C++ Senior Developer

Stratias is seeking an experienced C++ programmer to support NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NWFSC, Fish Ecology Division) on the Comprehensive Passage (COMPASS) model - a large-scale ecological simulation used to predict the effects of dam and reservoir operations on juvenile salmon and steelhead survival in the Columbia River hydropower system. This is a hands-on development role on an established ~230,000-line C++ codebase (Qt 6, C++17, Boost). You will work directly with NOAA scientists and the contracting officer’s project lead to extend the model’s GUI and ecological modules, and to keep the codebase reliable and performant over a multi-year engagement.

What You’ll Do

• Complete development of the COMPASS graphical user interface, including expanded parameter editing and environmental data (flow, temperature) editing, and build the Windows installer package
• Develop the adult passage module: upstream migration, dam passage, tailrace delay, fishway movement, reservoir travel time/survival, fallback, and harvest loss modeling
• Calibrate model parameters to radio-telemetry and PIT tag data in collaboration with NOAA project scientists
• Implement modifications and new features requested by the West Coast Region office in support of management and litigation-driven analyses
• Perform routine maintenance, bug fixes, and performance/memory optimization as the codebase grows
• Document all changes and produce regular (weekly to monthly) progress reports and updates to user documentation
• Participate in scheduled team meetings and ad hoc coordination with the NOAA project lead and science team, * Work is expected to be primarily remote; occasional coordination with the NOAA Fish Ecology Division (Seattle, WA) is possible - candidates local to the Seattle area are preferred but not required
• Must be available for regular virtual check-ins (weekly to monthly) and ad hoc meetings with the NOAA project lead
• Candidates should be available for a phone, video, or in-person interview as requested

• 10+ years of applied, professional C++ development experience, with examples of completed C++ projects
• Degree in computer science or a closely related field
• Comfortable working independently in a large (~230K line), long-lived, object-oriented C++ codebase
• Experience with Qt and Git-based development workflows
• Strong written communication skills - this role reports progress primarily through written updates and remote meetings
• Ability to work effectively with a small, distributed team and non-engineering scientific stakeholders

Nice to Have

• Coursework or experience in ecology, fisheries science, oceanography, or natural resources
• Experience with scientific or ecological models that inform real-world management decisions
• Familiarity with Boost and Windows installer packaging
• Experience working with telemetry or tag-based biological datasets
• Prior federal or DoD contract performance, * Must be able to pass a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) background investigation, required for access to NOAA IT systems

Stratias is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) focused on digital transformation and IT services for the Department of War and federal agencies. We’re a small, agile team that takes on complex, mission-driven technical work - the kind that requires real ownership rather than layers of process. Benefits: medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with 5% employer match; unlimited paid time off and holidays; and yearly continuing education funding.