Sr Software Engineer (Secret Clearance, C#, Visual Studio)

Acara Solutions has been providing aerospace, defense and space organizations throughout the U.S. with our staffing services for close to 70 years. Our Cypress, CA space products client needs a software engineer to join their organization as either a contractor or a salaried employee.

A candidate must currently hold an active Secret clearance to be considered (or have held one within the past 2 years).

Job Title: Senior Software Engineer

Location: On-site - Cypress, CA

Employment Type: Contract (9-12 months), contract-to-direct, or salaried direct

Industry: Defense & Aerospace (active secret clearance needed)

Compensation:

• $70-$105/hr for contract
• For direct the salary target is $140k -$170k with some flexibility

Schedule: 9x80 1st shift

About the Opportunity:

Acara is seeking an engineering leader with expertise in delivering end-to-end software and system solutions, from requirements definition through design, development, and testing. The ideal candidate will have the ability to lead teams, manage cost and schedule constraints, and translate customer needs into high-performing, manufacturable products.

What You'll Do:

• Lead end-to-end software development across design, development, testing, and debugging of complex systems (e.g., real-time, embedded, signal processing, or database-driven applications)
• Translate customer needs into effective technical solutions by defining system requirements and driving design decisions aligned to performance, cost, and manufacturability
• Guide and mentor engineering teams, ensuring technical execution is delivered on time and within budget
• Develop and evaluate system architectures, including hardware compatibility, supplier components, and subsystem integration
• Build and validate prototypes to mitigate risk and ensure product readiness for production and deployment
• Contribute to program success through cost estimation, schedule planning, proposal support, and cross-functional collaboration
• Communicate clearly with stakeholders and provide technical leadership, documentation, and ongoing support for system implementation and maintenance

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability
• Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries
• People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work
• Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or computer engineering
• Min 5 years of prior experience in the aerospace or defense industries
• Min 5 years of experience in Visual Studio, C# and DotNET software

What Sets You Apart:

• Experience developing Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)
• Experience with Nvidia GPU processors and CUDA
• Prior experience with real-time and multi-threaded programming.
• Understanding of computer interfaces and communications (serial, UDP, DMA).
• Knowledge of Julia is highly desirable.
• Previous experience developing software under Windows, Linux, and FreeRTOS.
• Required computer languages: C, C++, C#, Python.
• Understanding Matlab is desirable.
• Image processing experience is highly desired.

Additional Information:

• Must currently hold an active Secret Security Clearance, or higher.
• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check and a drug screen