Technical Lead

The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) advances the state of the art in software engineering and cybersecurity and serves as a national resource for secure, resilient software systems. The SEI works closely with academia, the U.S. Department of War, other government organizations, and industry to improve the development, acquisition, and sustainment of software-intensive systems.

Our core purpose is to help organizations acquire and operate software-reliant systems that are secure, reliable, sustainable, and mission-effective, delivered on time and within budget.

If you are creative, curious, collaborative, technology-focused, and motivated to solve complex problems in support of national defense, we encourage you to apply., We are seeking a Software Development Technical Leader to support U.S. Navy customers in the acquisition of a software-based maintenance and readiness application critical to fleet operations and national security. This position provides technical leadership across the software acquisition lifecycle, including architecture analysis, software development oversight, risk reduction, and sustainment planning. The role requires close collaboration with Naval Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and Program Management Offices (PMOs), sustainment organizations, contractors, and fleet stakeholders to ensure software solutions meet operational, maintainability, and long-term supportability requirements.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on software expertise (C/C++) with experience supporting Naval acquisition programs, legacy-dependent systems, and operational environments. This role includes guiding technical teams, evaluating architectural tradeoffs, developing prototypes, analyzing existing source code, and leading customer engagements that inform acquisition and sustainment decisions.

What You’ll Do

• Support Naval software acquisition and sustainment activities in accordance with DoD 5000-series acquisition guidance, including architecture analysis, software engineering, integration, testing, deployment, and long-term sustainment planning
• Provide technical leadership for a fleet-facing maintenance and readiness application supporting operational availability across afloat and ashore environments
• Advise Navy Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Program Management Offices (PMOs), and government stakeholders on software design decisions, technical risks, modernization strategies, and tradeoffs associated with large, legacy-dependent systems
• Lead software development efforts from concept through deployment, with an emphasis on C and C++-based implementations supporting high-performance and mission-critical use cases
• Demonstrate software architecture expertise by developing and maintaining design artifacts such as data-flow diagrams, sequence diagrams, interface control definitions, and quality attribute specifications to support scalable, maintainable, and resilient solutions
• Analyze existing source code, system interfaces, and data flows to identify technical debt, sustainment risks, and modernization opportunities.
• Develop prototypes and technical demonstrations to support risk reduction, acquisition decision-making, and capability maturation
• Collaborate with senior U.S. Navy and government stakeholders, contractors, integrators, SEI staff, and leadership to assess needs and deliver technically sound recommendations
• Lead and mentor a team of developers, fostering disciplined engineering practices, continuous improvement, and mission focus
• Support customer engagements such as technical interchange meetings (TIMs), design reviews, and acquisition milestone activities, providing clear, defensible technical input
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, software development best practices, and Naval digital modernization initiatives relevant to sustainment and maintenance systems

• Ability to obtain and maintain an active Department of War (DoW) security clearance; an existing SECRET or higher clearance is preferred
• Previous experience leading, architecting, or developing large scale Navy acquisition programs including Aegis Combat System, SM-series interceptors, Sea Sparrow Missile System and/or Surface Electronic Warfare programs
• Previous experience working with large scale Naval Command elements such as NAVSEA, NAVAIR, NAVWAR, NAVFAC, NIWC or their predecessors such as SPAWAR

Education and Experience Requirements:

• BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline with ten (10) years of relevant experience; OR Master’s degree in the same fields with eight (8) years of experience; OR PhD in the same fields with five (5) years of experience
• Proven experience designing and implementing complex software architectures for mission-critical or sustainment-focused systems
• Demonstrated ability to identify, analyze, and balance architecture drivers, tradeoffs, extensibility, and long-term maintainability
• Deep understanding of C and C++ software development, including analysis of existing codebases
• Working knowledge of C#, Java, and Python
• Experience across the full software development lifecycle, including the use of static analysis tools and techniques to improve software quality and security
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and engage credibly with government and contractor stakeholders
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to government decision-makers
• Willingness to work directly with U.S. military and government stakeholders in support of mission success
• Ability to travel up to 25% to SEI offices, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings

Our benefits philosophy centers on choice, control, and well-being. Through Carnegie Mellon University, SEI offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• The opportunity to join a world-class organization with a significant impact on government software systems
• Work alongside leading experts to solve high-consequence national security challenges
• An 8% employer retirement contribution with no employee contribution requirement
• Tuition benefits for you and your dependent children
• Access to university resources, including wellness programs, transit benefits, and onsite fitness facilities at select locations
• Paid parental leave and military leave
• Eligibility for relocation assistance and additional benefits

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits , take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays , and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access , and much more!

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations., Carnegie Mellon University challenges the curious and passionate to imagine and deliver work that matters.

A private, global research university, Carnegie Mellon stands among the world’s most renowned educational institutions, and sets its own course.

Carnegie Mellon was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie under the premise that a school established to foster and develop the technical skills of its students would soon produce students and graduates whose work would astound Pittsburgh and the world. Over 120 years later, our institution continues to produce talented alumni and draws faculty and staff eager to be a part of the university’s creative, passionate and close-knit community. We place emphasis on practical problem solving, interdisciplinary learning, an entrepreneurial spirit, and collaboration.

Over the past 10 years, more than 400 startups linked to CMU have raised more than $7 billion in follow-on funding. Those investment numbers are especially high because of the sheer size of Pittsburgh’s growing autonomous vehicles cluster - including Uber, Aurora, Waymo and Motional - all of which are here because of their strong ties to CMU.

With cutting-edge brain science, path-breaking performances, innovative startups, driverless cars, big data, big ambitions, Nobel and Turing prizes, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we create it.

Pittsburgh is home to over 86,000 students from 10 colleges and universities. Pittsburgh was ranked as one of the top U.S. cities for millennials.

Some 177,000 people work in Pittsburgh’s tech-related industries, and their ranks continue to grow as the city tops lists for jobs. Networking opportunities, small business accelerators, and an innovative community make the city appealing to entrepreneurs, especially recent graduates.

Pittsburgh is emerging as a tech and culture hub that The Washington Post praises for its “world-class art museums and colorful neighborhoods.”

Robotics and software engineering lead the way. The city is home to Google, Uber and Apple offices and a budding ecosystem of tech startups including Duolingo, Modcloth and 4Moms, all of which have CMU roots.

Many seek Pittsburgh for being a hot spot for entrepreneurship and a model for future cities. Others come for the city’s burgeoning food scene.

You’ll find CMU locations nationwide - and worldwide. Silicon Valley. Qatar. Africa. Washington, D.C. To name a few., Carnegie Mellon University isn’t just one of the world’s most renowned educational institutions - it’s also a hotspot for some of the most talented doers, dreamers and difference-makers on the planet. When you join our staff, you’ll become an important part of our mission to create a healthier, safer and more just life for all. No matter what your role or location, you’ll connect and collaborate with dedicated, passionate colleagues - and you’ll have the satisfaction of delivering work that truly matters.

Carnegie Mellon University offers a wide range of competitive employee benefits to help you live well. Benefit eligibility varies based on the hours per week employees are scheduled to work and the employee’s geographic location

We seek to cultivate diverse populations and perspectives and promote equity and inclusion. Our devotion to these ideals springs from a core belief in the power of education to be a transformative and enriching force for every person, irrespective of their background, identity or life circumstances.

Inclusion and belonging are intricately interwoven into the very essence of our university, helping to shape our values, policies and practices. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are not only central to our ethos but also indispensable to our pursuit of academic excellence and innovation.