Senior Software Developer/Manager

Senior Software Developer/Manager (C Back-End Development)
Location: San Diego, CA
Clearance: Current and Active Secret Description
Our customer is seeking a highly skilled and strategic senior software professional with extensive experience in the defense sector to drive software development of critical products and programs by driving technical execution across firmware, UI/UX, AI/ML, and full stack development workstreams. This role is instrumental in aligning our technical capabilities with the mission-critical needs of our government, Department of Defense (DoD), and federal security customers. As a Senior Developer, you will be responsible for delivering best in class software products from concept through delivery, ensuring solutions are market-ready and meet the highest standards of reliability, security, and performance required in the defense sector. On any given day, your key areas of responsibility will include:
• Software Development (70%) Software Development & Engineering (writing code, establishing best practices, and leading others in this capacity) Performing high level C back-end software development
• Software Team Administration (15%) Work collaboratively with the Product Operations Team to advance the product development process throughout the project timeline, aligning all technical workstreams under a unified product vision. Coordinate planning and prioritization for firmware, UI/UX, AI/ML, and full stack development teams, identifying bottlenecks or risks and escalating issues to the technical leads and product operations leadership as needed. Oversee a robust backlog management process, translating strategic goals into actionable tasks for the development team and properly logged in tracking tools and other documentation.
• Product Delivery & Quality Assurance (15%) Identify and monitor key product performance metrics, including reliability, security, and usability, that align with industry standards and regulatory requirements for defense contractors. Work closely with quality assurance teams to develop a high-level technical understanding of software systems to ensure product integrity, resilience, and compliance with federal security and data handling standards. Ensure that all product features and updates meet compliance and certification requirements mandated by DoD and other regulatory bodies. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of software development/engineering experience, specifically writing code, and performing software quality control and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated success in launching software products that meet federal security and compliance standards, including NIST, FIPS, and other relevant frameworks.
• Must be an expert back-end C software developer/engineer/programmer, capable of coordinating technical delivery across firmware, UI/UX and AI/ML SW engineering teams.
• 5+ years of software management experience, ideally with a background in defense, DoD, federal security, or related government sector.
• Experience working on projects or in workstreams that include machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer vision components and/or related software applications.
• Ability to obtain a DoD security clearance. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills, with a focus on prioritizing resources and driving cross-functional teams to deliver on mission-critical objectives.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment, with a strong attention to detail and problem-solving capabilities.
• Familiarity with secure software development practices and experience working within DoD-compliant software ecosystems.
• Prior experience supporting defense contract bidding, including proposal development, product demonstrations, and technical presentations.
• Active DoD security clearance.