Principal Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Title:

Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR!

KBR is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to support the MSEIT contract at Space Systems Command (SSC). This role combines hands-on software development, technical leadership, and architecture support across multiple mission-focused software teams supporting U.S. Space Force capabilities.

Unlike engineers dedicated to a single application or team, this position operates across multiple development efforts, helping solve complex technical challenges, accelerate delivery, improve architectural consistency, and support integration across mission systems.

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable writing production code, reviewing architectural decisions, mentoring development teams, and collaborating with systems engineers, product owners, and mission stakeholders. This role serves as a technical force multiplier across the program and helps ensure consistency in engineering practices, architectural approaches, and software quality.

The program is built around modern software engineering practices, event-driven architectures, cloud-native technologies, DevSecOps, and CI/CD-oriented delivery approaches.

Why Join Us?

• Innovative Projects:KBR's work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions.

• Collaborative Environment:Be part of a dynamic team that thrives oncollaborationand innovation, fostering a supportive and intellectually stimulating workplace.

• Impactful Work:Your contributions will be pivotal in designing and optimizing defense systems that ensure national security and shape the future of space defense.

Responsibilities:

• Full Stack Development: Design, develop, test, and maintain mission-critical software applications across front-end, back-end, and service layers.

• Technical Leadership: Provide hands-on technical leadership and engineering guidance across multiple software teams.

• Architecture Development: Help define and evolve application, integration, data, and event-driven architectures supporting enterprise mission objectives.

• Event-Driven Systems Design: Design and implement scalable event-driven architectures supporting distributed mission systems.

• Enterprise Integration: Develop and guide integration patterns supporting interoperability across mission applications and operational environments.

• Front-End Development: Develop modern user interfaces using Angular and related technologies.

• Back-End Development: Design and implement scalable services, APIs, and distributed application components.

• Cross-Team Problem Solving: Assist teams in resolving complex software, performance, scalability, integration, and architectural challenges.

• DevSecOps Collaboration: Partner with platform engineering and DevSecOps teams to improve software delivery pipelines, automation, observability, and deployment practices.

• Engineering Excellence: Promote best practices in software design, code quality, testing, maintainability, resiliency, and security.

• Technical Mentorship: Mentor engineers through design reviews, architecture discussions, code reviews, and collaborative development.

• Mission Collaboration: Work closely with systems engineers, product owners, users, and operational stakeholders to translate mission needs into technical solutions.

Work Environment:

• Location:El Segundo, CA (Work-from-home flexibility with on-site support as required)

• Travel Requirements:Minimal

• Working Hours:Standard

Required:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or related technical field

• 10+ years of professional software development experience

• Extensive experience designing and developing distributed software systems

• Strong full stack development experience across modern web and enterprise application architectures

• Expert-level experience with Angular or similar modern front-end frameworks

• Strong experience designing and implementing scalable backend services and APIs

• Extensive experience with Kafka and event-driven architecture patterns

• Strong understanding of asynchronous messaging, event streaming, and distributed systems design

• Experience designing and implementing enterprise integration patterns

• Experience working within Agile software development environments

• Strong understanding of DevSecOps practices and CI/CD delivery pipelines

• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction across multiple teams and projects

• Strong communication, leadership, and technical mentoring skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

Desired:

• Active Secret or higher clearance

• Master's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or related technical field

• Experience supporting Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Operations Command (SpOC/CFC), or related DoD programs

• Experience supporting SATCOM, mission systems, operational C2 systems, or space-related applications

• Experience with microservices architectures and service-oriented design

• Experience with Kubernetes-based deployment environments

• Experience developing applications within cloud-native environments

• Familiarity with API gateways, service meshes, and modern integration frameworks

• Experience participating in architecture review boards and technical governance activities

• Familiarity with AI-enabled mission systems or data-driven operational platforms

• Experience working across independently contracted software development teams

• Experience with Kafka Streams, Apache Flink, RabbitMQ, NATS, or similar event-processing technologies

• Experience implementing observability platforms using OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, or similar technologies

• Experience with software supply-chain security, SBOM generation, and DevSecOps security tooling

• Experience working within software factory or platform engineering environments

• Experience supporting large-scale modernization or enterprise transformation efforts

• Certifications such as INCOSE CSEP/ESEP

Basic Compensation:$150,000 to $190,000 in El Segundo, CA

The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.

Ready to Make a Difference?If you're excited about making a significant impact in the field of space defense and working on projects that matter, we encourage you to apply and join our team.

KBR Benefits

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR
At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team's philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver - Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.