Senior Principal Software Engineer – High Energy Laser Systems

Program Summary

Kord, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBR, is a leader in advanced defense solutions with a strong focus on Directed Energy and High Energy Laser (HEL) technologies. Our programs support the U.S. Department of Defense in the development, integration, testing, production, deployment, and sustainment of advanced laser weapon systems that provide critical warfighter capabilities. These complex systems require highly reliable, secure, and real-time software solutions to integrate weapon subsystems, command and control interfaces, safety functions, sensor processing, power management, and platform-level operations.

Job Summary

The Senior Principal Software Engineer will provide technical leadership for the design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of software solutions supporting High Energy Laser weapon systems. This role will lead software engineers across multiple development efforts while serving as the principal technical authority for software architecture, implementation, integration, and software lifecycle execution.

The position will work closely with systems engineering, hardware engineering, controls engineering, test teams, cybersecurity personnel, program leadership, and customers to deliver high-performance software solutions that meet mission requirements. The successful candidate will possess a strong technical background in software development, software architecture, real-time systems, system integration, and leadership of multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead the software engineering team responsible for development, integration, and sustainment of HEL system software.

• Define software architectures and technical approaches supporting weapon system operation, subsystem control, command and control interfaces, diagnostics, health monitoring, data management, and user interfaces.

• Establish software development processes, coding standards, design practices, and technical baselines.

• Oversee software requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment activities.

• Collaborate with systems engineering teams to ensure software solutions satisfy system-level and customer requirements.

• Lead software integration efforts involving sensors, laser subsystems, beam control systems, power systems, thermal management systems, safety systems, and external interfaces.

• Guide development of embedded software, application software, middleware, and interface software as required by program needs.

• Support system architecture development, interface definition, and software allocation activities.

• Conduct software design reviews, code reviews, technical assessments, and architecture evaluations.

• Identify and resolve technical risks associated with software performance, reliability, cybersecurity, maintainability, and scalability.

• Support hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL), software-in-the-loop (SWIL), laboratory integration, and field testing activities.

• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of system and software integration issues.

• Coordinate software releases, configuration management, and software baseline control activities.

• Develop technical plans, schedules, work estimates, and staffing plans supporting software execution.

• Mentor and develop software engineers while promoting a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Support customer briefings, technical reviews, proposal efforts, and business development activities.

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Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.

• Minimum 8 years of software engineering experience with complex defense, aerospace, embedded, or mission-critical systems.

• Minimum 3 years of technical leadership experience leading software development teams.

• Experience designing, developing, integrating, and testing complex software systems.

• Proficiency in C++, C#, Python, Java, or other modern programming languages.

• Experience with software architecture, object-oriented design, and distributed software systems.

• Experience integrating software with hardware devices, sensors, control systems, and external interfaces.

• Familiarity with software development lifecycle processes, Agile methodologies, and DevSecOps practices.

• Experience with software configuration management and version control tools such as Git.

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced technical environment.

• U.S. Citizenship required and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field.

• Experience supporting High Energy Laser, Directed Energy, weapon systems, air defense systems, missile systems, or other advanced defense platforms.

• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded software development.

• Knowledge of command and control systems, tactical communications, and distributed mission systems.

• Experience integrating software with electro-optical, infrared, radar, tracking, or targeting systems.

• Familiarity with beam control systems, laser safety systems, power management systems, and thermal management subsystems.

• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), digital engineering, or software architecture frameworks.

• Understanding of DoD cybersecurity requirements, RMF, NIST standards, and secure software development practices.

• Experience supporting system integration laboratories, field demonstrations, qualification testing, and operational evaluations.

• Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop and simulation-based software testing environments.

• Experience leading software teams through production, deployment, and sustainment phases of defense programs.

• Active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance.

• Demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary software development efforts.

​ Salary Range: $124,400.00 - $186,500.00

The salary range posted is based on Huntsville, AL. The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s location, knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience, contract affordability, and in consideration of internal parity.

KBR Benefits

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.