Senior Rust Software Engineer (Embedded Systems | Secret Clearance)

Location: Herndon, Virginia (Onsite)
Relocation Assistance: Available
Salary: Up to $230,000 + benefits
Clearance Required: Active DoD Secret Clearance
Travel: Up to 30%
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

About the Role

Our Integrated Mission Systems division is seeking a Senior / Expert Rust Software Engineer to help design and build the next generation of mission-critical embedded and cyber-secure systems. This position is ideal for a software engineer with deep hands-on experience in the Rust programming language, embedded systems, and real-time operating environments.

You will serve as a technical leader guiding the organization’s transition from legacy C/C++ systems to memory-safe Rust architectures, influencing software standards, development practices, and embedded platform strategy.

This is a highly visible engineering role working alongside cybersecurity, embedded hardware, and systems architecture teams supporting national security and defense applications.

What You Will Do

• Lead the adoption of Rust programming language across embedded software product lines
• Convert and modernize legacy C/C++ embedded systems into Rust
• Architect and develop memory-safe, high-reliability software solutions
• Develop embedded applications for real-time operating systems (RTOS)
• Work closely with hardware engineers to define hardware/software interfaces
• Participate in all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC):
• Requirements analysis
• System design
• Implementation
• Integration
• Testing & validation
• Create software documentation, test plans, and engineering procedures
• Perform root-cause analysis and debugging of complex embedded issues
• Mentor junior engineers and conduct peer code reviews
• Support Agile/Scrum team activities and sprint planning
• Assist with system integration, onboarding, and deployment activities

Technologies & Environments

• Rust (Primary Language)
• C / C++
• Python
• Embedded Linux
• VxWorks
• Integrity RTOS
• Embedded hardware platforms
• Board Support Packages (BSP)
• Device driver development
• Cybersecurity & cryptographic systems

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• 12+ years of professional software development experience
  (10+ years with a graduate degree or 16+ years experience in lieu of degree)
• 5+ years hands-on Rust development in production environments
• Strong experience in embedded software development
• Experience with C/C++ and object-oriented design
• Experience working in Agile / Scrum development teams
• Active U.S. DoD Secret Security Clearance
• U.S. Citizenship required

Preferred / Nice to Have

• Rust development in embedded or real-time systems
• Converting C/C++ codebases to Rust
• Device driver or BSP development
• Cybersecurity, encryption, or Information Assurance experience
• UML modeling tools (IBM Rhapsody, Cameo, MagicDraw)
• DO-178, NSA Type 1, or other secure software certification environments
• Embedded hardware integration experience

Why Join Us

• Work on mission-critical national security systems
• Influence next-generation secure software architecture
• Competitive compensation (up to $230K)
• Relocation assistance available
• High-impact technical leadership role
• Long-term program stability
• Career growth into Principal or Architect level