Senior Software Architect for Communication and Ground Modeling and Simulation

Job Summary   

Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) staff couple the latest in information system technologies, such as elastic compute clouds, containerization, microservices, real-time operating systems, and visualization frameworks, with expertise in cyber security, software architecture, software engineering, data science, Artificial Intelligence, process improvement, and software development to deliver responsive, resilient, high-performance software intensive systems to our Intelligence Community, DoD, and civilian customers. 

The Modeling and Simulation Computing Department (MSCD) consists of a team dedicated to ground-breaking software solutions and capabilities for government and commercial customer needs.  We are looking for a Senior Software Architect for Modeling and Simulation Computing (Senior Engineering Specialist - Systems and Modeling and Simulation Engineer). We enable detailed and complex modeling, analysis, optimization, and visualization of satellite orbits, system architectures, and engineering trade-spaces to provide customer decision support for the future of space. 

Work Model 

• This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA  

What You’ll Be Doing  

• Act as a department senior liaison, providing proactive coordination and consultation to customers and Aerospace staff across the company  

• Specifically, lead software architecture design and development teams for elements of the corporation’s effort to develop and modernize major software workflows for communication and ground architectures 

• Initiate and conduct efforts to grow and sustain our communication and ground modeling, simulation, and analysis capabilities to support new and existing functional areas. 

• Apply leadership and coordination across multi-disciplinary technical leaders, Aerospace Program Office personnel, and external customers. 

• Partner with analysis leads to exercise influence on key stakeholders and customers by leading engagement efforts as we develop the company’s next-generation communication and ground modeling capabilities. 

• Support organizational and capability strategic planning, identifying opportunities to leverage development and analysis across diverse projects and analysis types while suggesting ways to close capability gaps. 

• Engage with software end users and customers to refine capability requirements. 

• Mature technical expertise in the department through mentoring team members and directing workflow development. 

• Routinely communicate project progress, including recommended design solutions to technical leads, management, and customers 

• Travel as necessary to support customer efforts. 

What You Need to be Successful - Senior Engineering Specialist - Modeling & Simulation and Systems Software Engineering  

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, computer science, mathematics, or a related discipline from an accredited school 

• 10 or more years of industry experience, with demonstrated experience leading software development teams, managing/coordinating complex technical tasks, and translating customer needs into tasks for team members  

• Professional experience as a technical lead of a software project 

• Professional experience in one or more of the following specific national security space or intelligence mission areas: communication and ground infrastructures, signals intelligence, geo-spatial intelligence, space surveillance, navigation systems or space protection  

• Experience in designing modern software architectures 

• Proficiency in developing software updates and understanding how they fit into the larger software structure as part of a team working to deliver complex projects on schedule 

• Proficiency in at least one object-oriented programming language (C++, Python, Java, etc.) 

• Experience leveraging software configuration management and collaboration tools in team environments (Bitbucket, Jira, GitHub, or similar) 

• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, adapt quickly to change, and to help customers manage ambiguity 

• Experience in building technical proficiency through mentoring and talent development initiatives 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present methods and results effectively in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with customers, Aerospace program offices, and contractors  

• Willing to travel occasionally to corporate or customer locations to support efforts as needed 

• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance 

How You Can Stand Out  

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Advanced degree in one of the fields of study mentioned above 

• Expertise in scheduling and mission management for communication and ground systems  

• Expertise in modern C++ and build systems across multiple operating systems 

• Experience with Aerospace customers and industry players 

• Experience writing software for use on high performance computing clusters  

• Experience writing cloud-native modeling & simulation applications 

• Experience in cloud technologies (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes, etc.) 

• Experience leveraging software factories, DevSecOps, and CI/CD technologies 

• Demonstrated contributions to open source or InnerSource projects 

• Relevant certifications in Agile project management 

• Current TS/SCI or higher security clearance