Senior Infrastructure Software Engineer

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Peraton is seeking a poly cleared Senior Infrastructure Software Engineer to join our team supporting advanced R&D efforts in Chantilly, VA. In this role you'll develop and maintain software that underpins complex research environments by integrating existing capabilities into new or modified systems and environments, improving reliability and performance, and enabling rapid prototyping through disciplined software engineering practices.

This position supports a dynamic team of Peraton Labs, customer, and subcontractor personnel. The ideal candidate is comfortable working hands-on in a highly secure environment, collaborating closely with researchers and engineers, and can also execute independently to drive solutions end-to-end.

Key responsibilities may include:

* Develop and sustain research infrastructure software supporting complex systems
* Integrate existing software into new or modified systems and operating environments, ensuring compatibility, performance, and maintainability
* Contribute across the software lifecycle: requirements interpretation, design, implementation, testing, verification, and deployment of prototype and operational software
* Build and improve automation, tooling, and CI/CD workflows to accelerate development and increase reliability (e.g., build pipelines, test automation, packaging, releases processes)
* Work in Linux-based development and runtime environments, including scripting and troubleshooting at the OS and application layers
* Collaborate with engineers/researchers to identify successful approaches to complex problems, rapidly iterate prototypes, and transition viable solutions toward operational use
* Support networked systems and software that interacts with networking stacks, data flows, distributed services, or mission environments
* Interface directly with customer stakeholders (technical and programmatic) to coordinate priorities, communicate progress, and resolve issues
* Monitor and direct subcontractor tasking as needed by providing technical guidance, reviewing deliverables, and ensuring integration and quality standards are met
* Produce clear technical documentation (design notes, build/deploy instructions, test evidence, and operational runbooks)

Minimum qualifications

* 12 years with Bachelors, 10 years with Masters, or 7 years with PhD. In lieu of a Bachelor's degree, 4 additional years of experience is required for a total of 16 years
* Software development experience with the building and integration of applications/services in complex environments
* Strong hands-on proficiency in Python and at least one of C/C++, Java, or Go (exposure to all is a plus)
* Familiarity with secure development practices in restricted environments (e.g., hardened enclaves, controlled repos, offline build patterns)
* Working knowledge in software engineering practices and tooling, such as:
* Git/GitHub/GitLab branching, PRs, and code reviews
* Agile development practices
* CI tooling (e.g., Jenkins) or similar pipelines
* Strong problem-solving ability with a track record of learning new technologies quickly and delivering results in ambiguous/problem-driven research settings
* Strong communication skills to explain technical issues and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences
* Active TS/SCI security clearance with a current polygraph is required for this position

Preferred qualifications

* Experience supporting research platforms or environments where rapid prototyping transitions into operationally relevant software
* Prior experience providing technical leadership, mentoring junior engineers, or coordinating work across development teams
* Experience with design, development, test, verification, and certification of operational software (including evidence-driven testing and documentation)
* Strong "systems" familiarity:
o Linux and Windows system skills
o Shell scripting and automation
o Virtualization / VM technologies (e.g., VMware, KVM, VirtualBox, Proxmox)
* Networking background:
o TCP/IP fundamentals, routing/switching concepts, firewalls
o Network service development, packet/data pipeline integration, network troubleshooting
* Experience with modern ecosystem tooling, such as:
o Containers (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes)
o Infrastructure automation via Ansible, Terraform
o Artifact/package management, reproducible builds, release engineering

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.