Senior Software Engineer

About the role

Job Title: Senior Software Engineer – Embedded SystemsJob Description

This Senior software engineer role focuses on designing and developing embedded C++ software for real-time munitions applications in Maple Grove, MN. You will primarily contribute as an individual technical expert while also providing leadership and guidance to project teams, ensuring high-quality software delivery that meets stringent performance, safety, and cybersecurity requirements.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and maintain embedded software using object-oriented C++ for real-time applications, working with RTOS and bare-metal environments.

Estimate, plan, and lead software engineering activities, including requirements analysis, architecture, detailed design, implementation, unit testing, hardware/software integration, integration testing, simulated flyout testing, and testing at the range.

Monitor and control execution of software engineering efforts, taking corrective actions as needed to keep technical, cost, and schedule performance on track.

Support software verification activities, including verification planning, environment concept and design, and development, execution, debugging, and review of software verification test scripts and procedures.

Ensure project teams support and comply with Software Quality Assurance and Software Configuration Management audits and activities.

Coordinate closely with Safety Engineering to ensure software requirements development and software safety tasks are completed accurately and on time, driving appropriate levels of rigor for architecture, design, implementation, integration, and verification of safety-related and safety-critical software.

Drive on-time delivery of contract deliverables with high quality and a target of 90% or greater first-pass customer acceptance.

Ensure project teams execute with disciplined engineering processes in accordance with tailored Business Management System procedures approved by functional management.

Oversee assigned Control Accounts or Work Packages, including task oversight, progress monitoring, reporting, and implementing corrective actions to meet cost, quality, performance, and schedule constraints.

Provide periodic estimates at complete (EAC) and other project reporting inputs for assigned contracts and work directives.

Plan software project schedules and build plans to align with product-level development schedules.

Collaborate with software IPT leads and program engineering managers to plan formal software development milestone reviews with United States Government customer representatives, including System/Software Requirements Review, Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, and Test Readiness Review.

Develop and present software engineering content for formal milestone reviews, coordinating responsibilities with the software IPT lead.

Evaluate software requirements to ensure consistency with higher-level performance requirements, customer requirements, statements of work, and other contractual documents.

Coordinate development work with the software architect and evaluate software designs to ensure technical outcomes align with customer needs and established requirements.

Ensure involvement of Software Functional Management and the Munitions Software Architect in reviewing and approving software architecture and significant design decisions.

Guide project teams in collaborative problem solving, engaging relevant stakeholders, including software architecture representation when appropriate.

Work collaboratively to resolve conflicts between subsystems or disciplines to optimize system performance, quality, reliability, and cost.

Plan and ensure appropriate engagement of stakeholders in software project activities, referencing the project’s stakeholder matrix and involving systems engineering, safety engineering, and software architecture as needed.

Elevate issues and questions that define, modify, or affect product behavior to the appropriate Integrated Product Teams for resolution with stakeholders from systems, safety, and other relevant disciplines.

Communicate proactively with multiple leaders, including software IPT leads, functional managers, program engineering managers, and program managers.

Promptly notify management of emerging risks, issues, and opportunities, escalating as necessary to ensure timely awareness and action.

Provide clear, concise work direction and technical guidance to project personnel.

Apply knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines, customer and stakeholder inputs, and in-depth understanding of assigned product or technology areas to guide project direction and outcomes.

Ensure all cybersecurity efforts within the software domain are properly coordinated and integrated into project activities.

Regularly prepare and present project metrics and technical status at formal milestone reviews, technical interchange meetings, Integrated Product Team meetings, and internal project and functional management reviews.

Plan and manage internal and external resources to meet project obligations and objectives, coordinating with multiple functional and project managers to identify and acquire needed resources.

Provide objective and constructive performance and development review inputs for assigned project personnel.

Continuously maintain and enhance the technical reputation of the organization with customers and within the industry through high-quality engineering work and professional interactions.

Essential Skills

Proven expertise in object-oriented design and embedded C++ software development.

Hands-on experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or bare-metal real-time application development.

Strong practical knowledge of software management processes, including planning, estimation, and progress tracking.

Solid understanding and application of engineering development processes across the software lifecycle.

Ability to lead and perform requirements analysis, architecture design, implementation, unit testing, integration testing, and system-level verification.

Experience working in Linux-based development environments for embedded software.

Demonstrated capability to manage technical, cost, and schedule performance for software projects.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve complex technical and cross-disciplinary issues.

Effective communication skills for presenting technical content, project metrics, and status to internal teams and external customers.

Ability to coordinate and collaborate with systems engineering, safety engineering, software architecture, and other stakeholders.

Minimum of 5+ years of professional software development experience.

Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

Ideally, holds a cybersecurity certification or has formal training in cybersecurity practices relevant to software engineering.

Experience with software quality assurance and configuration management processes and audits.

Background in safety-critical or mission-critical software development, particularly in defense or aerospace-related domains.

Experience planning and conducting formal milestone reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR with government or large enterprise customers.

Familiarity with control account management, work package oversight, and estimate at complete (EAC) reporting.

Experience coordinating and managing internal and external engineering resources across multiple projects.

Demonstrated ability to provide mentoring, work direction, and performance feedback to other engineers.

Track record of maintaining strong professional relationships with customers and contributing to an organization’s technical reputation.

Work Environment

This role is based in a professional engineering environment in Maple Grove, MN, focused on developing embedded software for munitions and real-time systems. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including systems, safety, and software architecture, in a structured Integrated Product Team setting. The environment emphasizes disciplined engineering processes, formal milestone reviews with government customers, and rigorous quality, safety, and cybersecurity standards. Work is primarily office-based with access to development labs and test facilities, including hardware/software integration setups and range testing as needed. Standard business hours apply, with flexibility to support project milestones, integration activities, and formal reviews. The culture values collaboration, clear communication, technical excellence, and continuous improvement, providing opportunities to influence product direction, lead complex projects, and enhance your technical and leadership skills.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Minneapolis, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $70.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision

Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital

401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Minneapolis,MN. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 29, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.