About the Role 

As our VP of Software Engineering, you will be responsible for leading and managing a team of software engineers to deliver high-quality software products. This role involves defining and executing to the company’s strategic goals including, overseeing the development process, ensuring project timelines are met, and maintaining a productive and collaborative work environment. You will mentor team members, provide technical guidance, and align the team’s efforts with the company’s strategic goals. 

This role requires a dynamic individual who can strategically plan for the future while inspiring and guiding a team of engineers to deliver high-quality software solutions. You will play a pivotal role in driving the success of our software development projects by combining technical expertise with strong leadership and project management skills.

What You’ll Do 

•  Strategic Planning
  • Define Software engineering strategy for satellites, ground and customer facing platforms.
  • Represent software engineering in executive discussions, customer engagements and strategic planning. 
• Team Leadership and Management
  • Implement Loft Federal's Mission, Vision and Values.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of software engineers,
  • Conduct performance reviews and provide constructive feedback.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative, and innovative team culture.
• Project Management
  • Oversee the software development lifecycle, from requirements gathering to deployment.
  • Execute effective resource assignment and management to achieve cost and schedule targets. 
• Process Improvement
  • Identify industry available software tools and lead make/buy decisions. 
  • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance productivity and quality. 
  • Advocate for best practices in software development 
  • Monitor and improve the efficiency of the software development process. 
• Stakeholder Communication
  • Communicate company status, risks, and issues to stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with other departments to ensure alignment with business objectives. 
  • Act as a liaison between the engineering team and senior management.
• Resource Management
  • Allocate resources effectively to meet project demands. 
  • Manage team workload and ensure a balanced distribution of tasks. 
  • Plan for team growth and participate in the hiring process. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Active or recent Top Secret/SCI clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. 
• Proven experience in software architecture development and team management. 
• Track record of successful program execution.
• Experience in making successful strategic decisions to guide department and company direction based on market understanding. 
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, design patterns, and best practices. 
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.  
• Experience with Agile methodologies and project management tools (e.g. Microsoft Project, Jira, Confluence, etc) 
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.  
• Familiarity with relevant programming languages and technologies (e.g. Python, C/C++, Django, GraphQL, Kubernetes, Distributed Systems, Hardware-in-the-loop testing, and so on).
• Preference will be given to candidates with a DoD or Intelligence Community Top Secret background investigation with at least 3 years of eligibility remaining or CE status; and SCI eligibility with current experience in SCI programs, other control systems, and/or Special Access Programs.   

Why Join Loft Federal

• The opportunity to shape Loft Federal's software products and strategy.
• A culture that values innovation, collaboration, and impact.