Lead Software Engineer w/Active Secret Clearance

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges-and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day-working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.

Department Summary:

Do you want to develop software systems that contribute to solving our nation's most critical problems? Do you want to work alongside engineers and scientists that are experts in their fields? Are you passionate about best practices for delivering the highest quality software solutions?

We're making a difference every day-working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world.

At MITRE you will leverage your background and experience to make a difference in tangible, impactful problems that face our nation. You'll work on diverse projects that support our Government sponsors and benefit from numerous learning and growth opportunities.

Our workplace reflects our values. We want you to continue to grow your career at MITRE so that you can experience the gratifying work, our competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities, and a culture of innovation that embraces flexibility, collaboration, and career growth.

Roles & Responsibilities:

MITRE is seeking an experienced Cloud and Software Engineer to provide hands-on technical support for enhancement and modernization of the current GPS control system, Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP), at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO. This role supports incremental modernization of mission-critical ground control capabilities through architecture review, prototyping, software development oversight, integration support, and direct technical engagement with engineering teams.

The selected candidate will help assess modernization options, shape practical engineering approaches, and deliver technical products that advance secure, modular, supportable, and incrementally deliverable GPS ground control capabilities. Responsibilities may include some or all of the following:

• Provide cloud and software engineering recommendations for AEP modernization activities, including architecture analysis, prototype development, integration planning, and implementation support.
• Work directly on-site with government and contractor engineering teams to understand technical constraints, identify delivery risks, and accelerate incremental capability delivery.
• Review and assess current and proposed system architectures, with emphasis on cloud architecture, software modularity, system integration, security, networking, and operational maintainability.
• Assess integration impacts across GPS control segment functions, interfaces, test environments, cybersecurity constraints, and operational support needs.
• Develop prototypes, reference implementations, and technical demonstrations using modern software engineering practices, cloud and hybrid-cloud patterns where appropriate, and mission-relevant technical constraints.
• Support strategies for containerization, orchestration, and deployment automation using Docker, Kubernetes, and related platform technologies where appropriate for development, test, integration, or operational environments.
• Assess, engineer and improve CI/CD workflows, version control practices, infrastructure automation, and repeatable deployment patterns using tools such as Git, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Terraform, and, where Azure is used, Bicep.
• Oversee secure software development practices, including code review, automated testing, dependency management, configuration control, and security-informed architecture decisions.
• Advise software development teams to evaluate and use Azure, AWS, GCP, or hybrid-cloud capabilities where appropriate to support modernization objectives.
• Collaborate across MITRE, sponsor, and contractor teams to produce technical recommendations, design artifacts, integration notes, and decision support materials.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years' experience or equivalent combination of related education and work experience. The individual should be able to immediately contribute to this job step
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• Demonstrated experience with delivering high-quality software in mission, operational, cloud, enterprise, or other complex technical environments.
• Software development experience in one or more modern programming languages, preferably Python, Java, C#, or JavaScript.
• Experience with cloud architecture or cloud engineering in one or more of Azure, AWS, GCP, or hybrid-cloud environments.
• Experience with containerization and familiarity with orchestration or platform technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, or comparable tools.
• Experience using Git and modern software delivery practices, including code review, automated testing, CI/CD, and configuration management.
• Familiarity with infrastructure automation or infrastructure as code using tools such as Terraform, Bicep for Azure environments, or comparable technologies.
• Working knowledge of secure software engineering, system integration, networking, and operational deployment considerations.
• Ability to work on-site at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO and collaborate directly with government sponsor and contractor technical teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear technical artifacts and explain engineering tradeoffs to technical and mission stakeholders.
• Ability to work in Agile development environments with strong documentation practices
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret clearance.
• Advanced degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience supporting the GPS control segment, space command-and-control systems, positioning, navigation, and timing, satellite ground systems, military operations, or other mission-critical national security systems.
• Experience modernizing legacy systems through incremental architecture improvements, integration patterns, cloud or hybrid-cloud assessment/adoption, DevSecOps, or platform engineering.
• Experience with Azure and related automation patterns, including Bicep, Azure DevOps, identity, networking, security, monitoring, and deployment services.
• Experience with AWS or GCP services relevant to secure application hosting, data services, networking, observability, or platform operations.
• Experience designing, integrating, or operating secure containerized or service-oriented architectures using Kubernetes or comparable orchestration/platform environments.
• Experience with operational test, integration, sustainment, or cybersecurity assessment for mission-critical command and control systems.
• Experience with database design, data access patterns, schema migration, data validation, or integration across operational systems.
• Experience assessing contractor technical approaches, reviewing architecture artifacts, supporting design reviews, or developing independent technical recommendations for government sponsors.
• Experience producing prototypes, proofs of concept, architecture decision records, implementation guides, runbooks, or technical roadmaps.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, security engineering practices, zero trust concepts, compliance-aligned engineering, or risk management for operational systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-moving environments where priorities evolve and technical work must support near-term mission outcomes.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$156,800 - $196,000 - $235,200 Annual

Work Location Type:
Hybrid

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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