Full-Time

Software Engineer 3

C++/DevOps/Radio Frequency

Captivation

Captivation

11-50 employees

Software engineering for mission-focused teams

Compensation Overview

$130k - $270k/yr

+ 401k Contribution

No H1B Sponsorship

Annapolis Junction, MD, USA

In Person

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Software Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Kubernetes
Software Testing
Data Structures & Algorithms
Docker
VMWare
C/C++
DevOps
Requirements
  • Security Clearance: Must currently hold a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government security clearance with a favorable Polygraph, therefore all candidates must be a U.S. citizen
  • Twenty (20) years of experience as a Software Engineer is required
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science from an accredited college or university is required
  • Proficiency in C++ development, with a solid understanding of real-time systems and performance optimization
  • Experience with RF signals analysis or satellite communications system design and theory, with the ability to implement these concepts into software
  • Familiarity with DevOps processes and tools, particularly in virtual (VMware) and containerized (Docker/Kubernetes) environments
  • Experience with message queue implementation and communication protocols
Responsibilities
  • Analyze user requirements to derive software designs for new applications or modifications to existing software, ensuring the addition of new features and capabilities aligns with project goals
  • Write high-quality, maintainable C++ code for satellite communication applications, adhering to best practices and coding standards
  • Identify, debug, and correct defects in existing software, utilizing effective troubleshooting techniques to resolve issues efficiently
  • Design and implement database or data repository interfaces and queries to support the application’s data management needs
  • Design and implement complex algorithms that adhere to strict timing, system resource, and interface constraints, ensuring high performance and reliability
  • Integrate automated testing as part of the development lifecycle, implementing unit tests and other testing methodologies to ensure software quality
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams, including system architects, QA engineers, and project managers, to ensure software meets user requirements and is delivered on schedule
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation for software designs, processes, and interfaces to facilitate knowledge sharing and project continuity

Captivation builds digital software for mission makers by delivering engineering services across a wide range of disciplines. The work is collaborative, with teams that move quickly like a small business and take pride in what they develop. The company emphasizes transparency, a flat organizational structure, and a developer-focused culture, which enables engineers to work directly and iteratively with clients. Compared with larger firms, Captivation differentiates itself through its focus on timely delivery, practical problem solving, and actively pursuing challenging projects for the Intelligence Community, using modern software technologies. The goal is to produce solutions that clients value, on time, while growing the team and empowering its engineers to take ownership of their work.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Columbia, Maryland

Founded

2014

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • DoD cyber defense spending growth expands addressable market for CYBERCOM and DISA.
  • Salt Lake City expansion diversifies talent pool beyond Maryland headquarters.
  • Custom software developer NAICS certification unlocks targeted federal contracting opportunities.

What critics are saying

  • Booz Allen Hamilton and incumbents dominate IC contracts, squeezing $1M-revenue firms.
  • Talent exodus to Palantir and scaled competitors threatens 29-person team delivery.
  • JADC2 AI/ML mandate requires platform scale Captivation cannot match internally.

What makes Captivation unique

  • GSA Schedule 47QRCA25DS201 contract enables direct federal procurement without competitive bidding.
  • Developer-oriented culture with flattened structure attracts mission-driven engineering talent.
  • Specialized expertise in DSP, ML/AI, and streaming analytics for intelligence missions.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) Retirement Plan