"Software Systems Engineer"

About the Department:

The Rapid Prototyping Research Center (RPRC) focuses on providing its Department of Defense (DoD) sponsors a unique perspective on rapid prototyping that aligns with Section 804 in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act. Specifically, rather than developing a new system to satisfy intractable problems on the battlefield, the RPRC integrates new technology into existing infrastructure. This unique approach reduces acquisition costs since the sustainment tail is in place. It also reduces the time to field intractable solutions to the battlefield from 10-14 years to 1-3 years. It assures that the prototype involved is integrated with the latest technology, not dated technology due to lengthy acquisition delivery timelines.

About the Position:

The Software Systems Engineer will have the responsibility for architecting, designing, and developing software application using web technologies, distributed computation and storage frameworks, data collection nodes, and sophisticated, cutting-edge domain analytics. The Software System Engineer will also support the Program Manager to maintain the program schedule, provide input to the program budget, support program planning activities, and deliver contractually required periodic reports and briefs, engineering status reports, and other program documentation.

Responsibilities:

• Design and deploy dynamically scalable, highly available, highly reliable and fault-tolerant systems on advanced computing architectures including cloud computing infrastructure.
• Architect, design, and deploy software applications based on business requirements.
• Guide software development team, create architectural approaches for software design and implementation, including high-level product specifications and design documents.
• Participate in software development processes, providing technical guidance to the development team and supporting quality assurance, version control, and building processes.
• Design and develop software architecture for distributed systems that are a combination of COTS, GOTS, and MOTS hardware, software, and custom developed solutions.
• Lead the development of system software, including application programming interfaces, application databases, algorithms, etc.
• Assist with design reviews.
• Work with quality control teams to optimize testing techniques.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to program teams.
• Track industry trends and maintain knowledge of new technologies to better serve the program’s architecture needs.
• Assess new and emerging technologies and utilize that knowledge to improve current deployment, increase scalability and adoption rates.
• Support the Program Manager and Chief Science Officer to maintain the program schedule, provide input to the program budget, support program planning activities, and deliver contractually required periodic reports and briefs, engineering status reports, and other program documentation.
• Continuously evaluate and improve RPRC processes and tools, and provide leadership in the adoption of new network technologies and methodologies.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to RPRC engineering team members and help to build a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with product development lifecycle including design, engineering, prototyping, LRIP, and the deployment of production systems (products).
• Experience with systems operations and functions, to include data analysis/statistics, networking, and data security:
  • Systems of systems, mesh processing, parallel/redundant operations; and
  • Modeling and simulation of large distributed systems.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including communicating with nontechnical audiences.
• Knowledge in the following technologies:
  • Software Design Methodologies: Object Oriented Design and Analysis, Unified Modeling Language (UML), Agile/Scrum, Waterfall;
  • Programming Languages: C/C++, C#, .NET, Java, Python;
  • Scripting: JavaScript, Shell;
  • Packages: NumPy (Python), BLAS/LAPACK (C/C++);
  • Operating Systems: Unix, Linux, Android, Ubuntu, RTOS, Windows;
  • Cloud-Based Systems and Communications: AWS, Azure, VPN; and
  • Source Control: CVS (SVN), Rational ClearCase, Git.
• Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain a TS clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Software Systems Engineer at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume for review.

Posting Open Date: January 5, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: January 16, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes