Job Title: Senior Windows Systems Engineer
Job Description
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Windows Systems Engineer to design, build, and maintain the core Windows software that powers our mammography display stations. This role focuses on native Windows development at the system level, involving Windows desktop applications and background services that operate close to the operating system and hardware. This is a critical position in a regulated medical environment, emphasizing Windows OS behavior, long-running services, multithreading, memory management, inter-process communication, and system reliability.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain native Windows desktop applications and Windows services written in C++.
- Build background services that start with the system and manage critical workstation behavior.
- Work directly with Windows APIs to handle processes, threads, synchronization, file system access, and OS lifecycle events.
- Design and maintain multi-process architectures, including secure inter-process communication (IPC).
- Ensure software behaves correctly across Windows state changes such as login/logout, lock/unlock, restarts, and remote sessions.
- Debug and improve stability, performance, and reliability, addressing issues like crashes, hangs, and memory problems.
- Operate in a driver- and hardware-adjacent environment from user-mode code, without writing drivers.
- Collaborate with adjacent teams working in C# and, where applicable, .NET-based components.
Essential Skills
- 3+ years of professional experience developing native Windows software in C++.
- Experience building and owning Windows desktop applications and/or Windows services in production.
- Direct experience working with Windows APIs and OS-level behavior, beyond high-level frameworks.
- Hands-on experience with multithreaded C++ applications and concurrency challenges.
- Strong understanding of C++ memory management, including ownership, lifetimes, RAII, and smart pointers.
- Experience debugging crashes, memory leaks, hangs, or performance issues in production systems.
- Experience working with multi-process systems and at least one Windows IPC mechanism.
- Comfort operating in system-level or OS-adjacent Windows applications that must run reliably over long periods.
- Understanding of Windows execution contexts, including user vs. service operation and permission constraints.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with Windows Services running under service accounts.
- Familiarity with hardware- or driver-adjacent Windows applications (user-mode interaction).
- Exposure to environments with mixed C++ and .NET components.
- Experience in medical systems, imaging workstations, or other regulated/mission-critical software.
- Experience with Windows diagnostics tools such as logging, crash dumps, and system diagnostics.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field.
- Experience with Windows 10/11.
Work Environment
The work environment consists of a small team of 8-10 members based in Portland. The position offers the opportunity to train under an experienced engineer who is retiring, providing a wealth of knowledge and the chance to take ownership of the product. The company values employee appreciation and maintains a supportive and collaborative workplace culture.
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Beaverton, OR.
Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $48.08 - $62.50/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace TypeThis is a hybrid position in Beaverton,OR.
Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Apr 29, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
- Hiring diverse talent
- Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
- Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
- Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.