HWIL Software Engineer at Actalent
Huntsville, AL
$64–$96/hrfrom the description
Jul 28, 2026
Huntsville, AL
Jul 29, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
This is a contract-to-hire Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Software Engineer role supporting missile defense systems at a lab facility in Huntsville, AL. The engineer will integrate and test air defense hardware and software, serve as the technical lead on engagement calculators within IBCS, and lead verification, validation, and accreditation activities. The role suits a senior missile defense professional with deep IBCS experience and an active Secret clearance.
Senior level · 8+ years · Huntsville, AL · Bachelor's required · Secret clearance · Contract
“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
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $130,897 (middle half $102,526–$165,828). 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 29, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (9)
The role is posted by Actalent, a staffing firm, as a contract-to-hire engagement — the listed pay range ($64–$96/hr) reflects the contract phase.
SOC classification is Medium confidence: the role blends software development, systems integration, and systems analysis in a defense/HWIL context. 15-1211 (Computer Systems Analysts) is a plausible alternative given the heavy emphasis on integration, test, and VVA activities rather than pure software authorship.
MATLAB is listed in the requirements section alongside AFSIM and Python with an 'or similar' qualifier — all three are named, so MATLAB is treated as the primary with AFSIM and Python as named alternatives. Python is also separately listed as a standalone required skill given its independent prominence in the posting.
The posting states the role is initially remote for a few months before transitioning to a hybrid in-office schedule (four days/week) in Huntsville, AL. Remote is set to false to reflect the permanent hybrid/on-site nature of the role.
Master's degree and PMP certification appear under 'Additional Skills & Qualifications' and are treated as preferred. The Bachelor's degree is a hard requirement under 'Essential Skills'.
Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) and experience with IBCS flight tests/FTXs appear under 'Additional Skills & Qualifications' and are preferred.
Ignored 1 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): Modular Open Systems Architecture.
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.
Posting is for a contract engagement — the market benchmarks below price full-time roles, so read the comp comparison with that in mind.
Read the full posting
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