CEMA - Software Lead

Job Description Join BAE Systems’ Countermeasure & Electromagnetic Attack Solutions (CEMA) business area and lead the development of the next‑generation RF software for the P‑8A Poseidon Self‑Protection (P8‑ASP) program. Building on a $95 million U.S. Navy contract, which is BAE’s electronic‑warfare solution that detects, exploits, and counters advanced missile threats, you will help shape a capability of strategic importance. As the RF Deputy Software Lead, you will own the evolution of the RF interface CSCI and integrate the 3U Direct Digital IRAD capability into a flexible, open‑architecture pod that can be rapidly modernized for today’s contested environments and for future high‑value airborne assets. Your work will directly protect the Poseidon crew, extend mission range, and enable the Navy to operate safely in high‑threat airspace.

In this senior-level leadership role, you will drive a cross‑functional team of software, systems, and test engineers through the full product lifecycle, from rapid‑prototype concepts to low‑rate production. You will design, develop, and verify high‑performance RF signal‑processing software using modern C/C++ on Linux, complemented by Python‑based automation, simulation, and test‑script frameworks. Leveraging Agile and DevSecOps practices, you will establish CI/CD pipelines, manage source control with Git/Bitbucket, and coordinate requirements flow through Jira/Confluence. Your expertise in real‑time data handling, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, and open‑architecture integration will ensure the pod remains compatible with emerging threat‑detection and decoy technologies while meeting stringent airworthiness and mission effectiveness standards.

As a Software Lead, you will participate in BAE’s P8 ASP Program Management Office and work directly with our U.S. Navy customer. You will drive performance and present design reviews, risk assessments, and performance results at customer interchange meetings. You will mentor junior engineers, report monthly software metrics, and champion best‑in‑class engineering processes. By delivering robust and maintainable software that underpins BAE’s layered survivability approach, you will help safeguard the nation’s most critical maritime aircraft and uphold our mission—We Protect Those Who Protect Us®. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of electronic warfare on a program with long‑term funding and high strategic impact.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Active Secret clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of professional software development experience.
• Proficiency in object-oriented design, development practices, and implementation in C++ and Java
• Experience developing in Linux environments.
• Hands-on experience with version control and collaboration tools (Git, Atlassian suite: Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket).
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate across teams.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Master’s degree in computer science or computer engineering
• Full life-cycle software development
• Customer/Subcontractor interfacing
• Experience using Git/Bitbucket, Jira, and Confluence

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $146670 - $249330

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.