Senior Principal Software Architect

Our engineers build cutting-edge software that powers real-world remote sensing, OPIR, and dynamic sensor operations. You'll work alongside experts in AI, high-performance computing, and advanced analytics to solve some of the hardest technical challenges in national security. With top-tier benefits, an entrepreneurial culture, and a close-knit team that values innovation, this is the environment where senior engineers can make a real, measurable impact. Skyline Scientific is seeking a Senior/Principal Software Architect to lead the design and development of advanced software solutions supporting the intelligence and defense communities. In this role, you will architect high-performance systems, guide technical strategy, and collaborate with algorithm, sensor, and AI/ML teams to deliver next-generation capabilities for remote sensing, EO/IR, OPIR, SAR, and data-driven mission analytics. This is a hands-on, mission-focused position with direct customer interaction, offering the opportunity to influence architectures and build operational tools that support national-security missions. Why Skyline Scientific?

• Mission-Focused Work: We solve hard problems in remote sensing, AI-enhanced analytics, and sensor fusion-our work directly impacts national security.
• Industry-Leading Benefits: 15% 401(k) match (no contribution required) and employer-paid healthcare-one of the best packages in the industry.
• Custom Solutions, Not Cookie-Cutter Code: We build AI-enhanced software for electro-optical, infrared, OPIR, SAR, and dynamic sensor applications.
• High-Performing Team: Collaborate with AI/ML experts, algorithm engineers, and sensor specialists to develop cutting-edge software.
• Opportunities to Innovate: Our engineers don't just write code-they research, design, and deploy groundbreaking AI/ML and sensing algorithms.

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Gathering Requirements: Collaborating with stakeholders, product managers, and clients to understand and define functional and non-functional requirements (eg, security, performance, scalability, modifiability).
• Creating Blueprints: Designing the overall system architecture, creating high-level specifications, technical blueprints, and diagrams (like UML) that outline components, interfaces, and interactions.
• Technology Selection: Evaluating and selecting appropriate technology stacks, programming languages, frameworks, and tools (eg, cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating technical risks and potential issues in the design phase.

• Execution & Oversight:

• Technical Leadership & Guidance: Providing technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to development and engineering teams, ensuring adherence to architectural standards and best practices.
• Coding & Prototyping: Writing core code, developing proof-of-concepts (POCs), and building prototypes to validate proposed designs and reduce technical risk.
• Monitoring Progress: Overseeing the development process to ensure consistency with the initial design and tracking project progress against established timelines and budgets.
• Quality Assurance: Conducting design and code reviews, ensuring the final product meets all quality, security, and performance requirements, and troubleshooting issues as they arise.

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Bachelor's degree in Computer/Electrical Engineering, Image Science, or related STEM field
• 10+ years enterprise software engineering within DoD or IC environments
• Expert-level experience with:

• Java, Spring, REST, Angular or ExtJS/GWT
• Python and C/C+
• Distributed systems: Hadoop, HDFS, HBase, Kafka, Elasticsearch (or equivalent)
• Background in remote sensing, signal processing, or image analytics
• Experience integrating algorithms into deployable software packages
• Strong DevOps experience (AWS, Jenkins, Git, Maven/Gradle)
• Knowledge of IC security and compliance requirement, * TS/SCI with polygraph

• Master's degree in a relevant technical field
• Experience with GEOINT, SIGINT, EW, or sensor phenomenology
• Familiarity with TensorFlow, PyTorch, and LLM/RAG development
• Experience integrating RADAR, SAR, LIDAR, or EO/IR algorithms
• Strong background in cloud architectures and large-scale data processing

Pay Range: $150,000 - $225,000.00

Are you looking for more than just a seat on a contract?

Are you looking for a place where your work truly matters? At Skyline Scientific, your ideas won't get buried in bureaucracy-they'll directly shape mission-critical capabilities for the intelligence and defense communities., * Attractive Salary

• Paid Time Off (PTO): 25 days
• Medical, Dental, & Vision: Employer-Paid
• Disability & Life Insurance Coverage
• 401(k): 15% Employer Match (no contribution required)
• Profit Sharing Options
• Compressed Workweek Options
• Annual Performance Bonus
• Referral & Incentive Bonus Opportunities
• Professional Development & Education Assistance
• Relocation Assistance Options

Join Skyline Scientific-Where Innovation Meets Mission.

This isn't a role where you'll sit idle on a contract-it's an opportunity to design, develop, and deploy advanced software and AI-driven solutions that impact national security. If you're looking for a position where your expertise is valued, your work makes a difference, and you're surrounded by top-tier talent, apply today.