Senior Software Systems Engineer

At Areté, we are on the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation’s most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.

Discover your future with us.

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Software Systems Engineer to join our team and lead critical aspects of system design, integration, and validation. This role requires a strong technical foundation, exceptional problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage complex requirements while interfacing with customers and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be a proactive leader who thrives in dynamic environments and demonstrates flexibility, curiosity, and technical depth. This position is based at our Falls Church, office and is a supervisory, exempt, full-time position.

We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:

Health & Wellness:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Vision Reimbursement
• Fitness Reimbursement

Financial:

• Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan
• Company-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• Continuing Education Assistance

Work-Life Balance:

• Flexible Scheduling
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Parental and Bereavement Leave

What We Value:

• Creativity and innovation in solving challenges
• Integrity and responsibility in all actions
• Collaboration across teams and specialties
• Responsiveness in fast-paced environments
• Passion for national security and excellence

Experiences and Background We Look For (Required Skills):

• Active Top Secret clearance; SCI eligible.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, take ownership of tasks, and drive solutions with minimal oversight.
• Expertise in testing complex algorithms and graphical user interfaces (GUIs), including formal requirements validation, usability testing, and defect identification.
• Strong understanding of system-level architecture and interfaces, capable of troubleshooting across subsystems and ensuring seamless integration.
• Hands-on experience with Agile development methodologies and continuous integration/continuous delivery pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, Git).
• Skilled in documenting defects, creating clear and actionable reports, and maintaining traceability of issues through resolution.
• Ability to clearly communicate errors, risks, and recommendations to engineering teams and stakeholders.
• Proven experience working within the Intelligence Community (IC) and interfacing with customers to ensure mission success.
• Ability to interpret formal and informal requirements, write detailed specifications, and manage change requests.
• Capable of guiding engineering teams and ensuring alignment with program objectives.
• Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Experience:
  • 9+ years with BS/BA
  • 7+ years with MS/MA
  • 4+ years with PhD

Nice to Have (Preferred Skills):

• Experience with classified systems or secure environments.
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and methodologies.
• Exposure to test automation tools, CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins), and version control (e.g., Git).
• Basic knowledge of C++/Python for scripting and automation.
• Prior involvement in systems integration, test, and performance verification within the IC.

The annual salary range for this role is $155,000 to $185,000; however, Arete considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

Other Considerations

Areté is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration. Areté is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.

Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.

Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Areté will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact Areté Human Resources at 818-885-2200 for assistance.