Senior C++ Software Optimization Engineer

SciTec, a wholly owned subsidiary of Firefly Aerospace, is a dynamic non-traditional defense contractor that delivers advanced technologies in support of U.S. National Security and Defense. For the past forty-five plus years, we have supported Department of Defense customers by developing innovative remote sensing algorithms, tools, and techniques to deliver world-class data exploitation capabilities supporting missile defense; intelligence, surveillance, & reconnaissance; space domain awareness; and aircraft survivability missions. Important Notice: SciTec exclusively works on U.S. government contracts that require U.S. citizenship for all employees. SciTec cannot sponsor or assume sponsorship of employee work visas of any type. Further, U.S. citizenship is a requirement to obtain and keep a security clearance. Applicants that do not meet these requirements will not be considered. SciTec has an immediate opportunity for a talented engineer to support our programs delivering Next-Generation Missile Warning software. This is a unique opportunity to join a small business delivering core capabilities for National defense. You will work within a fast-paced team delivering end-to-end software processing of Overhead Persistent InfraRed (OPIR) sensor data for Missile Warning, Missile Defense, Battlespace Awareness, and Technical Intelligence. We are seeking a Senior C++ Software Optimization Engineer to improve the performance, efficiency, and deployability of a large, existing C++ codebase supporting mission-critical sensor processing systems. This role focuses on analyzing, refactoring, and optimizing current software to enable execution on smaller, resource-constrained hardware while maintaining correctness, reliability, and mission performance. Responsibilities Analyze and optimize a large, mature C++ codebase to improve runtime performance, memory footprint, and power efficiency Refactor existing architectures and implementations to support deployment on smaller or constrained hardware platforms Profile, benchmark, and diagnose performance bottlenecks using industry-standard tools Optimize algorithms, data structures, memory usage, threading models, and I/O pathways without changing mission intent Reduce computational complexity and eliminate inefficiencies in high-throughput processing pipelines Collaborate with system architects, algorithm developers, and hardware teams to balance performance, accuracy, and resource constraints Ensure optimized code remains maintainable, testable, and well-documented Support integration, testing, and validation of optimized software within existing systems Contribute to Agile development activities, including sprint planning, code reviews, and technical design discussions Mentor other engineers on performance-oriented coding practices and optimization techniques Prepare technical documentation and briefings describing optimization approaches, trade studies, and performance gains Perform other duties as assigned Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or Physical Sciences 10+ years of professional C++ development experience, with demonstrated mastery of modern, idiomatic C++ Proven experience optimizing existing software systems, including performance tuning and refactoring Strong understanding of: Memory management and cache behavior Concurrency and multithreading Performance trade-offs in large systems 5+ years of professional experience working in Unix/Linux environments Experience working with large, complex, multi-module codebases Ability to read, understand, and improve unfamiliar code efficiently Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance Candidates who have any of the following skills will be preferred: Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or Physical Sciences Experience optimizing software for resource-constrained or embedded platforms Experience with profiling and performance analysis tools (e.g., perf, valgrind, VTune, gprof) Familiarity with remote sensing data exploitation (OPIR, EO/IR, SAR, Spectral, RF, or similar) Experience working within government or defense software frameworks Experience with DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelines Experience in Agile software development environments Leadership or technical mentorship experience Familiarity with cross-compilation and hardware-specific optimization techniques Resumes, Cover Letters, and Applications which are generated by AI will not be considered for employment. Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. Benefits SciTec, Inc. offers a highly competitive salary and benefit package, including: 4% Safe Harbor 401(k) match 100% company paid HSA medical insurance, with a choice of 2 buy-up options 80% company paid dental insurance 100% company paid vision insurance 100% company paid live insurance 100% company paid long-term disability insurance 100% company paid hospital indemnity insurance Voluntary accident and critical illness insurance Short-term disability insurance Annual profit-sharing plan Discretionary performance bonus Paid parental leave Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including holidays, vacation, and sick pay Flexible work hours The pay range for this position is $146,000-$175,000/ year. SciTec considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills This is not a guarantee of compensation. SciTec is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. VET/Disabled.