About the position
Sonatech LLC is a leading company in undersea acoustics, combining engineering and manufacturing expertise. Our software powers advanced acoustic navigation systems used by the U.S. Navy. We specialize in integrating software with high-performance hardware to enable reliable and effective underwater systems across nearly every class of Navy vessel. Our office is just five minutes from the beach in Santa Barbara, CA, offering a scenic and relaxing environment that supports a healthy work-life balance and strong employee satisfaction. We encourage innovation and provide a collaborative workplace where engineers can grow their careers by contributing to meaningful and challenging projects. We are seeking a Software Engineer with at least 5 years of experience in C and C++ programming, ideally in embedded systems. This role is central to developing critical software for advanced acoustic navigation solutions that support national defense capabilities. You will participate in the full development lifecycle, from early design to final testing and release. This is a full-time, onsite position based at our Santa Barbara, CA headquarters.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain software in C/C++, primarily on embedded Linux systems for acoustic navigation control, signal processing, and system integration.
- Enhance and maintain legacy software while contributing to new development efforts.
- Participate in all phases of the software development lifecycle: requirements, analysis, design, implementation, testing, and deployment.
- Collaborate closely with hardware and systems teams to ensure smooth integration with acoustic navigation hardware.
- Contribute to one or more of the following areas: DevOps, SQA.
- Write clear, maintainable documentation for code, configuration, and system usage.
- Ensure adherence to security and compliance standards, including CMMC and NIST 800-218.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 5+ years of professional programming experience with strong proficiency in both C and C++.
- Strong understanding of embedded Linux or real-time operating systems.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a DoD Secret Clearance.
- Onsite attendance required. (Remote Work not permitted)
Nice-to-haves
- Technical background in Python for embedded or systems-level development is a plus.
- Bare-metal programming experience is a plus.
- Experience with system-on-chip (SoC) architectures involving shared memory communication between a CPU and an FPGA.
- Experience with security frameworks such as CMMC or NIST 800-218.
- Familiarity with IT security policies or engineering infrastructure.
- Experience with automated security testing tools (e.g., GitLab SAST, SonarQube) and SBOM tools (e.g., SPDX, CycloneDX).
- Familiarity with embedded Linux build systems such as Yocto.
Benefits
- Salary range: $135,000 - $155,000 annually, depending on experience.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Life insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave.
- 3% company contribution to 401(k) (no match required).
- Company-sponsored events and opportunities for professional development.
