Sr. Principal Software Engineer

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.  

Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.  

Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.

We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission.  

We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

• Requires bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master's +13 yrs experience).

• Typically, 15+ years of related experience.

• Extensive expertise in multiple programming languages and software development principles.

• Ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems.

• Strong leadership skills to lead a team of engineers.

• Ability to make high-level design decisions.

• Ability to drive the strategic direction of the software engineering team.

• Demonstrated project leadership, strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication with non-technical stakeholders.

• Ability to architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale projects, innovate, and make decisions on the adoption of new technologies and methodologies.

• Experience with different software development methodologies such as Agile and Scrum/Kanban.

• The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

• Extensive experience with kernel-level programming and system optimization.

• Mastery in programming languages (Python, C++) and their ecosystems.

• Expertise in scripting languages (Bash, PowerShell, Perl) and automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef, Terraform).

• Proven experience with Agile or Scrum methodologies and tools (JIRA, Confluence, Jenkins).

• Exceptional analytical skills, performance profiling, memory management, and debugging.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with proficiency in collaborative tools (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).

• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale software projects from inception to completion.

• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills.

• Advanced knowledge of database management systems (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB).

• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and cloud-native development.

• Proficiency with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).

• In-depth understanding of network protocols, security principles, and secure coding practices.

• Ability to write and maintain comprehensive technical documentation.

• Extensive experience with CI/CD pipelines and advanced automated testing frameworks.

• Proven track record of mentoring and guiding junior engineers, providing technical leadership.

• Experience with continuous integration and automated test.

• Knowledge of and experience implementing Software Design Patterns.

• Familiarity with SysML/UML to create software designs.

• Experience utilizing and setting up static analysis tools.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance.  The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

At Sierra Space, we are committed to your personal and professional development. We empower you to make profound and meaningful contributions and foster a vibrant culture of collaboration, where teamwork ignites breakthrough innovations. 

Sierra Space is an industry-leading space and defense technology company providing satellites, spacecraft, and enabling mission systems and components. We deliver mission-proven technologies to our customers that safeguard our nation, protect space-based assets and enable space exploration.

Application Deadline: This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Sierra Space Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment with Sierra Space or at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.