Software Engineering Lead - JobID-0205

Innovative Defense Technologies; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

Paid holidays

401(k) with matching

Tuition Assistance Reimbursement

Professional Development Resources

Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits

Job summary

Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) is seeking a Software Engineering Lead for its Advanced Capabilities team in Arlington, VA. The role requires an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance and on-site presence five days a week.

The engineer will design end-to-end systems, implement advanced algorithms, and balance project constraints with enterprise goals. Leadership, collaboration, and extensive experience across C, C++, Java, Python are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, cybersecurity, or related field (or equivalent full-time professional experience).
• 7–10 years' experience in software development with multiple languages and architectures.
• Willingness to travel ~10% and work on-site in Arlington, VA.
• Experience with UML diagrams, design patterns, and secure software practices.

Responsibilities

• Engineer and architect solutions; design high-fidelity prototypes to guide architecture decisions.
• Lead testing strategies, incident investigations, and cross-team issue resolution.
• Drive risk management, modernization efforts, and secure development practices.
• Coach and mentor team members to build high-performing, inclusive teams.

Skills

C

C++

Java

Python

JavaScript

System Architecture

Design Patterns

UML Diagrams

Requirements Elicitation

Documentation

Team Leadership

Travel 10%

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

VMware vSphere

Job description

Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), a leading defense technology company, is seeking a Software Engineering Lead to be part of our Advanced Capabilities team and based out of our Arlington, VA location.

Clearance & Location Requirements:

• All applicants must currently possess an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
• This is an on-site position. Requiring at least 5 days in office, based out of our Arlington, VA location.

Job Details:

• Department: Engineering
• Employment Type: Full Time
• Location: Arlington, VA
• Address: 4401 Wilson Boulevard Suite 810, Arlington, Virginia, 22203
• Open in Google Maps
• Workplace type: Onsite
• Compensation: $135,000 - $273,000 / year

Key Responsibilities

What You Will Do:

• Engineer and Architect Solutions: Design and develop high-fidelity prototypes to guide architectural decisions and evaluate solutions against business and operational goals. Architect end-to-end systems that balance project constraints with enterprise objectives, selecting languages, frameworks, and data structures to optimize performance and scalability. Apply advanced algorithms and design patterns to solve complex problems while adapting frameworks to maximize value and efficiency.
• Test and Assure Quality: Design and implement comprehensive test strategies-including unit, integration, and performance testing-to ensure full system coverage. Lead complex incident investigations and coordinate cross-team issue resolution. Enhance monitoring, alerting, and diagnostic tools to improve detection and response, while proactively addressing systemic defects and guiding architectural improvements to ensure long-term software stability in deployed environments.
• Manage Risk and Drive Improvement: Identify and mitigate systemic issues through long-term engineering solutions embedded within the development lifecycle. Lead large-scale modernization initiatives to re-engineer legacy systems and improve maintainability. Establish risk management frameworks, forecast emerging technical and security risks, and champion mitigation strategies to ensure resilience. Integrate secure development practices and threat modeling into architectural decisions to proactively address vulnerabilities.
• Lead and Develop People: Coach and mentor team members to meet both individual career goals and IDT's organizational objectives. Build inclusive, high-performing teams that embody IDT values and promote a positive, collaborative culture. Delegate work strategically, empower continuous learning, and model ethical leadership, trust, and resilience across all interactions.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Who You Are (Required):

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, cybersecurity, or related field (or equivalent full-time professional experience)
• Minimum of 7-10 years' experience in software development
• Ability to travel approximately 10%
• Highly adept at understanding and presenting complex software solutions
• Extensive experience developing software in various languages, including C, C++, Java, JavaScript, and Python.
• Abundant experience with System and Software architectures
• Familiarity with and hands on experience with software design patterns
• Experience designing software with UML primitives: sequence diagrams, class diagrams, and activity diagrams
• Requirements elicitation, management, tracking, and auditing
• Documentation, training, and deployment experience with tactical software
• Ability to work on-site in Arlington, VA facility and travel to customer sites
• Familiarity deploying containers to Docker utilizing Kubernetes based orchestration platform(s)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; Adept at presenting technical information to internal and external stakeholders
• Project management skills to include cost, schedule, as well as technical performance estimating and measurement

What Makes You Stand Out:

• Master's degree in Engineering or another technical field
• Familiarity with foundational networking concepts such as routing, switching, identity services, intrusion detection, and firewall
• Familiarity deploying virtual machines in VMWare vSphere environments including networking configuration
• General familiarity with Risk Management Framework (RMF), Authority to Operate (ATO) operations and experience developing solutions that adhere to cyber policy
• Familiarity designing within complex software development environments including submodules, remote dependencies, and mixed-code deployments
• Experience in technical writing, including proposal and white paper authoring

Pay Range:

$135,000 - $231,000 or $164,000 - $273,000

This amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate's experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience.

Job Benefits

Why Work at IDT

IDT is a growing company with a vibrant, entrepreneurial culture. We are headquartered in Arlington, VA with additional offices in Fall River, MA; Mount Laurel, NJ; and San Diego, CA. At each location, our employees work together in a modern, snack-filled, and social office space, designing innovative solutions for our defense industry customers. We offer employees competitive pay and benefits including:

• Generous benefits package
• Competitive PTO
• Paid holidays
• 401(k) with immediate vesting and matching
• 9/80 optional schedule (2nd and 4th Friday off every month)
• Tuition Assistance Reimbursement Program
• Professional Development Resources
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits
• Organization-Wide Monthly Tech Connect Events
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards
• Regular Social Events and Catered Lunches

EEO Statement

IDT is an Equal Opportunity employer.

About Innovative Defense Technologies

Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) is a leading defense technology company focused on rapidly delivering mission-critical software and systems solutions to the U.S. government. The company specializes in automation, digital engineering, and enabling the rapid integration of advanced capabilities into complex weapon and combat systems. These essential solutions empower the warfighter to field, operate, and sustain decisive capability at speed and scale.

At IDT, our employees are developing advanced mission-critical outcomes by consistently delivering high-quality results, fostering innovation, applying rigorous problem-solving, and effectively collaborating across multifaceted teams and stakeholders. Grounded in these competencies, IDT translates complex customer priorities into robust software solutions.