Software Engineer Lead

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions in Colorado Springs seeks a Software Engineer to lead SecDevOps across the full software lifecycle. You will architect, develop, test, and deploy scalable enterprise applications, champion automation, and drive modern CI/CD pipelines with Kubernetes/OpenShift on Windows and Linux.

The role emphasizes autonomy, mentoring junior engineers, and communicating technical vision to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in Computer Science, Software, or STEM field.
• 10-15 years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience leading design and optimization of Java/C/C++ apps.
• Automation using Python, shell scripting, and batch/Windows scripts.
• Strong SQL/database design and data manipulation skills.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive architectural solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead SecDevOps across the full software lifecycle.
• Architect system integrations and enterprise deployments.
• Drive containerization with Kubernetes/OpenShift for scaling.
• Develop automated testing within optimized CI/CD pipelines.
• Provide technical guidance and stakeholder communication.

Skills

Java & C/C++ apps

Python scripting

SQL & database design

Mentoring

DevSecOps tooling

Automated testing

Security clearance

RHCA/CKA/CKAD

IaC & GitOps

OpenShift & Kubernetes

Satellite domain

Education

BA/BS in Computer Science, Software, or STEM

Tools

Terraform

GitLab/Azure DevOps

Jira/Confluence

Job description

Software Engineer – SecDevOps Lead

Kratos is seeking a Software Engineer to lead and innovate within our dynamic, agile environment. This role architects and champions a SecDevOps approach across the entire software development lifecycle, driving the strategic design, development, testing, and operational scaling based on user feedback. The ideal candidate will operate with high autonomy, guiding collaborative teams to design, implement, and maintain complex software solutions while establishing modern industry standards and communicating technical vision clearly to stakeholders. Key responsibilities include architecting system integrations to develop and deploy enterprise applications, as well as orchestrating containerization strategies using Kubernetes to manage and scale critical services. Additionally, the role involves engineering testing infrastructure and automation by designing and maintaining robust automated test scripts within optimized CI/CD pipelines, and delivering advanced operational support through technical requirements verification, system documentation, and complex troubleshooting in simulated environments.

Experience and Skills

• BA/BS Degree in Computer Science, Software, or STEM field of study
• 10-15 years of relevant, industry experience
• Leading the design, development, and optimization of Java and C/C++ applications (including advanced network, multi-threaded, and high-performance client-server architectures) across Windows and Linux platforms
• Designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise-grade automation using Python, Unix Shell scripting, Batch files, and Windows script files
• Architectural mastery of relational database design, advanced query optimization, and complex Structured Query Language (SQL) data manipulation
• Architecting and driving innovative solutions to complex, ambiguous engineering problems while mentoring junior and mid-level engineers

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Platform Expertise: Subject matter expertise in architecting and scaling Red Hat OpenShift and enterprise Kubernetes infrastructures.
• Domain Leadership: Deep domain knowledge of satellite ground station processing systems (including advanced planning, ground control, and high-throughput data processing).
• Enterprise DevSecOps Tools: Advanced proficiency driving automation via Python, optimizing CI/CD workflows within GitLab/Azure DevOps, and managing lifecycles using Jira/Confluence.
• Comprehensive Testing Architecture: Proven track record designing and leading automated functional, integration, regression, and high-load performance testing strategies.
• Security & Compliance: Possession of an active Top Secret/SCI or Secret security clearance.
• Industry Certifications: Advanced professional certifications such as Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA), Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD).
• Modern Infrastructure: Extensive experience implementing advanced Infrastructure as Code (IaC) architectures (e.g., Terraform) and mature GitOps workflows.

Job Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Competitive salary based on experience and education
Salary Range: $145,000-$170,000

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Affimative Action Employer. EOE, Minorities, Females, Vet, Disabled, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or any other protected class. All qualified job seekers are encouraged to apply. Kratos Defense is committed to America's veterans by providing opportunities for them to continue contributing after service to our nation. We also work to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

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