{"id":2376174,"url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-chief-software-engineer","title":"Chief Software Engineer","company":{"id":618,"name":"Quest Defense","domain":"quest-defense.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/quest-defense","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":10,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-13T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"head","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"remote","remote_scope":"stated_countries","remote_scope_basis":"posting_text","remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"inferred","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":["US"],"hiring_countries_total":1,"salary":{"min":160000,"max":190000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":190000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Scrum","optional":false},{"name":"RTOS","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-23T19:34:16Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-01","last_verified_at":"2026-10-13T11:52:30Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":111,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":111},"description":"Unlock the power of Safety- and Mission-Critical Engineering with QDSS. We are seeking exceptional individuals to join our elite team- where your expertise will make an impact that matters. Elevate your career in a company dedicated to excellence and the pursuit of safety and mission success. \nQuest Defense Systems & Solutions (QDSS) is seeking a Chief Software Engineer with deep experience in mission- and safety-critical software, working within an engineering services model, supporting aerospace and defense programs.\nThis role builds on strong software architecture experience and expands into a broader technical authority responsible for guiding how engineering is executed across multiple programs and customers. It is a customer-facing leadership position with accountability for technical direction, execution, and consistency of delivery.\nYou will work directly with customer engineering leadership to shape software architecture, align on certification approach, and ensure teams are set up to deliver effectively. This includes translating requirements, contractual scope, and certification constraints into a clear and executable technical strategy.\nThis role requires a balance of:\nTechnical depth in DO-178C (DAL A-C) systems\nExperience working directly with customers\nAbility to guide multiple teams and programs\nUnderstanding of how to deliver within a services-based model\nDue to the nature of the work, all applicants must be U.S. citizens. \nThis role can be done remotely with up to 25% travel. Preference is given to candidates who reside in Scottsdale, Minneapolis, or Cincinnati.\nKey Responsibilities:\nCustomer-Facing Architecture LeadershipAct as the primary technical point of contact between our engineering teams and customer leadership\nTurn customer requirements, contract scope, and certification needs into a clear, executable architecture approach\nLead architecture discussions, trade studies, and key technical decisions with customer stakeholders\nHelp guide customer technical direction while staying aligned with program scope and delivery commitments\nPresent architecture, compliance approach, and technical risks in customer and executive reviews\nThis isn’t a back-office architect role. You’ll be directly involved in active programs, working side-by-side with customers and delivery teams.\n\n Mission & Safety-Critical Architecture OwnershipDefine and lead software architecture for embedded, real-time, high-assurance systems\nEnsure alignment with key standards and processes, including:DO-178C (DAL A-C)\nARP4754A system allocations\nSafety assessments and hazard mitigation\nCertification objectives and supporting evidence\n\nDrive core architectural decisions around:Modernization approaches\nPartitioning strategy\nInterface design\nTiming and resource management\nFault containment and system robustness\nSafety-driven design patterns\n\n Engineering Services Delivery Model Integration\nThis role operates in a services-based delivery environment, not an internal OEM setup. That means architecture has to support execution just as much as design.\nDefine architecture in a way that enables:\nMultiple scrum teams working in parallel\nCoordination across distributed teams (onshore/offshore as needed)\nClear breakdown of work into executable packages\nStructure architecture artifacts to support:\nTraceability to the Statement of Work\nMilestone-based delivery and billing\nPredictable integration and verification progress\nContribute to proposals by helping define:\n\nROM estimates\nEffort breakdowns\nTechnical risks\nStaffing plans based on system complexity\n\nTeam Technical Leadership & OversightProvide hands-on architectural guidance across multiple engineers and/or scrum teams\nHelp break down requirements into clear, testable, and implementable components\nMentor engineers at all levels in safety-critical development practices\nLead design reviews, interface reviews, and technical quality checks\nEnsure consistency in how solutions are implemented across teams\n\n Certification & Compliance StrategyLead planning and alignment for certification artifacts, including:\n\nPSAC inputs\nSDP/SVP alignment\nTraceability approach\nTool qualification considerations (DO-330, if applicable)\nWork closely with customer DERs and certification authorities as needed\nMake architectural decisions with certification in mind to reduce downstream risk\n\n Technical Risk & Program Health Management\nIdentify architectural risks early (multicore timing, partitioning issues, interface changes, unstable requirements)\nPut mitigation plans in place and tie them to program milestones\nSupport internal and customer reviews with clear, data-driven risk updates\nEnsure the architecture supports predictable integration and verification\nRequired Qualifications:\nDegree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field\nSignificant experience architecting DO-178C compliant software (DAL A experience preferred)\nBackground working in an engineering services or supplier delivery environment\nProven ability to lead software architecture across multiple teams and programs\nSolid embedded software foundation (C/C++ in avionics-type environments)\nExperience working directly with customers on regulated aerospace programs\nPreferred Qualifications:\nExperience supporting major aerospace OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.\nARINC 653 or partitioned RTOS environments.\nMulticore certification strategy.\nModel-based development exposure (DO-331 context).\nIntegration lab or iron-bird environment exposure.\nExperience building or scaling Centers of Excellence or capability-based delivery teams.\nThe QDSS Advantage: \nAt QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future. \nWhat You’ll Find Here \nWork That Matters - Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact. \nGrowth That’s Supported - Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement. \nA Culture That Works - A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued. \nBenefits Include \nCompetitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace. \nFull compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications\nPay Ranges\n$160,000—$190,000 USD\nAt Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, we don’t just build technology - we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission-critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem-solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart - not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we’re not just leading the industry - we’re revolutionizing it.\nQuest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.\nThis policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8181,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Military","Engineering Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-12T18:36:54Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":9,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.329,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":111,"expected_fill_days":28,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-13T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":190000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-chief-software-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-chief-software-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-13T13:24:35Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":20723,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-14T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":618},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=618"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fquest-defense-chief-software-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fquest-defense-chief-software-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fquest-defense-chief-software-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/quest-defense-chief-software-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fquest-defense-chief-software-engineer"}]}