Lead Software Engineer
The Mission:
Do you want to build software that solves the world's most complex national
security problems? At STR, we don’t just write code; we bridge the gap between
cutting-edge research and real-world mission success. You will join a
multidisciplinary powerhouse of software engineers, physicists, mathematicians,
and data scientists dedicated to taking innovative ideas from a whiteboard
concept to a mature, deployed implementation.
The Technical Frontier As part of the Knowledge Exploitation & Decisions Systems
Group, you will work at the intersection of AI and human decision-making. Our
portfolio is diverse and high-impact, including Command & Control (C2) via
intuitive human-machine interfaces that help operators make the best possible
decisions in high-pressure environments, Trusted AI & Autonomy via simulation
platforms to test AI autonomy and evaluating the reliability and responsibility
of autonomous systems, and Advanced Reasoning via graph-based reasoning and
evolutionary algorithms for resilient workflow optimization, and enhancing
language models to assess the feasibility of scientific claims.
What You’ll Do:
* Architect & Lead: Define the technical vision and architectural roadmap for
flexible microservices within a robust DevSecOps ecosystem.
* Steer Deployment: Lead the critical transition of mature mission planning
solutions from R&D prototypes into production-grade systems deployed within
active user communities.
* Bridge the Gap: Act as the primary technical liaison between PhD scientists
and the engineering team, translating complex mathematical models into
scalable, maintainable software architectures.
* Mentor & Elevate: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior and
mid-level engineers, fostering a culture of code excellence, rigorous peer
review, and continuous learning.
* Drive Strategy: Beyond a single project, you will help shape the technical
direction of the portfolio, identifying new technologies and methodologies to
keep STR at the cutting edge.
Who You Are:
* Education: BS or MS in Computer Science or a related technical field.
* Experience:
- With a BS: 6+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- With an MS: 3+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- Architectural Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Java and the Spring
ecosystem, with a deep mastery of design patterns, distributed systems, and
the ability to design for scalability and resilience.
* Leadership Provenance: A track record of leading technical projects,
mentoring other engineers, and making high-stakes architectural decisions
that stand the test of time.
* Strategic Mindset: You are a "trailblazer" who can navigate extreme
ambiguity, define requirements where none exist, and lead a team through the
uncertainty of R&D.
Our Tech Stack:
- Primary: Java 17+, Spring Boot
- Infrastructure: Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Kafka/NATS, GitLab
- Secondary: Python (for AI/Data integration)
Logistics:
* Location: Hybrid at one of STR’s offices in Woburn, MA, Arlington, VA,
Carlsbad, CA or Aurora, CO
- Travel: Periodic travel (up to 20%).
- Clearance: U.S. Citizenship required with the ability to obtain a Top Secret
clearance.
Why STR? STR is a growing defense technology company. We specialize in advanced
research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in:
cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic
warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of
the complexity that is exploding around us.
STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports
deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements
of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing
that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.
STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their
unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to
change the world. We can't do it alone, though—we need fellow trailblazers. If
you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at
[ for more info.
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $175,000.00 to $215,000.00
The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on
factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education,
training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market
and business conditions.
STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington,
VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Carlsbad, CA. We specialize in advanced
research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in:
cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic
warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of
the complexity that is exploding around us.
STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports
deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements
of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing
that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.
STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their
unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to
change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If
you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us
at [ for more info.
STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most
qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender
identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin,
age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic
protected by federal, state or local laws.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment
process, email us at appassist@str.us [appassist@str.us] and provide your
contact info.
Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require
employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements
for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.
