Linux-based development environments.
• Proven ability to debug complex, non-trivial software issues, including build and integration problems.
• Experience using Git in a collaborative software development environment.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and software build workflows, preferably using GitLab.
• Strong problem-solving ability and capacity to work independently in technically ambiguous environments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Make and/or CMake for build configuration and automation.
• Familiarity with modern C++ standards, ideally C++11 or newer.
• Understanding of key C++ concepts such as smart pointers, vectors versus arrays, heap versus stack allocation, templates, and modern memory management practices.
• Exposure to package and dependency management tools used in large-scale C/C++ environments.
• Experience supporting or participating in migrations to GitLab or similar CI/CD platforms.
• Familiarity with Agile development environments and tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Active Secret clearance is preferred.

Work Environment

You will work in a Linux-focused development environment supporting a large, complex C/C++ codebase for a mission-critical submarine acoustic system. The role emphasizes build systems, integration, and dependency management rather than user-facing feature development, giving you exposure to enterprise-scale software engineering practices. You will use tools such as Git, Make, CMake, and GitLab, and collaborate closely with other engineers in an Agile-inspired setting that may leverage tools like Jira and Confluence. The environment encourages modern software development practices, continuous integration and delivery, and ongoing improvement of build and deployment pipelines.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Manassas, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $90.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Manassas, VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Manassas,VA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.