Evening Defense Contractor Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.
Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) staff couple the latest in information system technologies, such as elastic compute clouds, containerization, microservices, real-time operating systems, and visualization frameworks, with expertise in cyber security, software architecture, software engineering, data science, Artificial Intelligence, process improvement, and software development to deliver responsive, resilient, high-performance software intensive systems to our Intelligence Community, DoD, and civilian customers.
The Software Process and Architecture Department is seeking an accomplished Member of Technical Staff with demonstrated expertise in software development, process engineering, and technical program support. This role offers experienced software developers the opportunity to leverage their technical acumen while supporting critical Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and civilian space system acquisitions.
The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record in software development, combined with strong analytical capabilities and a commitment to engineering excellence. This position offers unique exposure to large-scale, software-intensive systems across the full acquisition lifecycle.
Work Model: Full-time, 100% onsite in Chantilly, VA
What You'll Be Doing

• Contribute to the development and delivery of Aerospace internal software projects, applying industry best practices and modern development methodologies
• Provide expert software process guidance and technical consultation for internal software development initiatives
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of project plans, progress reports, and technical deliverables for software development projects

• Review, tailor, and optimize software process standards for application in software-intensive system acquisition programs

• Develop and refine software process maturity assessment instruments and evaluation frameworks

• Conduct rigorous software product and process assessments of contractor deliverables on behalf of Aerospace customers
• Perform detailed reviews of software acquisition documentation, including development plans, test strategies, measurement frameworks, architectural designs, and quality assurance reports
• Define and specify software measurements, metrics, and key performance indicators aligned with program objectives
• Analyze and interpret software metrics data, providing actionable insights and strategic recommendations to program office stakeholders
• Collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams in a dynamic matrix organization

What You Need to be Successful - Member of Technical Staff- Job Family
Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a closely related STEM discipline
• Minimum of two (2) years of professional software development experience
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to produce technical documentation and deliver professional presentations
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders

• Strong technical foundation with clearly demonstrated expertise across the software development lifecycle, including:
  
  • Requirements specification and analysis
  
  
  • Software architecture and design
  
  
  • Implementation and unit testing
  
  
  • Integration and system testing
  
  
  • Regression testing strategies
  
  
  • Software configuration management
  
  
  • Quality assurance practices

• Strong collaborative mindset with ability to work effectively in cross-functional, matrix organizational structures
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional development
• Willingness to acquire and apply departmental standards, methods, and techniques, including software process standards (e.g., CMMI, ISO/IEC 15504), process assessment methodologies, measurement frameworks (GQM, PSM), and process improvement approaches (Six Sigma, Lean)
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically/internationally approx. 10%
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or a closely related technical discipline
• Active DoD Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance
• Hands-on experience with DevSecOps practices and toolchains
• Proficiency in cloud-native development and deployment (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Experience applying artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques in software development contexts
• Practical experience interpreting software metrics to drive process improvements and organizational change
• Experience conducting end-to-end modeling study engagements, including:
  
  • Proposal development and stakeholder engagement
  
  
  • Process and data elicitation
  
  
  • Model development (input analysis, statistical runs, output analysis)
  
  
  • Verification and validation activities

We offer a competitive compensation package where you'll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.
(Min - Max)
$95,200.00 - $142,800.00
Pay Basis: Annual
Leadership Competencies
Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees
During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.
Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan - Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other-the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you're an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.