Senior Software Systems Engineer (Embedded Flight Systems)

Trident Systems Inc

Fairfax, VA

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace and Defense, Agile Modeling, Agile Programming Methodologies, Avionics, Bridge Building, Channel Support, Civil Engineering, Communication Skills, Computer Engineering, Computer Firmware, Continuous Improvement, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, Flexible Spending Accounts, Hardware Quality Assurance, Hardware-Software Integration, Intelligence Community, Leadership, Leading Edge Technology, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Product Development, Quality Assurance Methodology, Realtime Operating System, Requirements Management, Requirements Validation/Verification, Right-Sizing, Risk Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Safety Systems, Software Administration, Software Architecture, Software Debugging, Software Development, Software Engineering, Sprint Planning, Strategic Planning, System Lifecycle, System Readiness Review (SRR), Systems Engineering, Team Player, Technical Analysis, Test Plan/Schedule, Test Readiness Review (TRR), Traceability, United States Department of Defense (DoD), Writing Skills
LOCATION
Fairfax, VA
POSTED
30+ days ago

Position Title: Senior Software Systems Engineer (Embedded Flight Systems)

Requisition ID: 1742

Position Location: Fairfax, VA

Position Reports To: Director, Software Engineering

Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division, we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement, leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative, high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers' evolving needs.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

The Senior Software Systems Engineer (Embedded Flight Systems) defines, develops, integrates, and verifies software-intensive aerospace systems for flight and flight-like environments. This role bridges systems engineering and software engineering, translating mission and vehicle requirements into embedded software architectures, interfaces, verification approaches, and technical plans.

The ideal candidate has experience with real-time embedded software, hardware/software integration, and flight- or safety-critical systems. This position also provides leadership in agile software development while maintaining technical rigor, traceability, and mission assurance.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Systems Engineering for Embedded Flight Software

  • Decompose system requirements into software functional, performance, interface, and verification requirements.

  • Maintain traceability across stakeholder needs, requirements, architecture, implementation, and test artifacts.

  • Define software-related interfaces for avionics, sensors, payloads, actuators, buses, and ground systems.

  • Support architecture development with attention to timing, fault handling, determinism, and operational constraints.

  • Participate in major technical reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR.

  • Develop verification strategies, test methods, and acceptance criteria aligned with system requirements.

  • Assess technical risk, identify gaps early, and support mitigation planning.

  • Embedded Flight Software Development and Integration

  • Collaborate with software, firmware, electronics, and test teams to develop integrated flight solutions.

  • Support embedded software development and hardware/software integration in labs, testbeds, and flight-like environments.

  • Troubleshoot issues across software, firmware, interfaces, and electronics to identify root cause and drive resolution.

  • Agile Software Development Leadership

  • Provide leadership in agile software development for embedded and mission-critical software teams.

  • Help establish and maintain an agile execution model that supports disciplined engineering, predictable delivery, and strong technical quality.

  • Lead or support sprint planning, backlog refinement, reviews, retrospectives, and release planning.

  • Coordinate across systems, software, firmware, hardware, and test teams to manage dependencies, integration points, and delivery risks.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
  • Minimum of 6 years of experience in software systems engineering, embedded software, avionics, flight systems, or related aerospace/defense development.
  • Experience with real-time embedded software, requirements development, decomposition, traceability, and verification.
  • Experience with hardware/software integration and debug.
  • Familiarity with the systems engineering lifecycle, formal technical reviews, and agile development environments.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

  • Health benefits

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Basic life with AD&D

  • Short term disability

  • Long term disability

  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)

  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)

  • Paid time off

  • Holidays

  • 401(k) (including company match)

  • Tuition reimbursement

  • Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)

  • Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact recruiting@tridsys.com.

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

About the Company

T

Trident Systems Inc

Trident Systems Incorporated is a veteran-owned business founded in 1985 with one purpose in mind: to deliver innovative and affordable technology solutions for mission critical government and commercial needs. Thirty years later, Trident continues to harness emerging technology to provide leading-edge solution to both the military and intelligence communities, as well as a broad spectrum of commercial and international customers.
COMPANY SIZE
500 to 999 employees
INDUSTRY
Other/Not Classified
FOUNDED
1985
WEBSITE
http://www.tridsys.com/