Draper
Direct Workday career site

Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer

Pay
$95,000 – $245,000 per year
Location
Cambridge, MA · On-site
Job type
Full-time
Level
Director
Experience
10+ years
Education
Bachelor's degree
Listed
15 days ago

Skills & highlights for this role

  • Software engineering
  • Algorithm design
  • Software testing and verification
  • System architecture design
  • Requirements development
  • Agile methodology
  • Technical documentation
  • Technical communication

Also useful

  • Battlefield situational awareness systems
  • Medical/biomedical software applications
  • Government security clearance (Secret)

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

Job Description Summary

The Software Engineer (PMTS) works on mission-oriented projects that span fielded systems for battlefield situational awareness to medical applications. Software Engineers work on multiple projects in an Agile environment, converting customer requirements into functional, scalable software solutions. As a part of the Software Engineering Team, developers will build out software solutions and see a project through from the design and requirements stage all the way to testing and deployment in the field.

Duties/Responsibilities

  • Independently execute task assignments.
  • Designs algorithms using modern theory and proven techniques, adheres to software best practices.
  • Analyzes designs to demonstrate performance and functionality.
  • Develops and executes software tests to check compliance with requirements.
  • Prepares technical data, procedures, reports, drawings, manuals, and other required documentation.
  • Communicates with customers and stakeholders to establish requirements and describe the design and deliverables.
  • Independently drive solutions to complex problems, develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements.
  • Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in their discipline.
  • Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
  • Leads the design of system architecture, delegating tasks and collecting feedback on designs as needed.
  • Lead a medium size team of engineers across multiple disciplines.

Skills/Abilities

  • Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Demonstrate an ability to learn new programming languages and technologies quickly.
  • Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel.
  • A team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.
  • Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals

Education

Requires a bachelor's in Computer Science or other related field. Master's degree is preferred.

Experience

10+ years experience in Software Engineering or related field.

Additional Job Description

Applicants selected for this opportunity will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Secret Clearance is preferred.

Connect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you don't find the right posting in our Career Opportunities, you may submit your resume for future consideration.

  • Job Location - City: Cambridge
  • Job Location - State: Massachusetts
  • Job Location - Postal Code: 02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $95,000.00 - $245,000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Read the original posting

From Draper's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 26, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.

How Rolev.ai helps with this application

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Common questions

What is the salary for the Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer role at Draper?

The Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer posting at Draper states compensation of $95,000 – $245,000 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Draper's official career site.

Where is the Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer job at Draper located?

This Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer position at Draper is located in Cambridge, MA (On-site). Always check Draper's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.

What qualifications are required for Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer at Draper?

For the Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer role, Draper highlights 10+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with Software engineering, Algorithm design, Software testing and verification, System architecture design, Requirements development, Agile methodology. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.

How do I apply for the Principal Mission Critical Software Engineer position at Draper?

This listing links directly to Draper's Workday application page. You can apply directly on Draper's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Workday application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.