Specialist, Software Engineer (Embedded Software)
L3Harris · Herndon, VA
$95,000–$177,000from the description
Jul 13, 2026
Herndon, VA
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
An embedded software engineering role focused on developing and maintaining software for defense-related hardware systems, primarily using C/C++ and Python on real-time operating systems. The work spans the full development lifecycle — from requirements analysis and hardware-software integration through testing and documentation — as part of a Scrum team. An active DoD Secret clearance is required, and Rust experience attracts a sign-on bonus.
Mid level · 4+ years · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV · Secret clearance · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Rare in this occupation — lead with these, and say what you built with them.
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $158,337 (middle half $126,441–$180,105). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (12)
The title 'Specialist, Software Engineer' carries no explicit seniority level word; the level advertised in the title is therefore Unspecified. The minimum 4-year experience gate (Bachelor's path) and the scope of the role support a Mid-level classification.
Degree requirement is marked None because the JD explicitly accepts equivalent experience in lieu of a degree ('In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience').
C and C++ are listed together as the primary languages ('primarily C/C++') and are treated as a paired hard requirement; Python is also explicitly listed alongside them in the same sentence.
RTOS experience is a hard gate; Green Hills Integrity and VxWorks are named as examples ('such as … or similar'), so they are captured as alternatives rather than separate requirements.
The '3+ years of experience developing applications on simulated and target hardware' is captured as the years demanded on the embedded software development skill, as it is the closest named technology/domain requirement.
Rust is listed under Preferred Additional Skills and is not a hard gate, despite the $10,000 sign-on bonus callout for candidates who have it.
DO-178 and NSA Type 1 certification are listed together as alternatives under Preferred Additional Skills.
UML tools (IBM Rhapsody, MagicDraw/Cameo) are listed under Preferred Additional Skills; they are captured as alternatives to the UML skill.
Device drivers / Board Support Package experience and Modern C++ techniques appear under Preferred Additional Skills and are not hard gates.
The salary range ($95,000–$177,000/year) is stated as a pay-transparency range, not a guarantee of compensation.
Ignored 1 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): embedded software development.
Requires a Secret clearance — the cleared population is a small fraction of this occupation, so the real candidate pool is materially smaller than the estimate below, which does not model clearance.
Read the full posting
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