NG Fellow 1 – Software Architect

Description

The company is a defense and aerospace business with a long history in pioneering technology, and this role sits within its Space Systems group in Chandler, Arizona.

The NG Fellow 1 Software Architect is a senior technical expert who solves the hardest engineering problems, protects hard-won technical knowledge, and steers work on the most important programs and captures.

The role reports to the GNC/SW engineering director and is meant to set strategy across system software architecture, shaping technical direction for mission software frameworks, real-time computing, hardware-software integration, open architectures, and digital-engineering-based development.

The person in this role provides scientific, technical, and intellectual leadership that helps win captures, differentiates products, and improves long-range mission effectiveness in line with the LED strategic plan.

You will need strong judgment on campaign execution and networking strategy, and you will work with senior leaders, chief engineers, program teams, software organizations, and customers. The job links operational mission needs to safe, cyber-resilient software architectures that can be built, verified, fielded, and supported on advanced defense platforms.

Responsibilities

• Act as the sector-level technical authority for software architecture on missile systems, guidance applications, and mission-critical defense platforms.
• Set and influence long-term technical roadmaps for software frameworks, interface architectures, data models, real-time execution, modular reuse, and digital engineering across the portfolio.
• Lead technical strategy, trade studies, and risk reduction across the lifecycle, from concept exploration through development, integration, verification, certification, and fielding support.
• Give technical leadership on critical programs and captures, covering solution development, technical differentiation, architecture maturity, and fit with customer mission needs.
• Define and promote practices that turn operational and system-level requirements into software blueprints, interface definitions, integration strategies, and implementation patterns for mission-critical environments.
• Lead trade studies on open architecture, software partitioning, latency, scalability, cybersecurity, fault tolerance, processor utilization, and lifecycle affordability in realistic operating conditions.
• Influence software, systems, hardware, integration, cybersecurity, and mission engineering organizations without direct authority, keeping technical direction aligned with LED strategy and growth goals.
• Mentor chief engineers, IPT leads, and senior technical staff on software architecture, interface design, hardware-software integration, real-time implementation, and digital engineering.
• Encourage disciplined engineering, reuse, and verification methods that raise solution quality, mission performance, resiliency, and affordability.
• Regularly present architecture concepts, technical risks, trade study results, mitigations, and recommendations to senior leaders and customers.

Requirements

• Have deep experience designing software architecture for mission-critical, software-intensive defense systems, including real-time or embedded applications for guidance, command-and-control, or related aerospace platforms.
• Show that you have turned mission and operational needs into scalable software frameworks, APIs, interface contracts, and data models for complex multi-disciplinary systems.
• Bring a strong background in real-time operating systems, deterministic behavior, timing and latency management, hardware abstraction, and software-hardware integration for safety-critical settings.
• Have broad systems engineering and technical oversight experience across complex, multi-discipline defense systems.
• Have experience researching and developing advanced technical solutions that create differentiated products and business opportunities.
• Have experience with software verification strategies, hardware-in-the-loop integration, and development practices that support mission assurance, safety, and cybersecurity.
• Have working knowledge of MBSE and digital engineering, plus requirements and architecture tools such as DOORS, Cameo, SysML, DoDAF, or comparable toolsets.
• Hold a relevant STEM bachelor's, master's, or PhD with robust industry experience: 20 years with a BS, or 18 years with an MS or PhD.
• Hold an active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at the time you apply, and be able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.
• Have architected software for real-time, embedded, or mission-critical aerospace and defense systems.
• Have worked across requirements development, architecture definition, integration, test, and fielding support on complex development efforts.
• Have worked closely with IPT leads, chief engineers, and program leadership on complex development efforts.
• Be able to support strategic initiatives and captures tied to portfolio growth.
• Preferred: an advanced degree in engineering, computer science, software engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or a related technical field.
• Preferred: experience with software architectures for guidance, mission management, sensor integration, or fire-control applications.
• Preferred: experience applying safety-critical software practices and knowledge of standards such as DO-178C or comparable aerospace and defense guidance.
• Preferred: experience with modeling and simulation used to assess architecture performance, latency, scalability, fault tolerance, and robustness under representative mission conditions.
• Preferred: experience and proficiency with Agile principles, processes, and tools, MBSE, and verification environments such as software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, or comparable test frameworks.
• Preferred: a track record of contributing to or leading successful captures and proposals for advanced defense programs.

Conditions

Location is Chandler, Arizona.

Travel is required 25% of the time.

Relocation assistance may be available.

A Secret clearance is required to start.

Equal opportunity applies, and the company considers candidates without regard to protected characteristics.

The application window is estimated at 20 days from the posting date and may be shortened or extended based on business needs and candidate availability.

Base salary range is $189,400.00 to $284,000.00. The final offer depends on scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills, and market conditions.

Benefits

• Eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary annual bonus, depending on the position.
• Vice President and Director roles may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, paid company holidays, and paid time off for vacation and personal business.