Job description

Residency All applicants must reside in the United States at the time of application. Overview Are you ready to solve some of the most complex technical challenges in national security? As a Senior CNO Software Engineer and Reverse Engineer with an active TS/SCI with Poly, you will be at the forefront of the Computer Network Operations (CNO) mission. This is not a passive maintenance role you will actively design, prototype, and deploy mission-critical capabilities that directly support tactical operations. You will bridge the gap between cutting edge research and real-world application, working alongside elite analysts, operators, and data scientists to deliver high-impact, scalable solutions. Whether you are building rapid-response prototypes or architecting long-term software systems, your work will have a direct, measurable impact on national security. What you will do • Innovate & Prototype: Design, develop, and modify end-to-end toolsets and prototypes that operate seamlessly within highly constrained mission environments. • Reverse Engineer & Analyze: Dive deep into complex systems to understand their inner workings, augmenting existing toolsets to keep our capabilities ahead of the curve. • Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner closely with cross-functional teams including operators, analysts, and external development shops to translate mission needs into robust software requirements. • Consult & Guide: Serve as a trusted technical advisor, guiding customers on operational direction and the deployment of various software products. • Uphold Excellence: Participate in collaborative peer code reviews to ensure the highest standards of software reliability and security. What you need to have • Experience: • 12 or more years of software engineering experience with a Bachelor’s degree. • Or 10 or more years of experience with a Master’s degree. • Or 16 or more years of experience (substituting years of additional software engineering experience in place of a Bachelor's degree). • Core Technical Expertise: Proven, hands-on experience in Reverse Engineering. • Programming Proficiency: Strong development skills in C, C++, and Python. • Collaboration & Integration: Demonstrated ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams (analysts, operators, developers) to deliver holistic software solutions. • Lifecycle Support: Experience supporting and maintaining fielded software systems in active environments. • Modern Tooling: Familiarity with version control systems (Git, Subversion) and the Atlassian suite (Jira, Confluence, Bamboo). • All applicants must currently reside in the United States What we'd like you to have If you have experience in any of the following, we definitely want to talk to you: • Polyglot Programming: Experience with Java, JavaScript, Bash, PowerShell, Perl, C#, or Rust. • CNO Specialization: Experience developing CNO-specific software for Linux, Windows, or Embedded applications. • Security Research: Background in Vulnerability Research (VR) and Exploit Development. • Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with end-to-end SIGINT collection and analysis systems, or experience with production-level CNO capabilities and operations. Pay transparency Please note the targeted compensation range is provided as an estimate, and any actual compensation offer may vary depending on the needs of the company, or an applicant's skillset, competencies, experience, education, certifications, location, or other factors. The estimated range does not include the value of any benefits offered. About BigBear.ai BigBear.ai is a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence solutions for national security, supply chain management, and digital identity. Customers and partners rely on Bigbear.ai’s predictive analytics capabilities in highly complex, distributed, mission-based operating environments. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, BigBear.ai is a public company traded on the NYSE under the symbol BBAI. For more information, visit bigbear.ai and follow BigBear.ai on LinkedIn: @BigBear.ai and X: @BigBearai. BigBear.ai is an Equal opportunity employer all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

Must-haves

All applicants must reside in the United States at the time of application.
Innovate & Prototype: Design, develop, and modify end-to-end toolsets and prototypes that operate seamlessly within highly constrained mission environments.
Reverse Engineer & Analyze: Dive deep into complex systems to understand their inner workings, augmenting existing toolsets to keep our capabilities ahead of the curve.
Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner closely with cross-functional teams including operators, analysts, and external development shops to translate mission needs into robust software requirements.
Consult & Guide: Serve as a trusted technical advisor, guiding customers on operational direction and the deployment of various software products.
Uphold Excellence: Participate in collaborative peer code reviews to ensure the highest standards of software reliability and security.
What you need to have
12 or more years of software engineering experience with a Bachelor’s degree.
Or 10 or more years of experience with a Master’s degree.
Or 16 or more years of experience (substituting years of additional software engineering experience in place of a Bachelor's degree).
Core Technical Expertise: Proven, hands-on experience in Reverse Engineering.
Programming Proficiency: Strong development skills in C, C++, and Python.
Collaboration & Integration: Demonstrated ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams (analysts, operators, developers) to deliver holistic software solutions.
Lifecycle Support: Experience supporting and maintaining fielded software systems in active environments.
Modern Tooling: Familiarity with version control systems (Git, Subversion) and the Atlassian suite (Jira, Confluence, Bamboo).
All applicants must currently reside in the United States
What we'd like you to have
If you have experience in any of the following, we definitely want to talk to you:
Polyglot Programming: Experience with Java, JavaScript, Bash, PowerShell, Perl, C#, or Rust.
CNO Specialization: Experience developing CNO-specific software for Linux, Windows, or Embedded applications.
Security Research: Background in Vulnerability Research (VR) and Exploit Development.
Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with end-to-end SIGINT collection and analysis systems, or experience with production-level CNO capabilities and operations.

Nice-to-haves

None flagged.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

pythonjirajavajavascriptrustai

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