Software Systems Engineer

Saic; North Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC seeks a Software Systems Engineer to own full stack development and maturation of a government prototype at our customer site in North Charleston, SC. You will build backend services, frontend applications, and infrastructure while ensuring DoD security, scalability, and operational standards across distributed systems.

The role emphasizes secure coding practices, container hardening, and CI/CD security, with hands-on AI tool usage and production-grade maturation of prototype software for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of work experience; 4 years of additional work experience accepted in lieu of degree.
• Proficiency in Go and Python.
• Systems integration of heterogeneous hardware, communications links, containerized services, and data pipelines into a deployable system.
• Active, hands-on use of AI development tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar).
• Experience with secure software engineering practices, container/infrastructure hardening, and DevSecOps.
• Experience maturing prototype/research-grade code into production-ready systems.

Responsibilities

• Own full stack development, backend services, frontend applications, and infrastructure to mature a government prototype toward a Program of Record.
• Design resilient distributed systems for secure, reliable operation in degraded or bandwidth-limited environments.
• Implement secure data pipelines and RMF/ATO-aligned practices across the lifecycle.
• Architect segmented networks, real-time communications, and hardware integration for mission-critical use.
• Create user-centric tools for tactical use and scalable engineering solutions.

Skills

Go

Python

React

Rust

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS GovCloud

CI/CD

Job description

Description

SAIC is seeking a Software Systems Engineer to own full stack development and technical maturation of a government software prototype as it transitions from research/prototype status to a Program of Record (PoR) for our customer site in North Charleston, SC.

Job Duties:

• Resilient System Design:Develop distributed systems for secure, reliable operation in degraded, bandwidth-limited, and autonomous environments.
• Full-Stack Development:Build and maintain backend services, frontend applications, and infrastructure, hardening prototypes to meet DoD security, scalability, and operational standards.
• Data Security & Compliance:Implement secure data pipelines and protocols, ensure RMF compliance, support ATO accreditation, and follow secure development practices like container hardening and CI/CD security.
• Networking & Integration:Design segmented networks, real-time communications, hardware integration, and modular deployments for mission-critical applications.
• Operational & Mission Support:Create user-centric tools for tactical use, diagnostics, air-gapped provisioning, and deliver scalable, mission-aligned engineering solutions.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelors and five (5) years or more work experience; (4) four years of additional work experience accepted in lieu of degree.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Go, Python.
• Systems Integration Experience:Demonstrated ability to integrate heterogeneous hardware, communications links, containerized software services, and data pipelines into a unified, operationally deployable system. Preferably experience with multi-transport networking, pub/sub architectures, edge-to-cloud data federation, and API/protocol translation across diverse sensor or platform types.
• Active, hands-on use of AI development tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar AI coding assistants) as part of daily engineering work.
• Practical experience with cybersecurity-conscious software engineering — secure coding practices, vulnerability remediation, container/infrastructure hardening, or similar.
• Experience taking prototype/research-grade code and maturing it into a production, supportable system.

Required Security Clearance:

• Must be a US Citizen, no clearance required to start but must be able to obtain and maintain an active Secret clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Direct experience supporting an ATO package (SSP development, control implementation, POA&M management, eMASS).
• Experience with containerization/orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipeline security.
• Familiarity with DoD software acquisition processes and prototype-to-Program-of-Record transitions.
• Experience with cloud environments (AWS GovCloud or similar) in an accredited/compliance-driven context.
• Prior experience in a DoD, IC, or other federal contracting environment.
• Proficiency with React and Rust.
• Familiarity with the general lifecycle of moving a system through security accreditation (RMF, ATO, or equivalent commercial/compliance frameworks), prior direct ATO experience is a strong plus but not mandatory.