Principal Software Engineer

Job Description

ECS is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to work in our St. Louis, MO office.

We are seeking an energetic person to join ECS Federal's elite engineering team supporting one of National Security's most critical modernization initiative. As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll architect solutions that directly enable warfighters, intelligence professionals, and first responders to make split-second decisions with world-class GEOINT data.

• Requires final acceptance by the Prime contractor and government customer.
• Validation of required clearances upon acceptance and approval from a cognizant government contracting officer. After customer indoctrination, the candidate will be submitted for a Counterintelligence Polygraph.
  
  

This isn't just another federal contract-it's your opportunity to lead transformation efforts that impact global operations daily. You'll work inside a cutting-edge facility, collaborating directly with government technical leads and intelligence analysts to solve problems that don't have textbook answers.

Value Proposition

• Immediate Impact: Your solutions go into production, supporting real-world intelligence operations-not trapped in endless development cycles.
• Technical Freedom: Lead the architectural direction. We trust senior talent to identify the right tools, frameworks, and approaches without bureaucratic constraints.
• Innovation Culture: We invest in emerging technologies-AI/ML, automation, advanced analytics-and empower our team to implement them where they add mission value.
• Elite Collaboration: Work alongside some of the most talented developers, engineers, and scientists in the community.
  
  

As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor, bridging the gap between complex requirements and impactful technical solutions that will be employed against our nation's most critical threats:

Core Responsibilities

• Architect full-stack geospatial intelligence solutions processing petabytes of data across classified networks, designing APIs and microservices that integrate real-time collection feeds with analytic platforms for sub-second intelligence delivery
• Lead enterprise automation initiatives reducing analyst workload by 60% through intelligent pipeline design and React-based workbenches that synthesize multi-INT data sources into actionable intelligence products
• Mentor engineering teams of 3-5 developers through code reviews, architecture design sessions, and technical spike planning while representing the team in cross-program integration forums
• Champion DevSecOps transformation by implementing CI/CD pipelines achieving 99.7% deployment success rates using GitLab, Jenkins, container orchestration, and automated security scanning
• Collaborate directly with GEOINT analysts to translate operational mission workflows into technical requirements and present capability demos to customer leadership during quarterly reviews
• Drive technical decisions across the stack leveraging Java/Python/JavaScript frameworks, AWS GovCloud infrastructure, geospatial technologies (Oservices, PostGIS), and data engineering platforms (Kafka, PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch)
  
  

Required Skills

• Active TS/SCI security clearance required to apply/interview; must be able to pass a CounterIntelligence (CI) polygraph following customer indoctrination
• High School Diploma and 17 years of relevant experience; alternatively, a Bachelor's degree with 15 years, or a Master's degree in a related field of study with 13 years, or a combination of military (17 years), experience, training or certifications
• Demonstrated firsthand experience in at least four of the following:
• Java, JavaScript or Python enterprise application development, Web services architecture, design, and development
• Relational database design
• Spatial database design
• SQL database design
• Micro-service architecture, design and development
• Containerization and/or Orchestration
• API Development
• Minimum of 5 years or more experience with agile and lean philosophies, with at least 2 years serving as scrum or team lead
• Cloud Native Development, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud or similar Cloud Service providers
• Experience with Continuous Delivery and Continuous Integration (CI/CD) techniques, test-driven development, or automated testing practices
• Experience with relational database development
• Proven track record leading enterprise-scale development efforts with measurable mission impact
• Hands-on experience implementing CI/CD pipelines that meet strict security accreditation requirements (ATO, IAVA)
• Ability to mentor engineers and elevate team technical capabilities
• Success translating complex intelligence requirements into a variety software architectures
• Independent operator comfortable working in ambiguous, fast paced environments
• Work with clients or stakeholders to develop user-stories in support of full-service consumer and business applications
  
  

Desired Skills

• Possesses at least one of the Agile Development Certifications
• Certified Scrum Master
• Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
• Certified Scrum Professional
• Previous IC software development experience
• Deep expertise in at least two modern language ecosystems (Java, Python, JavaScript, PHP, C, Perl)
• Geospatial data processing expertise (raster/vector formats, coordinate systems, map projections)
• Experience integrating Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software applications; specialized software and database development and maintenance; integration of related specialized hardware; engineering studies to identify and remedy geodata processing bottlenecks
• Experience abstracting new or legacy systems via standards-based API's to include web services
• Ostandards contributions to open-source geospatial projects or government DevSecOps initiatives
• Experience with AI/ML integration for image classification or data fusion applications
• Kubernetes Certified Application Developer (CKAD) or AWS Certified Solutions Architect
• Track record presenting to executive-level government stakeholders
• Database technologies: Oracle, SQL, Postgres SQL, geodatabases (ArcSDE)
• GIS platform expertise: ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Enterprise, Open GEOSuite
• Experience with government and/or commercial imagery products, to include SAR or related RADAR imaging technologies
• Ability to develop terrain analysis visualizations and automate detection algorithms
• Background building GEOINT, SIGINT, or OSINT databases for operational analysis

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ECS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis any characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local jurisdiction law.

ECS is a leading mid-sized provider of technology services to the United States Federal Government. We are focused on people, values and purpose. Every day, our 3300 employees focus on providing their technical talent to support the Federal Agencies and Departments of the US Government to serve, protect and defend the American People.