Demo

Senior Software Engineer

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions
Colorado, CO Full Time
POSTED ON 7/8/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 8/6/2026
Job Description

Readiness Delivered. At Kratos, we encourage an entrepreneurial spirit balanced with discipline. We work hard, and take care of our customers, employees, and families. Recognized as thought leaders in our industry, we are motivated by creating and delivering innovative solutions to our nation and global customers.

Kratos is seeking a Lead Software Engineer (Level 4) to lead and innovate within our dynamic, agile environment. This role architects and champions a SecDevOps approach across the entire software development lifecycle, driving the strategic design, development, testing, and operational scaling based on user feedback. The ideal candidate will operate with high autonomy, guiding collaborative teams to design, implement, and maintain complex software solutions while establishing modern industry standards and communicating technical vision clearly to stakeholders. Key responsibilities include architecting system integrations to develop and deploy enterprise applications, as well as orchestrating containerization strategies using Kubernetes to manage and scale critical services. Additionally, the role involves engineering testing infrastructure and automation by designing and maintaining robust automated test scripts within optimized CI/CD pipelines, and delivering advanced operational support through technical requirements verification, system documentation, and complex troubleshooting in simulated environments.

Experience And Skills

  • 10-15 years industry experience
  • Leading the design, development, and optimization of Java and C/C applications (including advanced network, multi-threaded, and high-performance client-server architectures) across Windows and Linux platforms
  • Active Top Secret/SCI or Secret security clearance.
  • Designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise-grade automation using Python, Unix Shell scripting, Batch files, and Windows script files
  • Architectural mastery of relational database design, advanced query optimization, and complex Structured Query Language (SQL) data manipulation
  • Architecting and driving innovative solutions to complex, ambiguous engineering problems while mentoring junior and mid-level engineers

Preferred Skills And Experience

  • Platform Expertise: Subject matter expertise in architecting and scaling Red Hat OpenShift and enterprise Kubernetes infrastructures.
  • Domain Leadership: Deep domain knowledge of satellite ground station processing systems (including advanced planning, ground control, and high-throughput data processing).
  • Enterprise DevSecOps Tools: Advanced proficiency driving automation via Python, optimizing CI/CD workflows within GitLab/Azure DevOps, and managing lifecycles using Jira/Confluence.
  • Comprehensive Testing Architecture: Proven track record designing and leading automated functional, integration, regression, and high-load performance testing strategies.
  • Industry Certifications: Advanced professional certifications such as Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA), Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD).
  • Modern Infrastructure: Extensive experience implementing advanced Infrastructure as Code (IaC) architectures (e.g., Terraform) and mature GitOps workflows.

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education

Salary Range: $150,000-$170,000

Kratos is valued for our ability to design and deliver leading edge, resilient solutions for aerospace communication, control, awareness and mission success across a continuum of offerings—from commercial to tailored custom solutions and integrated programs. Customers trust us to stay relevant and know we are in it for the long-haul. We bring both the capability and confidence that our customers value and depend on. And we always deliver.

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

Job Benefits

  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage
  • Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
  • 401(k) Savings Plan
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
  • Paid Time-Off (PTO)
  • Holidays
  • Education Reimbursement


Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. EOE, Minorities, Females, Vet, Disabled, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or any other protected class. All qualified job seekers are encouraged to apply. Kratos Defense is committed to America's veterans by providing opportunities for them to continue contributing after service to our nation. We also work to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

EEO Is The Law

Disability Accessibility Accommodation
If you require an accommodation to navigate or apply to our careers site, please send your request to HRAccessibility@kratosdefense.com or call 858-964-2916. Any inquires not related to requesting an accommodation will be discarded.

Pay Transparency
The company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

Job Applicant Privacy Notice
For applicants in the EU and California residents, please review our privacy notice.

Salary : $150,000 - $170,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Senior Software Engineer?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Senior Software Engineer career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$123,167 - $152,295
Income Estimation: 
$146,673 - $180,130
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

  • Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Bristow, OK
  • Job Description Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on unmanned systems, satellite communications, c... more
  • 8 Days Ago

  • Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Oklahoma, OK
  • Job Description Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on unmanned systems, satellite communications, c... more
  • 8 Days Ago

  • Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Bristow, OK
  • Job Description Consolidated Turbine Specialists, LLC (CTS), a Kratos' company, is seeking an experienced Human Resources Senior Supervisor to work onsite ... more
  • 8 Days Ago

  • Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Huntsville, AL
  • Job Description The Logistics Analyst will provide acquisition logistics support to the Logistics Management Division (LMD) Chief for Uncrewed Aircraft Sys... more
  • 8 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Senior Software Engineer jobs in the Colorado, CO area that may be a better fit.

  • SAIC Colorado, CO
  • Job ID 2613768 Location Colorado Springs, CO, US Date Posted 2026-06-16 Category Software Subcategory SW Engineer Schedule Full-Time Shift Day Job Travel Y... more
  • 8 Days Ago

  • Omitron, Inc. Colorado, CO
  • Omitron, Inc. is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to serve as the Technical Lead for Cross Domain Solution (CDS) data schema development supporting the M... more
  • 11 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!