Lead System Integrator (LSI)

Responsibilities

We are seeking a Lead System Integrator (LSI) to serve as the primary technical integration lead. The LSI is responsible for integrating software components developed across multiple R&D teams into a unified, containerized system that meets evaluation requirements. The role encompasses preparing and quality-controlling all software deliverables, maintaining CI/CD pipelines, managing monthly code drops and quarterly major code revisions, coordinating self-test leaderboard submissions, and serving as the primary technical interface to the Test & Evaluation (T&E) team.

The ideal candidate operates at the intersection of generative AI/ML pipeline development and DevOps for research programs. They must be comfortable translating research prototypes into production-quality containerized deliverables, enforcing coding standards across academic and industry subcontractors, and ensuring the integrated system passes automated evaluation on government testbeds the team does not control.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end integration of software components into a single containerized deliverable, ensuring containers build and run correctly on T&E testbed infrastructure
• Design, build, and maintain CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab CI, Jenkins) that automate container builds, unit/integration testing, static analysis, and artifact packaging for all software components
• Enforce software coding best practices across all team members and subcontractors, including inline comments, documentation, version control hygiene, and reproducible build processes
• Serve as the direct technical interface to the Program Manager and the T&E team counterpart for all software delivery, integration, and troubleshooting matters. Coordinate subcontractor software inputs, resolve interface conflicts, manage integration schedules, and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) defining boundaries between team components

QualificationsRequired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of software engineering experience with at least 3 years in a systems integration or technical lead role on government-funded research programs (IARPA, DARPA, or equivalent)
• Strong proficiency in Python and C/C++ software development
• Demonstrated experience with Docker containerization for software delivery, including multi-stage builds, dependency pinning, hardware passthrough (USB/GPU), and image hardening for deployment environments
• Experience designing and operating CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions) for automated build, test, and deployment workflows
• Familiarity with REST API design and implementation for system interoperability
• Experience coordinating software deliverables across multiple organizations (industry and academic subcontractors) on a single program
• Ability to produce clear technical documentation including software design documents, user manuals, API specifications, and integration test reports
• US Citizenship

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior experience as an LSI, integration lead, or equivalent role on an IARPA or DARPA Performer team, with direct experience delivering containerized software to an independent T&E evaluation team. Ideally, prior work with government testbed environments, including familiarity with IARPA or DARPA T&E workflows, leaderboard scoring systems, and sequestered evaluation processes
• Familiarity with generative AI/ML frameworks (PyTorch preferred), including packaging trained models for inference, running inference pipelines, and integrating model outputs into larger systems
• Knowledge of Agile development practices (sprint planning, backlog management, retrospectives) applied to research program software delivery
• Hands-on experience with software radio and GNU Radio (3.8+), including out-of-tree (OOT) module development, flowgraph construction, and integration with SDR hardware (Ettus USRP series preferred)
• Experience with formal verification or formal methods tools (SMT solvers such as Z3, property-based testing, or symbolic regression tools such as PySR)
• MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
• Willingness and ability to obtain a Secret security clearance

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.