Software Engineer III - Flight Software (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space is seeking a Software Engineer III to support flight software development for space systems and technologies at an onsite location in Centennial, CO. The role involves designing, developing, and testing software, building complex system architectures, and maintaining high code quality while meeting Top Secret SCI clearance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test software applications for space systems and technologies
• Write clean, maintainable code aligned with established coding standards and best practices
• Architect and implement complex software systems to satisfy project requirements
• Collaborate with team members to understand project needs and deliver solutions
• Use version control systems such as Git to manage code changes and support collaborative development
• Participate in code reviews to maintain code quality and adherence to development standards
• Troubleshoot and resolve software-related issues in a timely manner
• Document software configurations, processes, and procedures for future reference
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in software development and space technologies
• Mentor and guide other engineers, providing technical leadership and support

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree, or master’s + 3 years experience)
• Typically 5+ years of related experience
• Expertise in one to multiple programming languages and advanced understanding of software development principles
• Ability to design and architect complex software systems
• Experience with software development methodologies such as Agile and Scrum/Kanban
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to mentor and guide other engineers
• Active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance is required

Technologies

The role may involve work with Git, Python, C++, Java, Bash, PowerShell, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, JIRA, Confluence, Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, and Kubernetes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with kernel-level programming
• Proficiency in Python, C++, and Java and their ecosystems
• Familiarity with Bash and PowerShell scripting, plus automation tools such as Ansible, Puppet, and Chef
• Experience with Agile or Scrum/Kanban methodologies and tools including JIRA, Confluence, and Jenkins
• Strong analytical skills, performance profiling, and debugging of complex systems
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, including efficient use of collaborative tools (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) and development ceremonies (daily standup, backlog grooming, work planning, task estimation, retrospectives)
• Knowledge of database management systems including MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB
• Experience with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, including cloud-native development
• Familiarity with Docker and Kubernetes for containerization and orchestration
• Understanding of network protocols, security principles, and secure coding practices
• Ability to write and maintain technical documentation
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing, including continuous integration and automated test
• Knowledge of and experience implementing Software Design Patterns
• Familiarity with SysML/UML to create software designs
• Experience utilizing and setting up static analysis tools

Compensation

Pay Range: USD 129,776 - 178,441 per yearly.

Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience, internal equity, and market competitiveness.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%
• Life insurance
• 3 weeks paid time off

Security Clearance and Eligibility Notice

• This position requires current/active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance.
• U.S. Citizenship status is required for employment because an active U.S. Security Clearance is necessary. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance.
• The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF) handles adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants.
• Adjudicative factors include, but are not limited to: allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations, and illegal drug use.