**Description** We are looking for a highly skilled **Principal Software Systems Engineer** to take a leadership role in the design, development, and integration of complex software systems. This position requires deep expertise in software architecture, systems engineering, and large-scale software integrations. As a Principal Software Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for driving the technical direction, leading design efforts, and overseeing the delivery of high-performance, secure, and scalable systems that meet the strategic needs of the business. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of software, hardware, and network components. **Key Responsibilities:** + **System Architecture & Design:** Lead the design and development of sophisticated software systems, including distributed architectures, real-time systems, and cloud-based applications. Define and document high-level system architecture, design principles, and technical roadmaps. + **Leadership & Mentorship:** Act as a technical leader within the team, providing guidance, mentoring, and technical direction to engineers. Lead architectural reviews, design discussions, and ensure adherence to best practices across the engineering team. + **Software Development & Optimization:** Oversee the design and implementation of software solutions, ensuring high-quality, maintainable, and scalable code. Lead efforts in performance tuning, debugging, and optimization for large-scale systems. + **Cross-Functional Collaboration:** Collaborate with product managers, hardware engineers, network engineers, and other stakeholders to define system requirements and ensure seamless integration between software, hardware, and network components. + **Systems Integration & Validation:** Lead the integration of software systems with complex hardware and network infrastructures. Oversee end-to-end validation and testing to ensure systems meet performance, reliability, and security requirements. + **Kafka Integration:** Design and implement systems utilizing **Apache Kafka** for real-time data streaming, event-driven architectures, and building fault-tolerant, scalable messaging systems. Lead the integration of Kafka into existing systems, ensuring high throughput, low latency, and fault tolerance. + **Innovation & Technology Evaluation:** Stay current on emerging technologies and industry trends, and lead the adoption of new tools, frameworks, and methodologies that improve the development process and system performance. + **Strategic Planning:** Contribute to the long-term technical strategy and roadmap for software systems. Ensure that systems are built with future scalability and business needs in mind. + **Quality & Best Practices:** Establish and enforce software development standards, best practices, and quality metrics. Advocate for code reviews, continuous integration, and automated testing processes. + **Documentation & Communication:** Lead the creation of detailed technical documentation, including system designs, APIs, and architectural diagrams. Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders and executives. **Qualifications** U.S. Citizenship and an active Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI. + Bachelor’s degree and 9+ years, or a Master’s and 7+ years of experience in software engineering and systems design, with a proven track record in designing and delivering complex software systems at scale. + At least 3-5 years in a leadership or principal engineer role, driving architecture, design, and integration of software systems. + Significant experience with distributed systems, cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, etc.), and integrating software with hardware and network components. + Expertise in system architecture, software design patterns, and large-scale system integration. + Hands-on experience with performance tuning, scalability, and optimizing software for reliability and efficiency in production environments. + Proven experience in designing and implementing **Apache Kafka** -based solutions, including real-time data streaming, event-driven architectures, and message queuing systems. **Skills & Competencies:** + **Software Architecture:** Deep knowledge of designing scalable, maintainable, and high-performance software systems. + **Programming Expertise:** Proficiency in multiple programming languages (e.g., C++, Python, Java, Go) and strong familiarity with modern development frameworks and tools. + **Kafka Integration:** Expertise in integrating **Apache Kafka** into large-scale systems, including the configuration of Kafka brokers, producers, consumers, and stream processing. + **Systems Integration:** Expertise in integrating software with hardware systems, network infrastructure, and cloud-based solutions. + **Cloud & Distributed Systems:** Extensive experience in cloud-native architectures, microservices, and distributed system design. Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). + **Security & Compliance:** Strong understanding of software security best practices and the ability to implement secure software solutions across integrated systems. + **Leadership & Mentorship:** Proven experience leading teams of engineers, providing technical mentorship, and fostering collaboration across departments. + **Problem-Solving:** Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to resolve complex technical challenges. + **Communication:** Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical topics to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. **Preferred Skills & Experience:** + **Cloud Computing:** In-depth experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, particularly in designing cloud-native applications and services. + **DevOps & Automation:** Experience with DevOps practices, infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform, Ansible), and CI/CD pipelines. + **Agile Methodologies:** Familiarity with Agile frameworks (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) and the ability to drive high-quality, iterative development. + **Networking & Embedded Systems:** Knowledge of network protocols, real-time systems, and experience with embedded systems is a plus. + **Project Management:** Ability to balance technical leadership with project management, ensuring projects are delivered on time and meet business objectives. **Certifications (Preferred):** + **Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA).** + **AWS Certified Solutions Architect.** + **Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).** + **Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)** or similar Agile certifications. + **VMware Certified Professional (VCP).** SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline. Covid Policy: SAIC does not require COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters. Customer site vaccination requirements must be followed when work is performed at a customer site. REQNUMBER: 2414543 SAIC is a premier technology integrator, solving our nation's most complex modernization and systems engineering challenges across the defense, space, federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end solutions in systems engineering and integration; enterprise IT, including cloud services; cyber; software; advanced analytics and simulation; and training. We are a team of 23,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $6.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see Working at SAIC. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability