Principal Software Engineer

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.

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 (OGC services, PostGIS), and data engineering platforms (Kafka, PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch)

• US Citizen
• 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