Lead Software Engineer

The Mission: Do you want to build software that solves the world's most complex national security problems? At STR, we don’t just write code; we bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world mission success. You will join a multidisciplinary powerhouse of software engineers, physicists, mathematicians, and data scientists dedicated to taking innovative ideas from a whiteboard concept to a mature, deployed implementation. The Technical Frontier: As part of the Knowledge Exploitation & Decisions Systems Group, you will work at the intersection of AI and human decision-making. Our portfolio is diverse and high-impact, including Command & Control (C2) via intuitive human-machine interfaces that help operators make the best possible decisions in high-pressure environments, Trusted AI & Autonomy via simulation platforms to test AI autonomy and evaluating the reliability and responsibility of autonomous systems, and Advanced Reasoning via graph-based reasoning and evolutionary algorithms for resilient workflow optimization, and enhancing language models to assess the feasibility of scientific claims.

Responsibilities

Architect & Lead: define the technical vision and architectural roadmap for flexible microservices within a robust DevSecOps ecosystem; Steer Deployment: lead the transition of mature mission planning solutions from R&D prototypes into production-grade systems deployed within active user communities; Bridge the Gap: act as the primary technical liaison between PhD scientists and the engineering team, translating complex mathematical models into scalable, maintainable software architectures; Mentor & Elevate: provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers, fostering a culture of code excellence, rigorous peer review, and continuous learning; Drive Strategy: shape the technical direction of the portfolio, identifying new technologies and methodologies to keep STR at the cutting edge

Requirements

BS or MS in Computer Science or a related technical field; With a BS: 6+ years of professional software engineering experience; With an MS: 3+ years of professional software engineering experience; Expert-level proficiency in Java and the Spring ecosystem with deep mastery of design patterns, distributed systems, and designing for scalability and resilience; Track record of leading technical projects, mentoring engineers, and making high-stakes architectural decisions; Strategic mindset to navigate ambiguity, define requirements, and lead through R&D uncertainty; U.S. Citizenship required with ability to obtain Top Secret clearance; Periodic travel up to 20%; Tech stack includes Java 17+, Spring Boot, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Kafka/NATS, GitLab, and Python