Entry Software Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

This Software Engineer role focuses on leading the design, implementation, and testing of innovative software solutions that exceed customer needs, with a strong emphasis on embedded systems and Linux-based development. You will act as a technical leader, mentoring less experienced engineers, driving continuous improvement, and championing modern software engineering practices such as test-driven development and agile methodologies. The position requires deep expertise in C++ and software architecture, as well as the ability to collaborate across teams, maintain high code quality standards, and clearly communicate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.

• Mentor and guide less experienced team members by providing technical assistance, structured feedback, and ongoing support across multiple teams.
• Lead the design, implementation, and testing of robust software solutions that meet and exceed customer requirements, particularly in Linux and embedded environments.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives by promoting agile practices, identifying process and technical challenges, and resolving them using root cause analysis or similar methods.
• Serve as a technical leader in discussions and initiatives aimed at improving software solutions, development processes, and engineering practices.
• Model best practices in code quality by actively leading code reviews, enforcing coding standards, and fostering a culture of constructive feedback and learning.
• Facilitate cross-team collaboration by organizing and leading meetings, coordinating efforts, and helping to resolve conflicts to maintain alignment and progress.
• Create, update, and maintain technical documentation, including design documents, development standards, and process guidelines.
• Deliver high-quality, working code on a regular basis and demonstrate product features to stakeholders and broader company audiences.
• Actively participate in retrospectives, showing openness to feedback and a commitment to continuous improvement for both the team and yourself.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the products, including their architecture, use cases, and impact in the field.
• Apply software design and architecture principles, including SOLID and clean architecture concepts, to ensure scalable, maintainable, and testable solutions.
• Utilize test-driven development, continuous integration, and automated testing frameworks to improve reliability and speed of delivery.
• Use debugging and profiling tools to identify performance bottlenecks and defects, and drive issues to resolution through systematic analysis.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of product development experience focused on software products.
• 5+ years of experience and strong proficiency in C++.
• Strong professional experience with Linux and embedded systems.
• Proficiency in C and C++ for systems and application-level development.
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded software engineering.
• Solid understanding of software design and architecture principles, including SOLID and clean/pragmatic architecture.
• Hands-on experience with test-driven development and test-driven design.
• Practical experience with continuous integration and Scrum/Agile development methods.
• Strong skills in clean coding, refactoring, and writing clear code specifications.
• Proficiency with version control and DevOps tools such as GitLab and Perforce.
• Experience with build and deployment tools such as Docker, Yocto, CMake, and Conan.
• Familiarity with continuous integration and artifact management tools such as Jenkins and Artifactory.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks, for example gtest and QML testing frameworks.
• Proficiency in debugging with gdb or lldb and using profiling tools to analyze performance.
• Ability to perform thorough root cause analysis to diagnose and resolve complex issues.
• Strong foundations in core math concepts relevant to software engineering and algorithm development.

• Experience with Qt Designer and QML for user interface development.
• Understanding of UI/UX design fundamentals, including visual design, interaction design, prototyping, and usability testing.
• Exposure to vision processing and machine learning applications.
• Experience in robotics and robotic path planning.
• Familiarity with geospatial functions and concepts.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and pinouts.
• Experience with Bash scripting and working with configuration formats such as YAML.
• Knowledge of domain-driven design and other modern architecture patterns.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present technical concepts to stakeholders and broader audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional and cross-team environments.

This is an office-based role supporting software development activities in a professional engineering environment. You will work with modern development tools and technologies, including Linux-based systems, embedded platforms, version control systems, continuous integration pipelines, and automated testing frameworks. The position involves regular collaboration with cross-functional teams, participation in agile ceremonies, and engagement in technical discussions and demonstrations. The environment emphasizes high code quality, continuous learning, and adherence to established development standards and processes.

This is a Permanent position based out of Ames, IA.

The pay range for this position is $105000.00 - $105000.00/yr.

pto, 401k, 11-13 holidays

This is a hybrid position in Ames,IA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.