Software Engineer - JobID-0198

Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) is hiring a software engineer to join its Warfare Systems team. The role is full-time and hybrid, based in Arlington, VA, with another office in Mount Laurel, NJ. IDT describes itself as a defense technology company, and the position is a hands-on engineering role that suits someone who enjoys building toward tangible, mission-focused outcomes in collaboration with cross-site colleagues. It’s a fit for you if you like shaping complex software for Navy surface and unmanned platforms and you want to help migrate legacy systems to a modern, microservices-based stack that can run in cloud-native and edge environments.

In this role, you’ll help translate mission needs into robust software across the full stack, from real-time testing and AI-driven data analytics to secure, scalable deployments. You’ll work on multi-discipline teams solving tough problems in defense technology, with a focus on delivering production-ready solutions that meet fleet priorities. If you’re drawn to architecture work, code refactoring, and close interaction with DoD programs, this could be a strong match.

People who thrive here tend to enjoy practical problem solving, clear communication with stakeholders, and contributing to critical systems used by the Navy. It’s a chance to collaborate with engineers across sites, contribute to both the hardware-software interfaces and the software that runs them, and participate in a steady cadence of reviews and integration work that keeps complex systems moving forward.

A day in the life on the warfare systems team

Your days will mix hands-on software work with architecture and collaboration. You’ll design, implement, and test code in languages like C, C++, Python, JavaScript, and Java, working within multiple development environments. You’ll evaluate and progressively refactor older monolithic software toward a microservices approach, using strategies that separate legacy pieces from newer components. You’ll also examine Navy tactical system code to understand how it fits into current platforms and explore next-generation solutions using AI/ML, distributed processing, and modeling.

Communication is part of the routine as you gather requirements from customers, document agreements, and present progress on cost, schedule, and technical milestones to leadership. You’ll contribute to software architecture in terms of hardware and software interfaces, help shape user, functional, and technical requirements for tactical systems, and participate in design and code reviews with teammates. Expect to work with cross-site teams to integrate disparate components into a coherent development environment, and to support test and integration activities at IDT labs and government test sites. You’ll keep standards in security, reliable programming, and performance in sight while staying mindful of the DoD context and the realities of complex software systems.

Throughout the process you’ll balance priorities, model and test algorithms, and ensure your work aligns with DoD expectations. The role calls for practical problem solving, attention to detail, and effective collaboration with software and systems engineers who operate across locations. You’ll also have opportunities to prototype new approaches and to contribute to a modern software ecosystem that can support both cloud-based and edge deployments.

What you’ll need to bring to the role

You’ll need a foundation that blends formal training with hands-on capability, plus a readiness to work on site with some hybrid flexibility. The team is looking for:

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field, or an equivalent period of full-time professional experience
• Up to five years of professional software experience
• Willingness to travel as much as ten percent of the time
• Familiarity with combat system design and software development for DoD programs
• Experience with programming in C, C++, Python, and/or Java
• Comfort working in Linux environments and with shell scripting
• Ability to break down and document requirements clearly
• Understanding of distributed systems, algorithms, data structures, and common design patterns, including the Strangler pattern
• Experience with Agile development processes and Git-based configuration management
• Comfort with DevSecOps practices and translating vague customer needs into a concrete plan
• Ability to assess algorithmic complexity and manage multiple priorities in a real-world setting
• Willingness to work on-site with potential hybrid flexibility
• Familiarity with the full software development lifecycle from requirements through deployment
• Capability to design, develop, and analyze software systems and to model, code, and test algorithms in C++, Python, or Java
• Ability to model, code, and test GUI applications and to work with at least one modern language (Python, Java, C++, or C#) and/or a modern frontend language (TypeScript or JavaScript)
• Understanding of Windows and Linux file systems, Git, APIs (REST or gRPC), and modular code design
• Experience reviewing and hardening AI-generated code and familiarity with SQL and relational databases (e.g., Postgres)
• Exposure to computer networking and protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP, CORBA, DDS)
• Capacity to handle many concurrent assignments and adjust priorities as needed

Additionally, you’ll stand out with exposure to the following, though these aren’t required:

• Experience with AEGIS Weapon System CSL or SSDS SSL, ideally, or related ship defense systems
• Knowledge of Make, Maven, and Ant build tooling; X-Windows
• Familiarity with Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) methods
• Hands-on use of Jenkins, Jira, and the Atlassian toolset
• Foundational networking knowledge and experience deploying virtual machines in VMware vSphere and cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCP)
• Experience with big data tools (Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, Cassandra) and AI coding assistants for code generation and refactoring
• UI development experience with modern component frameworks (React, Angular, Vue) and familiarity with Storybook or mock testing tools

Compensation, benefits and work logistics

Pay ranges from $74,000 to $184,000 per year, with final compensation depending on a candidate’s experience, skills and education. The posted range may reflect multiple levels for similar roles, and bonuses and other benefits are not included in the base range.

This is an on-site position requiring at least four days in the office, located in either Arlington, VA or Mount Laurel, NJ. The role supports a hybrid work pattern. The job often involves travel up to 10 percent and requires the ability to obtain and maintain an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.

IDT offers a generous benefits package, paid time off and holidays, a 401(k) plan with immediate vesting and matching, a 9/80 option with alternating Fridays off, tuition assistance, professional development resources, pre-tax commuter benefits, monthly tech connect events, annual employee recognition awards, and regular social events with catered lunches.

IDT is an Equal Opportunity employer.

Tips for making your case

First, put a concise summary at the top of your resume that makes your degree, languages you’re strongest in, and any DoD or defense-program experience stand out, and note your clearance status if you have one.

Second, back up the must-have skills with concrete examples. Cite a project where you refactored legacy software toward a microservices approach, demonstrated Agile and DevSecOps practices, and used Git for version control across a team. If you’ve worked with AI-assisted coding tools or cloud/edge deployments, call those out with results.

Third, prepare for interviews by outlining a past effort where vague requirements became a clear plan, including the approach you took to define requirements, design decisions, testing, and deployment considerations. Be ready to discuss how you handle security and performance in DoD-like environments.

Finally, consider asking a precise question such as: what does success look like in the first six to twelve months on this project, and how does the team balance cloud-native capabilities with tactical-edge deployment priorities?