Entry Level Defense Contractor Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

If you are passionate about applying your software skills to problems of national importance and want to accelerate your career growth, this role is for you. You will work in a stable environment that values initiative, learning, ingenuity, and an entrepreneurial mindset. We are seeking a Software Engineer to help develop software that connects physics-based Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools in a Digital Engineering environment. You will build and integrate software used throughout the warfighting capability development cycle, from early prototypes through testing and fielding, for Department of Defense (DoD) programs.

In this role, you will collaborate with a small, high-impact team to connect engagement, mission, and campaign analysis tools for the DoD. You will work closely with technical leads, program staff, and domain experts to turn mission-level questions into concrete software solutions by designing data flows, APIs, and integration logic between M&S tools. You will be expected to understand the broader goals of the program, help create structure from ambiguity, and propose approaches that move the work forward.

Software Engineer Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain software and services that connect physics-based M&S tools and other analysis capabilities in a Digital Engineering environment.
• Design and implement schemas and data flows to move simulation and analysis results between tools (e.g., relational, document, or graph data models or message queueing strategies).
• Create and evolve APIs (e.g., REST or gRPC) that enable tools, simulations, and users to work together effectively.
• Regularly propose and build small, de-risking prototypes to clarify requirements, explore technical options, and reduce uncertainty.
• Participate in backlog refinement, planning, and design discussions and suggest tasks, features, and solutions that support program goals.

Software Engineer Position Requirements: 

• U.S. Citizenship.
• The nature of work (i.e. interactions with the intelligence community and DoD programs) requires eligibility to apply for and hold a US security clearance; selected applicants will undergo a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements at the time of employment.
• BS, MS, or PhD in engineering, computer science, physics, operations research, applied mathematics, or a closely related field.
• 2+ years relevant work experience with BS.
• Proven experience with programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++, Typescript) for software development and data analysis.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills; capable of working effectively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.

Software Engineer Preferences: 

Above all, we value passion, a continuous desire to learn, and teamwork. We are confident that if you bring the right attitude, work ethic, and core skills, you will succeed in this role. The following experiences will help you accelerate your impact:

• Experience with backend web frameworks and RESTful API development.
• Experience developing plugins and/or functionality for DevSecOps, MBSE, or PLM tools.

• Familiarity with Systems Modeling Language (SysML) v2 or other systems modeling approaches.

• Familiarity with cloud technologies and platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, AWS).

• Experience in modeling, simulation, or analysis for defense or mission-focused applications.

• Substantive experience in simulating a war fighting domain, e.g., electromagnetic spectrum operations.

• Existing DoD security clearance.

Who is ARA?   

Do you want to work for a purpose? Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company. We have been providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences since 1979. ARA has over 2,200 employee-owners and continues to grow rapidly. Together, our offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.   

ARA also prides itself, on having a challenging culture where innovation & experimentation are the norm. The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. Employee ownership ensures you have a voice in what happens in the company. We are also very proud of our Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), whose purpose is to motivate, support, and encourage professional career development for women to maximize career and professional accomplishments.  

To find out more about what the Software Enterprise Division has to offer, visit our website at: https://www.ara.com/benefits/