Job Description: Competitive Range partners with the government to plan and deploy complex, IT-enabled, and mission-essential capabilities. Our goal is to help you develop and expand your professional capabilities while working on challenging, exciting projects in a collaborative, congenial environment. We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to design, modify, develop, and implement highly secure and scalable software solutions supporting critical DoD operations. This senior-level role involves leading project teams, providing technical guidance, and delivering expert consultation on complex defense applications. The ideal candidate will bring extensive software engineering experience and a strong understanding of mission-critical systems. Key Responsibilities + Lead the design, development, and implementation of software programming applications and operating systems for defense projects. + Modify and enhance existing software solutions to optimize security, functionality, and performance. + Provide technical leadership to project teams, mentoring engineers and ensuring best practices in software development. + Write, review, and maintain efficient, high-quality, and well-documented code following DoD cybersecurity and compliance standards. + Offer expert consultation on complex projects, guiding strategic software engineering decisions. + Oversee software testing, debugging, validation, and integration in defense environments. + Ensure adherence to DoD security protocols, NIST standards, and Risk Management Framework (RMF) guidelines. + Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including cybersecurity specialists, system engineers, and DoD stakeholders, to drive mission success. Required Qualifications: + Active Secret Clearance: TS preferred + Education: + Bachelor's Degree with 15 years of software engineering experience OR + Master's Degree or higher with 12 years of experience. + Experience: + 15 years of relevant software development experience with a Bachelor's Degree OR + 12 years of experience with a Master's Degree or higher. + Extensive proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Java, Python, or embedded systems development. + Strong expertise in software architecture, secure coding practices, and large-scale system engineering. + Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance. + Deep understanding of DoD systems, defense applications, and cybersecurity best practices. Preferred Qualifications: + Experience leading development efforts for classified defense systems and DoD contracts. + Knowledge of cloud computing solutions for DoD applications (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government). + Familiarity with DevSecOps methodologies, CI/CD pipelines, and secure software engineering principles. + Certifications such as Security+, CISSP, or DoD-approved software development credentials.