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Software Engineer IV with Security Clearance

Cornerstone DefenseState College, PA🇺🇸United StatesPosted 3 Sept 2026

Why This Role Stands Out

This role offers a unique opportunity to develop cutting-edge AI/ML and Java/Python applications within the vital defense sector, providing significant career growth and the chance to solve complex national security challenges. If you are a mid-senior engineer with an active TS/SCI clearance, eager to contribute to impactful projects in an Agile, DevOps environment, you will thrive here. Join Cornerstone Defense and be part of a team dedicated to innovation and employee support.

Quick Overview

Seniority
Mid Senior
Work mode
On Site
Location
State College, PA, United States
Posted
1 week ago
DockerAWSAgileAzureConfluenceGitJUnitJavaJenkinsJiraKubernetesPython

Job Description

Software Engineer IV State College, PA Active TS/SCI Company Overview: Cornerstone Defense is the Employer of Choice within the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Realizing early on that our most prized assets are our employees, we continually focus our attention on improving the overall work/life experience they have supporting the mission. Our Team is pushed every day to use their industry leading knowledge to provide end-to-end solutions to combat our nation's toughest and most secure problems.

If you are looking for a place to not only be professionally challenged, but encouraged and supported by a company that cares, don't look any further than Cornerstone Defense. In the Java/Python AI/ML/Data Science Software Engineering role, you will design, develop, and test AI/ML, Java and Python code in a Linux, Agile, DevOps environment. We are at the forefront of aerospace and defense technology. Our Satellite Ground Systems Team plays a pivotal role in ensuring communication, surveillance, and defense capabilities through cutting-edge satellite systems.

We invite you to be part of a team that pushes the boundaries of whats possible. Due to the security clearance requirement, this is an onsite position in our State College, PA office.

Responsibilities: • Design, develop, and maintain advanced software applications for our Satellite Ground Systems. • Collaborate closely with systems engineers, hardware designers, and other software engineers to deliver reliable and high-performance software solutions. • Design, implement, and test AI, ML, Java and Python based applications and software components for satellite ground systems. • Work in parallel with legacy platform teams to eventually migrate workloads onto your pipelines. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define software requirements and specifications. • Work with previously written code and make modifications as necessary. • Ensure software performance, reliability, and scalability. • Participate in software design reviews, code reviews, and system integration activities. • Contribute to the completion of program and project milestones under the specific guidance of their immediate supervisor. • Follow established Software processes and procedures, development, documentation and maintenance/management of operations concepts, requirements (system, element, segment level), external and internal interfaces, and other software engineering work products/artifacts.

Basic Qualifications: • Active and transferable U.S. government issued TS/SCI security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance. • Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and five (5) years of Software Engineering experience. • Experience in object-oriented software design and development using Java and Python in a Linux environment. • Experience with unit testing tools (e.g., JUnit). • Exposure to AI/ML and Data Science. • Experience working in an agile environment

Preferred Qualifications: • Experience working in an AI/ML/Data Science role • Strong analytical skills and proactive problem-solving abilities, with a deep understanding of AI/ML technologies, cloud architecture, and enterprise software. • Experience working with large datasets and performing data analysis. • Security+ certification. • Experience with Git, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes. • Experience with the Atlassian Tool Suite (e.g. JIRA, Confluence, BitBucket). • Experience with cloud computing platform (e.g. AWS or Azure). • Experience with satellite communication systems and protocols is highly preferred. • Familiarity with secure coding practices, especially in a defense or aerospace setting.

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