Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Alabama

Job ID: 2613892

Location: Huntsville, AL, US

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Category: Software

Subcategory: Embedded SW Engr

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Interim_Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC has an immediate need for an Embedded Software Engineer Senior Principal, supporting the Precision Fires team located on Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, Alabama.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Designs, develops, documents, tests and debugs applications software and systems that require low level control processing (Interrupts, Timers Digital I/O and serial communication protocols) for electronic, electro-mechanical, or electro-optic equipment. Develops embedded software for use on real-time and near real-time operating systems and processors including networking and radio systems. Requires basic knowledge of reading schematics of complex electronic assemblies. Conducts multidisciplinary research and collaborates with equipment designers and/or hardware engineers in the planning, design, development, and utilization of electronic data processing systems for product and commercial software. Determines computer user needs; analyzes system capabilities to resolve problems on program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, programming techniques and controls; prepares operating instructions; designs and develops compilers and assemblers, utility programs, and operating systems. Ensures software standards are met.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS AND ABILITY: Applies advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts. Contributes to development of new principles and concepts. Participates with senior managers to establish strategic plans and objectives. Recommends/makes decisions on administrative or project work matters and ensures effective achievement of program, project, or organizational objectives.

PROBLEM COMPLEXITY: Works on unusually complex technical problems and provides solutions, which are highly innovative and ingenious.

FREEDOM TO ACT: Works under consultative direction toward pre-determined long-range goals and objectives. Assignments are often self-initiated. Determine and pursue courses of action necessary to obtain desired results. Work checked through consultation and agreement with others rather than by formal review of supervisor. Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.

IMPACT: Develops advanced technological ideas and guides their development into a final product. Erroneous decisions or recommendations would typically results in failure to achieve critical organizational objectives and affect image of organization's technological capability.

LIASON: Serves as organization spokesperson on advanced projects and/or programs. Acts as advisor to management and customers on advanced technical research studies and applications.

The core functional role is to enable the effective testing of end products by providing design, development, and maintenance support for various manual and automated testing hardware and software infrastructure.

• Maintain existing hardware-in-the-loop test systems by addressing new and existing issues, and providing functional support in how to use and configure these systems to achieve desired testing goals.
• Refactor existing systems to provide more useable, stable, maintainable, and/or efficient functionality.
• Develop new software and hardware components to add capabilities to systems which support new testing requirements.
• Develop internal hardware and software tools to improve the productivity of and/or ease of execution of testing tasks.
• Assist other functional groups in use of testing tools and provide limited domain area expertise outside of immediate test infrastructure support duties.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced engineers
• Assist in big-picture decisions and direction of team task prioritization and short- and long-term goals.

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in software, Computer Science, or related degree and fourteen (14) years’ experience; Additional six (6) years’ experience can be considered in lieu of degree (per contract vehicle).

Clearance Requirements:

• Must possess an active Interim Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a Secret clearance; US Citizenship required.

Required Experience/Skills:

• CLA or equivalent LabVIEW experience, encompassing understanding and implementation of LabVIEW best practices, proficient LabVIEW object-oriented programming skills, and demonstrated experience in developing frameworks and/or overall program architectures which could then be re-used by less experienced developers.
• Understanding of the purpose and use of source revision control and code reviews
• Understanding why and how to design a system which simplifies steps required by an end user to use or configure a system.
• Understanding why and how to design a system which maximizes system uptime and reduces maintenance requirements by minimizing code duplication, reducing inter-component coupling, and properly verifying and testing hardware and software components.
• Maintains habit of documenting troubleshooting steps, results findings, and if applicable, formatting this information into readily accessible procedures or knowledge bases.
• Experience debugging a combined hardware and software system using a systematic approach which identifies possible causes of an issue and traces them through each possible link in a failure chain.
• Basic understanding of laboratory test tools and instruments such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, etc. and how to use them.
• Basic understanding of electrical concepts such as continuity, voltage/current/resistance, grounding considerations, shorts and open circuits, capacitance, etc.
• Ability to estimate required effort, manage deadlines, and communicate changes in estimates, unexpected roadblocks, etc. in a timely manner.
• Self-starter, able to execute tasks with a high degree of autonomy and identify other personnel from whom support is needed and communicate with them to obtain that support.