{"id":2376150,"url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-secure-embedded-software-engineer","title":"Secure Embedded 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":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Fort Wayne, United States","Cedar Rapids, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":130000,"max":145000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":145000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":true},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":true},{"name":"Linux","optional":true},{"name":"RTOS","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-05T15:40:04Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-05","last_verified_at":"2026-10-13T15:44:59Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":8,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":8},"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 is seeking a Secure Embedded Software Engineer with hands-on Rust experience to develop low-level software for advanced aerospace and defense systems. You’ll design, implement, test, and integrate secure embedded software supporting board support packages, hardware interfaces, and FPGA-based platforms.\nThis is an opportunity to join upcoming programs at an early stage, influence the software architecture, and work closely with systems, hardware, and FPGA engineers. The role is ideal for someone who enjoys memory-safe systems programming, hardware-near development, and solving complex challenges within secure, mission-critical environments.\nThis position is onsite based in Fort Wayne, IN. Relocation assistance is available.\nU.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Secret clearance are required. Active Secret clearance is preferred.\nWhat You’ll Do\nDesign, develop, and maintain secure embedded software using Rust.\nDevelop low-level board support packages, device drivers, and hardware interface software.\nIntegrate software with FPGAs, SoCs, processors, and other embedded hardware components.\nParticipate in software requirements, architecture, interface definition, and technical trade studies.\nApply secure software design and coding practices throughout the development lifecycle.\nDevelop and execute unit, integration, and system-level tests.\nSupport board bring-up, hardware/software integration, debugging, and performance optimization.\nTroubleshoot complex issues across software, hardware, FPGA, and system boundaries.\nCollaborate with systems, hardware, FPGA, cybersecurity, and test engineering teams.\nConduct code reviews and produce design documentation, test evidence, and other technical artifacts.\nRequired Qualifications: \nBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.\nAt least five years of embedded software development experience.\nHands-on software development experience using Rust.\nExperience developing board support packages, device drivers, hardware abstraction layers, or other hardware-interface software.\nStrong understanding of embedded systems, memory management, concurrency, and real-time software concepts.\nExperience integrating software with processors, SoCs, FPGAs, or other embedded hardware.\nExperience with software requirements, architecture, unit testing, integration testing, debugging, and code reviews.\nUnderstanding of secure software design and coding practices.\nExperience using version control and modern software-development tools.\nAbility to work onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.\nU.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.\nPreferred Qualifications: \nActive Secret security clearance.\nMaster’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.\nProduction experience using Rust for embedded, bare-metal, or other resource-constrained systems.\nExperience with C or C++ and integrating Rust with existing low-level software.\nExperience developing BSPs or device drivers for an RTOS or embedded Linux environment.\nFamiliarity with FPGA-based platforms and SoC hardware/software integration.\nPrevious experience developing software for aerospace, defense, or other high-assurance systems.\nKnowledge of DO-178C or similar safety-critical software development processes.\nExperience with static analysis, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, or secure development tools.\nExperience supporting classified programs or secure development environments.\nExperience adopting and/or integrating emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, automation platforms, digital assistants) into day-to-day operations for continuous improvement.\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. \n\nFull compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications\nPay Ranges\n$130,000—$145,000 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":6642,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Professional development","Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Military","Engineering Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-12T18:36:54Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":60,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.596,"p_room":1,"age_days":7,"expected_fill_days":22,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-13T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":145000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-secure-embedded-software-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/quest-defense-secure-embedded-software-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-13T19:15:24Z","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":29375,"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-secure-embedded-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-secure-embedded-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-secure-embedded-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-secure-embedded-software-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fquest-defense-secure-embedded-software-engineer"}]}