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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Ground Software Development Engineer - **Company:** RTX - **Location:** El Segundo, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $118,300.0 - $224,900.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Amazon Web Services, Systems Engineering, Confluence, JIRA, Automation of Tests, Unit Testing, C++ (Programming Language), Configuration Management, Continuous Integration, Software Debugging, Python (Programming Language), Linux System Administration, Object-Oriented Software Development, Scrum Methodology, Software Architecture, Software Engineering, Workflow Management Systems, YAML, Data Processing, Multithreading, Delivery Pipeline, Kubernetes Helm Charts, Containerization, Kubernetes, Atlassian Tools, Bitbucket, Data Management, Devsecops, Docker, Jenkins, Microservices - **Published:** September 16, 2026 - **Apply:** https://globalhr.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/REC_RTX_Ext_Gateway/job/US-CA-EL-SEGUNDO-E01--2000-E-El-Segundo-Blvd--BLDG-E01/Principal-Ground-Software-Development-Engineer_01873177 ## About the Role Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance, * Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and 8 years of relevant software experience. * Experience leading software teams or technical execution for mission-critical systems. * Experience developing object-oriented software using C++ / C / Python in Linux environments. * Experience with containerization (Docker or Podman), orchestration tools such as Kubernetes, and modern deployment workflows. * Experience facilitating Agile teams, including Kanban or Scrum leadership roles. * Active and transferable U.S. Government issued TS clearance (w/SCI eligibility) is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance. Qualifications We Prefer: * Experience deploying and debugging software in Kubernetes clusters using Helm charts, Podman container images, YAML files, and Kubectl diagnostic workflows. * Expertise with CI/CD automation, especially Jenkins, automated system/unit tests, and DevSecOps pipelines. * Experience with satellite ground systems, mission data processing, real-time operations, or other aerospace/defense mission systems. * Familiarity with Atlassian tools (Confluence, Jira, Bitbucket) for backlog management, documentation, and workflow coordination. * Experience performing technical reviews, DR/CR impact assessments, and customer-facing technical status presentations. * Experience serving as a Product Owner or technical lead, including backlog prioritization, story creation, acceptance criteria, and execution management. * Strong communication and collaboration skills to coordinate across multiple engineering disciplines and interface with customers. * Proven ability to manage complex technical execution across multiple internal and external stakeholders. ## Description Serve as a technical leader within a highly-focused team responsible for developing, integrating, and delivering real-time embedded and mission-critical software for satellite ground systems. * In this senior role, you will own major technical execution areas, guide architectural decisions, coordinate across multiple engineering disciplines, interface directly with customers, and ensure successful delivery of Ground Software (GSW) capabilities. * You will work closely with systems engineering, integration and test, mission operations, program leadership, and external stakeholders to drive execution, mitigate risks, and ensure the success of high-visibility software deliveries., * Own the technical execution and delivery of mission-critical Ground Software (GSW), ensuring performance, quality, and schedule adherence. * Lead planning, development, and maintenance of build plans, including recurring build releases, execution priorities, and coordination with control accounts and program leadership. * Facilitate Kanban workflow, assign stories, manage backlog health, and provide technical direction to the GSW team. * Design, develop, test, deliver, and maintain software for advanced satellite ground systems, applying modern architectures and high-reliability coding practices. * Lead and present technical content at internal and external meetings, including Control Change Boards (CCB), Software Segment Review Boards (SSRB), Working Groups, and weekly program/customer technical sessions. * Prepare, coordinate, and deliver technical artifacts such as build readiness packages, impact assessments (ICDs/requirements changes), discrepancy report (DR/CR) reviews, and technical status briefings. * Coordinate cross-team work, including Hardware-to-Hardware (H2H) transfers, Configuration Management (CM), Data Management (DM), and lab/IT support. * Provide senior technical oversight, reviewing peer designs, PMR charts, discrepancy reports, and software installations for new releases. * Drive DevSecOps and CI/CD improvements, including automated testing in Jenkins pipelines, containerization workflows (Docker/Podman), and Kubernetes-based deployments. * Guide software architecture decisions across multi-threaded applications, microservices, AWS services, Kubernetes clusters, Helm charts, and YAML configurations. * Collaborate directly with customers, supporting install events, prioritizing DRs, resolving issues, and providing build forecasts to CAMs and IMS stakeholders. * Support program-wide leadership meetings, including daily SW leadership syncs, mission engineering customer forums, SDRL coordination updates, and weekly execution sessions. * Work onsite in El Segundo, CA. ## Related Videos - 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