Software Engineering Manager - SATCOM

Peraton; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton is seeking an experienced Software Engineering Manager to lead a team delivering secure, scalable satellite ground communications software. You will guide architecture, development, and operations across backend Python services and frontend components, while managing talent and ensuring alignment with government mission requirements.

You will collaborate with MBSE, cybersecurity, and test teams to maintain traceability, security, and performance, driving modernization via cloud-native

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in software engineering or management.
• Minimum Secret clearance required and maintainable.
• Proficient in Python backend and API development with microservice patterns.
• Experience with relational databases, especially PostgreSQL, and async messaging like Kafka.
• Strong frontend skills with TypeScript, Vite, and component-based architecture.
• Experience with Git, CI/CD, automated testing, and RBAC/Zero Trust security.

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end cloud-native architecture for multi-tenant AWS platforms.
• Contribute to full-stack development with code reviews and mentoring.
• Oversee staffing, performance reviews, and career development.
• Translate requirements into architectures, specs, and priorities.
• Collaborate with MBSE, cybersecurity, and test teams for traceability.
• Lead backend development using Python and APIs; guide data-processing services.
• Design reusable frontend components and scalable UI.
• Implement secure authentication and RBAC/JWT-based access control.
• Coordinate CI/CD, DevSecOps, and production-support activities.
• Identify risks and mitigation steps for project success.
• Evaluate new technologies for secure government missions.
• Address complex issues in satellite communications ground systems.

Skills

Python backend

Microservice architecture

TypeScript frontend

OAuth 2.0 / JWT

PostgreSQL

Kafka

Git / GitHub

CI/CD automation

Zero Trust security

Unix shell scripting

Tools

PostgreSQL

Kafka

Git / GitHub

TypeScript

Vite

OAuth 2.0

JWT

Job description

Responsibilities

Peraton is delivering advanced mission planning, digital engineering, and command-and-control capabilities supporting the U.S. Government's space communications enterprise. Our team uses modern MBSE practices to translate mission needs into precise, traceable, and verifiable technical requirements across a complex, multi-system environment.

As a Software Engineering Manager , you will manage and grow a team of software engineers while contributing directly to the design and delivery of core platform services supporting secure, scalable, and reliable satellite ground communications and data-transport capabilities. You will combine hands-on software development with direct people management-coaching engineers, driving career growth, leading hiring, and managing performance-while fostering engineering best practices to ensure resilient, maintainable, and compliant solutions for U.S. Government missions.

In this role, you will serve as a senior technical contributor and engineering lead, providing technical direction to software developers while remaining hands-on in architecture, design, development, integration, and troubleshooting. You will collaborate closely with systems engineering, MBSE, cybersecurity, test, DevSecOps, and customer stakeholders to ensure software solutions align with system requirements, architectural objectives, security requirements, and overall program goals.

What you'll do:

• Drive end-to-end architecture and implementation of cloud-native services by leading multi-tenant AWS platform design, defining microservice and integration patterns, setting scalable and secure engineering standards, and delivering robust APIs, microservices, and backend capabilities.
• Contribute directly to full-stack software development while guiding team delivery through code reviews, peer mentoring, and engineering best practices to maintain high-quality, reliable solutions.
• Oversee line management responsibilities-including staffing, performance reviews, career development, and daily team operations-to build a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented engineering culture.
• Translate business, mission, and system requirements into software architectures, technical specifications, implementation strategies, and development priorities.
• Work closely with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Test teams to maintain traceability and alignment between requirements, models, software implementation, and verification activities.
• Lead and contribute to backend development using Python, including APIs, automation logic, data-processing capabilities, and platform-level services.
• Guide the design and development of user interfaces and reusable frontend components that provide consistent, accessible, scalable, and maintainable application functionality.
• Define and implement secure authentication, authorization, and role-based access-control mechanisms across applications and services.
• Lead end-to-end integration, deployment, and production-support efforts by coordinating software integration with customers and mission partners, partnering with DevSecOps to enhance CI/CD and operational tooling, and driving structured investigation and resolution of complex software and production issues.
• Identify technical risks, architectural gaps, and software dependencies and develop mitigation strategies to support successful program execution.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, frameworks, and architectural approaches and recommend solutions appropriate for secure U.S. Government mission environments.
• Solve complex technical challenges associated with secure, highly available, and scalable satellite communications and ground-system infrastructure.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience, may have prior supervisory or management experience.
• This position requires the candidate to possess a minimum of Secret clearance. The candidate must maintain the clearance.
• Proficiency in Python for backend systems and API development, with experience in microservice architectures, backend service development, and asynchronous messaging using technologies such as PostgreSQL, Kafka, OAuth 2.0, JWT, and Unix shell scripting.
• Experience designing, implementing, and optimizing relational databases and SQL-based capabilities, including triggers, functions, and stored procedures.
• Experience implementing authentication and authorization mechanisms, including RBAC, ABAC, OAuth 2.0, JWT, and applying Zero Trust software development principles.
• Proficiency in modern front-end development using TypeScript, Vite, and contemporary practices such as component-based architecture, state management, application routing, and responsive design.
• Experience with Git-based source control (Git, GitHub), structured code reviews, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing practices, including unit testing, integration testing, and automated test workflows.
• Experience i