Software Engineer - Embedded (Radar Systems)

Embedded Software Engineer – Radar Systems Support

Department: Engineering
Location: Colorado Springs, CO - Onsite
Role Type: Contract to Hire
Clearance: Active Secret security clearance required. TS/SCI clearance preferred.

About Our Client
Our client is a trusted federal partner providing support to the U.S. Space Force and other defense agencies. They work on high-impact missions supporting national security and space domain. The company operates within Colorado's growing defense and aerospace ecosystem, focusing on radar systems sustainment and modernization efforts for strategic radar assets.

Job Description
As an Embedded Software Engineer supporting radar systems, you will contribute to the development, integration, and maintenance of embedded software systems that support Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) sites and other strategic radar assets. You'll work in a mission-critical environment focused on early detection, missile warning, and space domain awareness.
Your responsibilities will include designing and implementing embedded software for ground-based radar systems, particularly within phased-array radar platforms. You'll develop and maintain low-level code in C and C++ for real-time operating environments while supporting radar signal processing, radar control systems, and interface development for hardware communication.
The ideal candidate brings 6+ years of embedded software development experience in aerospace or defense, with specific experience working with ground-based radar systems such as UEWR or PARCS, and holds an active Secret security clearance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and implement embedded software used in ground-based radar systems, particularly within phased-array radar platforms.
• Develop and maintain low-level code in C and C++ for real-time operating environments.
• Support radar signal processing, radar control systems, and interface development for hardware communication.
• Perform integration, troubleshooting, and validation of embedded software modules in lab and operational settings.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, hardware engineers, and test teams to ensure functional alignment across subsystems.
• Contribute to ongoing sustainment and upgrade activities by supporting legacy radar codebases and transitioning to modernized architectures.
• Participate in configuration management processes and provide technical documentation in line with DoD and program-specific standards.
• Analyze system-level performance issues and work toward software-based resolutions in coordination with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Assist in diagnosing field-level software issues that impact radar reliability or mission effectiveness.
• Support risk assessment and mitigation planning related to software sustainment and radar integration tasks.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum 6 years of embedded software development experience in aerospace, defense, or similar engineering domain.
• 6+ years of experience working with ground-based radar systems such as UEWR or PARCS.
• Proficiency with C/C++ for embedded applications in real-time environments.
• Experience working with radar systems or other hardware-in-the-loop environments.
• Solid understanding of hardware/software interfacing and embedded communication protocols (e.g., Ethernet, SPI, UART, or MIL-STD-1553).
• Familiarity with debugging tools, software version control systems (e.g., Git), and development for safety- or mission-critical applications.
• Active Secret security clearance.

• TS/SCI clearance or eligibility highly preferred.
• Understanding of systems engineering processes in support of DoD programs.
• Familiarity with radar signal processing or phased-array radar concepts.
• Exposure to FPGA toolchains or firmware collaboration, including Xilinx or Altera-based systems.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and DevSecOps pipelines in defense environments.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or closely related technical discipline required.

Join Our Radar Systems Team!
If you're an experienced embedded software engineer with radar systems expertise and active security clearance, we invite you to apply. This role offers the opportunity to work on mission-critical systems that directly support national defense and space domain awareness in beautiful Colorado Springs.

Embedded Software Engineering | Radar Systems | UEWR | PARCS | C/C++ | Real-Time Systems | Secret Clearance | Colorado Springs | Defense | Aerospace | Space Force | GMASS | Phased Array Radar

Interested? Apply Now!
Connect with your Catapult SG Recruiter: Kailyn Hartley, at kailyn.hartley@catapultsg.com.