Principal Software Engineer

Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.

Principal Software Engineer 

Individuals MUST have senior knowledge and senior hands-on experience in developing, implementing and leading across multiple software teams. As a principal engineer, this labor competency is responsible for assessing, creating, and improving the quality and performance of existing software code, with duties to design and update software databases under contract and direction from the assigned Government Product Manager.
The individual MUST have an astute ability in writing test scripts in an agile software development environment with an emphasis on automated test procedures, and continuous integration and continuous delivery of software. The individual SHALL recommend improvements to existing software applications as necessary. Furthermore, individuals SHALL be capable/willing to perform the software tasks identified in the position's primary responsibilities while working on Government/Contractor software teams.

Primary Responsibilities include (but not limited to):

Designs, Develops, and tests software for Command and Control based products.

Develops front end and backend of software prototypes, components, and tooling that can be leveraged to speed prototyping process.

     KR engineers SHALL embrace and adhere to following development methodologies:

          Extreme Programming (XP) Practices

          Pair-Programming

          Test-Driven Development (TDD)

          Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) techniques

Helps to design and develop software requirements for multiple Command and Control based products including the software architectures, APIs, frameworks, and libraries.

Works with data scientists, UX designers, engineers, and product managers to help in composing cohesive and sound software designs that form the basis of scalable Command and Control software solutions.

Optimizes software designs and architectures to deliver desired performance targets and devises tooling and methodologies to profile execution and capture performance metrics.

     Principal engineers SHALL be highly proficient in discussing future limitations and a forward-thinking approach to resolving roadblocks presented by current strategy

Stays informed on latest software architectures and trends from design patterns to DevSecOps and systems architecture patterns.

Guides technical decisions in order to migrate legacy systems to the cloud E. Directly influences strategy formulation on how to achieve rapid prototyping of capabilities.

Analyzes and decomposes activities and requirements to software designs that are allocated across systems components/sub-components, classification system levels, etc.

Captures, develops, and reports reference architectures and documenting compliance standards.

Develops plans, road maps, and software design strategies.

Teaches others troubleshooting techniques, design patterns, and testing strategies in order to train and upskill less experienced engineers.

     Principal Devs SHALL be able and willing to provide guidance and constructive feedback to junior engineers within and across product teams

Maintains and guides the development of common best practices and tools used by multiple teams.

Implements and practices DevOps Developer Enablement and helps more junior/less experienced developers to do same

Shares best practices and technical knowledge among multiple teams/branches.

Technical Competencies:

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in a highly quantitative field (Computer Science, Machine Learning, Operational Research, Statistics, Mathematics, etc.)

     In lieu of a BS, 4 years of directly related experience will be considered.

8 years of non-internship professional Full-Stack Software development experience (Java, Web services, Database, and/or web application development)

6 years of programming experience with JavaScript, Java, and preferably one more programming language (Python, etc)

4 years of experience with DevSecOps tools and processes such as Git, Concourse, GitLabCI, SonarQube, Fortify, and ThreadFix

3 years experience with front end frameworks like React or Vue

5 years of experience with Extreme Programming practices (Test-Driven Development, Pair Programming, CI/CD, etc) [See Section 2.2.1]

4 years of experience contributing to software architecture and design (architecture, design patterns, reliability and scaling) of both new and existing systems

2 years of experience using container technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes

3 years training, upskilling, and/or mentoring engineers

MUST be eligible to obtain a minimum of a Secret clearance

Desired:

MS in a highly quantitative field (Computer Science, Machine Learning, Operational Research, Statistics, Mathematics, etc.)

2 years of experience with backend runtimes and frameworks like Node.js, Spring, Spring Boot, Django, Flask, etc.

2 years of test authoring experience in Javascript, Java, or other languages. (Unit tests, Integration tests, and Journey tests)

     1 year of experience with test mocks

     1 year of experience with contract testing

CompTIA Sec+, CMU SEI - Software Assurance Professional Certificate, or CSSLP certification

Active Secret or TS/SCI Clearance

Non-Technical Competencies:

Required: Strong communication/general soft skills

SHALL conduct themselves at all times in a professional and respectful manner in effort to uphold mutual respect across the organization

SHALL receive feedback in a respectful and professional manner

SHALL maintain a positive “can-do” attitude and constructive nature in their critiques in order to maintain positive culture within Kessel Run

SHALL be a “team player” and contribute to Kessel Run “can-do” culture

SHALL be comfortable effectively leading a team and setting priorities

Required: Strong Senior Mentorship/Leadership Capabilities

Principal Devs SHALL be able to provide technical guidance and constructive feedback to more junior engineers