Software Lead/Architect-L5

Join a high-impact, mission-critical project as a Senior Software Lead/Architect-L5, providing visionary leadership and architectural expertise for a large-scale ground system. This is a front-end, design-focused position where you set the technical direction, define system requirements, and shape the foundational architecture for implementation teams. Ideal for engineering leaders ready to drive complex aerospace or defense programs without hands-on coding.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end software architecture for complex, mission-critical ground systems.
• Define and document system requirements, interfaces, and design artifacts.
• Drive architectural decisions in alignment with customer and industry standards.
• Develop and maintain system models using frameworks such as DoDAF, MSOSA, and Cameo.
• Translate customer needs and operational concepts into formal system designs.
• Establish design patterns, architectural guardrails, and technical direction for implementation teams.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership across multi-disciplinary engineering groups.
• Collaborate with test leadership to define test strategies early in the lifecycle.
• Participate in architectural and design reviews, as well as stakeholder briefings.
• Analyze legacy codebases to inform reuse or re-implementation decisions.
• Effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

10+ years of software engineering experience with system-level leadership responsibility

• Proven track record architecting large, complex software systems (ground, distributed, or mission systems)
• Deep expertise in software architecture, design, and requirements engineering
• Strong working knowledge of DoDAF, MSOSA, Cameo, and structured SDLC (e.g., V-model)
• Experience in early-phase program environments where architecture and requirements are evolving
• Leadership skills focused on strategy, design, and guidance over coding
• Outstanding technical communication and documentation abilities
• Background in systems engineering or software development for space-based or ground-based systems
• Solid grasp of software configuration management, architecture, and life cycle management principles
• Bachelor’s degree required

Preferred Skills

• Experience leading or architecting classified ground systems
• Involvement in establishing or supporting Software Integration Labs
• Familiarity with multi-site or distributed teams
• Knowledge of transitioning systems from R&D to formal execution
• Prior work in large aerospace/defense program environments
• Exposure to Java, C++, Python, JS frameworks, Spring, Hibernate, RDBMS, MongoDB, REST, OpenAPI
• Experience with dependency management and automation tools (Ivy, Maven, Gradle, Git, Jenkins)
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure)
• Understanding of TDD, agile development, and CI/CD management, Qualified candidates authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship are encouraged to submit a detailed resume outlining relevant software architecture and leadership experience. Background check and drug screen required., 10+ years of experience in software engineering with significant system-level leadership responsibilityDemonstrated experience architecting large complex software systems (ground systems Distributed systems Mission Systems or equivalent)Proven expertise in software architecture design and requirements engineeringStrong working knowledge of DoDAF MSOSA Cameo (or similar MBSE tools) and structured SDLC (eg V-model)Experience operating in early-phase program environments where architecture and requirements are still being definedAbility to lead without coding-this role emphasizes thinking Designing and guiding rather than writing featuresExcellent technical communication skills including the ability to document and explain system designs clearlyExperience with systems engineering or software development on space-based or ground-based systemsExperience with Software Engineering principles including Software Configuration Ma Software Architecture and Design and Software Life Cycle ManagementA Bachelor’s degree is required

Work on high-visibility, mission-critical projects in the aerospace/defense sector

• Career growth opportunities through technical leadership and strategic contributions
• Collaborative, multi-disciplinary engineering environment
• Opportunity to shape the architecture and direction of next-generation systems