Principal Software Engineer

Job Description
Are you a highly experienced and innovative Principal Engineer passionate about pushing the boundaries of embedded systems? Do you thrive on complex technical challenges and want to lead the development of cutting-edge electronic systems that directly contribute to national security?
If so, join our growing team at BAE Systems and help us protect those who protect us. We need your expertise, vision, and leadership to shape the future of our advanced technologies.
About BAE Systems
Our employees work on the world's most advanced electronics. Spanning air, land, sea, and space, we are developing the technology of tomorrow, delivered today. Drawing strength from our differences, we're innovating for the future. And you can, too.
At BAE Systems, we promote a strong, collaborative culture and provide our employees with the tools, skills and training they need to succeed and grow. We are all about trust, camaraderie, and a shared ambition to lead the world in defense technologies and national security services. When you join our engineering group, you will be a key technical leader, mentoring other engineers and collaborating with Systems, Hardware, and Test engineers throughout the software development lifecycle - from Requirements Development to Design, Coding, Integration, and Testing.
We offer a flexible work environment and 9/80 work schedule. Our company is part of the community and driven to improve our future and protect our freedom.
Job Description
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Principal Engineer to assist with the development of critical embedded systems for our Precision Strike & Sensing Solutions (PGSS) business. PGSS designs, develops, and manufactures state-of-the-art seeker, guidance, and control technologies for precision munitions. In this role, your technical expertise will be assisting in executing on design, implementation, and validation of complex embedded systems, with a strong focus on FPGA-based processing and embedded Linux environments. You will be responsible for mentoring junior engineers, driving technical excellence, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality, reliable products.
This role offers a unique opportunity to tackle challenging problems, work with unique state of the art technology, and make a significant contribution to national security. You'll enjoy flexible scheduling, an inviting and supportive culture, competitive compensation, and an excellent benefits package that includes tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees.
Job Responsibilities

• Participate in the architectural design, development, integration, and testing of complex embedded systems utilizing Xilinx FPGAs and Embedded Linux.
• Collaborate with the engineering team on standards, best practices, and design patterns.
• Collaborate with systems engineers to translate requirements into robust and efficient software solutions.
• Investigate and resolve complex technical issues, serving as a subject matter expert.
• Contribute to the development of technical documentation, including specifications, design documents, and test plans.
• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment.

Because of the need for consistent, in-person collaboration and/or the requirement to perform all work onsite due to the nature of this particular role, it will be performed full-time on site. This means work will be conducted on location at a BAE Systems facility 100% of the time.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Active Secret DoW clearance.
• 6+ years of experience in embedded systems development.
• Experience with Xilinx FPGAs: including experience with Vivado, VHDL or Verilog, and embedded processor cores (e.g., MicroBlaze, Zynq).
• Proficiency in C/C++ with a strong understanding of memory management, data structures, and algorithms.
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Experience with hardware/software integration and testing.
• Experience with model-based design tools (e.g., Simulink).
• Experience with Xilinx SDSoC or Vitis.
• Security focused development experience and understanding of common vulnerabilities.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $118095 - $200762
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems, Inc.
BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.
Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.