Software Engineer 3
The Software Engineer 3 role at Confidential Client focuses on supporting the PAC OS initiative to modernize the company's software stack by transitioning to Rust and leveraging emerging technologies like digital twins and AI-assisted development. The engineer will design, develop, and optimize embedded distributed messaging systems using frameworks such as Zenoh, ensuring scalable, reliable, and maintainable platform solutions while providing technical leadership and working in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Information Services / Software Development / IT Services and IT Consulting.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Role overview
This contract role supports a modernization initiative to rebuild the confidential client's onboard and platform software stack. You will work on embedded and platform services, focusing on data-centric messaging, reliability, observability, and AI-assisted development workflows. Start date: ASAP. Location: Irvine, CA. Employment type: CONTRACTOR.
Responsibilities
- Designs, implements, integrates, and tests embedded and platform software for onboard data distribution, messaging infrastructure, and platform services.
- Define and manage onboard messaging topology using Zenoh and related data‑centric messaging technologies (routing, partitioning).
- Configure and optimize data distribution paths to meet performance, reliability, and resource constraints.
- Code, debug, and refine scalable, maintainable software components and platform services.
- Build tooling to visualize, validate, and troubleshoot messaging topology, data flows, and system state.
- Enable observability via telemetry, tracing, metrics, and service-health reporting.
- Prepare and review interface documentation, specifications, test plans, and procedures.
- Assist with requirements definition, allocation, and system-level analysis.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers as assigned.
- Apply AI-assisted development tools and review/validate AI-generated code to speed the SDLC.
- Maintain software through lifecycle practices and support CI/CD pipelines (GitLab).
Required qualifications
- 3+ years of professional software engineering experience (embedded or platform development).
- Strong development experience in C/C++, Golang, or Rust (Golang or Rust preferred).
- Experience developing on Linux for embedded or resource-constrained environments.
- Hands-on experience with distributed, data-centric messaging systems (Zenoh, DDS, MQTT, or similar).
- Solid understanding of distributed-systems principles: reliability, fault tolerance, scalability, and service integration.
- Familiarity with telemetry/observability (tracing, metrics), CI/CD, and Agile/Scrum workflows.
- Strong problem-solving, testing, and software engineering discipline.
- Effective written and verbal engineering communication skills.
Preferred / Nice to have
- Rust programming experience and interest in transitioning architecture to Rust.
- Experience with digital twin concepts and system-state modeling.
- Familiarity with containers, virtualization, or Docker-based deployments.
- Networking fundamentals (TCP/UDP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS).
- Prior experience integrating legacy systems via adapters or bridges.
- In‑flight entertainment domain knowledge or similar embedded aerospace/transportation systems.
- Experience applying or reviewing AI-assisted development outputs.
What to expect
- Contract engagement supporting a multi-disciplinary team delivering a next-generation platform for a confidential client partner.
- Fast-paced, innovative environment with opportunities to influence architecture, tooling, and AI-assisted engineering practices.
- Collaboration across embedded, platform, testing, and systems-integration teams using Phoenix architecture and modern SDLC tooling.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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