Software Engineering (Ignite Innovator Pgm), Associate- Herndon or Blacksburg, VA

Peraton; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton is seeking entry-level Software Engineers to join the Ignite Innovators Program at our Herndon, VA or Blacksburg, VA locations. You will contribute to missions across cybersecurity, space, and cloud, gaining hands-on experience while you learn from mentors in a fast-paced Agile environment.

The program is a two-year technical leadership track designed to bridge college to a national-security career, with opportunities to rotate through projects and transition to Peraton mission sector

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or a related field.
• Graduates with December 2026 or May/June 2027 are welcome to apply.
• 0-2+ years of experience as a software engineer.
• Experience programming in Java, Python, C++, or a similar language with OO development.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and in a team.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test leading edge technology solutions in cybersecurity, space, cloud, and related areas.
• Work in a collaborative Agile software development environment to help shape project direction.
• Support the software engineering life cycle from requirements to testing and delivery.

Skills

Java

Python

C++

OO design

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Tools

AWS

Docker

Ansible

Rancher

Job description

Software Engineering (Ignite Innovator Pgm), Associate- Herndon or Blacksburg, VA

• Job Locations: US-VA-Herndon | US-VA-Blacksburg
• Requisition ID: 2026-169664
• Position Category: Information Technology
• Clearance: Secret

Responsibilities

Peraton is seeking Entry-Level Software Engineers to join the Ignite Innovators Program located at one of our Strategic Innovation Centers in Herndon, VA or Blacksburg, VA. The ideal candidate will support exciting projects across Peraton in areas such as communications, space, cybersecurity, defense, public safety, and health.

The target start date for this position is January 2027 for December 2026 grads and June 2027 for May/June 2027 grads.

The Ignite Innovators program is Peraton's premier, two-year, technical leadership development program that serves as your bridge from college to an empowered career in national security. As an Ignite Innovator, you'll receive hands‑on training from industry leaders, gain vital experience working on missions that matter, and begin developing your long‑term career goals. Upon completion of the program, Ignite Innovators have the opportunity to transition to Peraton mission sector programs.

• Design, develop, and test leading edge technology solutions in areas such as cybersecurity, satellite ground systems, information management systems, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning.
• Work in a collaborative, team-oriented Agile software development environment to help shape the direction of the project.
• Support the software engineering life cycle in areas such as requirements/story development, software architecture and design, software development, and unit/component testing.

#PeratonEarlyCareer

Required Qualifications:

• U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or a related field.
• December 2026 and May/June 2027 grads are welcome to apply.
• 0-2+ years of experience working as a software engineer.
• Experience programming in Java, Python, C++, or a similar language, and a solid foundation in object-oriented development.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to quickly adapt and learn new technologies and concepts.
• Self-motivated, independent, detail-oriented, responsible team-player.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• 3.0 and above GPA.
• Prior work or educational experience working in an Agile software development environment.
• Experience with web development frameworks, database technologies, web services, and/or web application servers.
• Experience with integrated development environment and configuration/build management tools and processes.
• Experience with deploying software into cloud environments, particularly Amazon Web Services, using technologies such as Ansible, Docker, and Rancher.

Location:

• Herndon, VA
• Blacksburg, VA

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$66,000 - $106,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.